The influence of relational competencies on supply chain resilience: a relational view
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management
ISSN: 0960-0035
Article publication date: 17 May 2013
Issue publication date: 17 May 2013
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to explore the resilience domain, which is important in the field of supply chain management; it investigates the effects relational competencies have for resilience and the effect resilience, in turn, has on a supply chain ' s customer value.
Design/methodology/approach
The research is empirical in nature and employs a confirmatory approach that builds on the relational view as a primary theoretical foundation. It utilizes survey data collected from manufacturing firms from three countries, which is analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
It is found that communicative and cooperative relationships have a positive effect on resilience, while integration does not have a significant effect. It is also found that improved resilience, obtained by investing in agility and robustness, enhances a supply chain ' s customer value.
Practical implications
Some findings contrast the expectations derived from theory. Particularly, practitioners can learn that integration has a limited role in enhancing resilience.
Originality/value
The study distinguishes between a proactive and reactive dimension of resilience: robustness and agility. The relational view serves as the theoretical basis to explain the effects between three types of relational competencies (communication, cooperation, and integration) and the above-mentioned two dimensions of resilience.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Christoph Bode (ETH Zurich), Jason Miller (The Ohio State University), the joint TU Berlin/WHU logistics research team, and anonymous reviewers for valuable discussions and feedback as well as the Kühne Foundation for financial support of this research.
Citation
Wieland, A. and Wallenburg, C.M. (2013), "The influence of relational competencies on supply chain resilience: a relational view", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 43 No. 4, pp. 300-320. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-08-2012-0243
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited