Supplier–supplier coopetition and supply chain disruption: first-tier supplier resilience in the tetradic context
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 29 May 2020
Issue publication date: 20 November 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The present study considers disruption in the buyer–supplier–supplier triad. This triad has a common second-tier supplier as the disruption source, which gives us the tetradic context. The goal is to advance the knowledge on how a first-tier supplier's resilience against lower-tier disruptive events can be developed through horizontally connecting with the other first-tier supplier and how the buyer can benefit from its first-tier suppliers' resilience capability.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from 33 triads was collected and analyzed.
Findings
As predicted, coopetition between two first-tier suppliers increases the first-tier supplier's capability to be resilient to disruptive events emanating from a lower tier source. However, contrary to initial theorization, the first-tier supplier's resilience capability affects the buyer's performance during disruptive events negatively. With increasing buyer–supplier social bonds, this negative relationship can partly be alleviated.
Research limitations/implications
Analyzing resilience within a triad to a disruption in the tetradic context reveals unexpected dynamics. Individual supplier's resilience may have a negative impact on the buyer's resilience in certain disruption events.
Practical implications
The buyer can increase collective suppliers' resilience through establishing horizontal links. To prevent becoming a victim of the supplier's resilience in the event of a second-tier disruption, a buyer needs to become a member of the supplier's relational network.
Originality/value
We propose that resilience can rest with the suppliers. This observation has implications for the buyer when selecting and coordinating suppliers. Further, it considers a context beyond a triad by venturing into the tetradic context. We anticipate more studies in tetrads in future and this study can serve as a bridge.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The project has been funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – DU 1792/1-1
Citation
Durach, C.F., Wiengarten, F. and Choi, T.Y. (2020), "Supplier–supplier coopetition and supply chain disruption: first-tier supplier resilience in the tetradic context", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 40 No. 7/8, pp. 1041-1065. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-03-2019-0224
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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