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As businesses worked towards Y2000 compliancy and checked their sources of supply, the mechanisms and nature of relationships in the supply chain were exposed. A multi‐case study methodology of four UK‐based SMEs and one large multinational company was undertaken to exploit this time‐window. Although the Y2000 problem was to some extent unique, it is only one of many potential environmental changes that organisations, particularly businesses, have to respond to in the rapidly changing future. Thus any lessons that can be learned from studying this event could provide useful information for future significant environmental changes; changes to trading and market environments; changes to employment law. Whilst the terms “supply chain” and “supply chain management” are universally adopted, their meaning and actual application is less certain. This paper explores the limited but diverse multidisciplinary literature and the “theory/practice” gap in the area of supply chain management and the impact on the supply chain of preparing for the Year 2000.

WHEN ROBERT HERRICK, that weaver of lovely words, wrote that, it was Youth that Man was accused of squandering. Never before have we been so guilty of that crime than as we are today.