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Article
Publication date: 27 April 2023

Markus Gerschberger, Stanley E. Fawcet, Amydee M. Fawcett and Melanie Gerschberger

Complexity has been called the 21st-century supply chain (SC) challenge. Most SC managers view it as a necessary evil, ever-present, costly and tough to manage, and few prioritize…

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Abstract

Purpose

Complexity has been called the 21st-century supply chain (SC) challenge. Most SC managers view it as a necessary evil, ever-present, costly and tough to manage, and few prioritize it. Still, anecdotes suggest some leverage it to drive operational excellence. This study aims to explore how they do it, delving into the development of a complexity management capability, under what circumstances it emerges and its effect on competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

To better understand why, and how, companies develop (or not) a distinctive SC complexity management capability, this study employed an inductive study of 10 leading European companies, each operating a complex SC.

Findings

Although SC complexity raises costs, increases disruptions and makes decision-making difficult, few companies have made complexity management a priority. Among those, most focus on reducing or absorbing complexity to improve operational excellence. A few invest to develop a distinctive SC complexity management capability. They manage complexity for market success. The interaction among competitive pressures, managerial attitudes and investments delineate a dynamic capability development process.

Research limitations/implications

Despite extensive research on complexity drivers, the tools used to manage SC complexity and the impact of SC complexity on performance, the interplay among factors that promote, or hinder, the development of an SC complexity capability continues to be poorly understood. By mapping the complexity capability development process, this study explicates a more nuanced approach to managing SC complexity that can yield a competitive edge.

Practical implications

SC complexity prevails because the dynamic, iterative complexity capability development process is overlooked. Managers can use the complexity capability roadmap to assess the cost/benefits of pursuing a distinctive complexity management capability more accurately.

Originality/value

This study demystifies the development of a complexity management capability, showing how some companies develop the capability to distinguish between value-added and value-dissipating complexity and thus become empowered to leverage SC complexity for competitive advantage.

Details

The International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-4093

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Article
Publication date: 18 July 2024

Ata Karbasi, Maryam Mahdikhani, Melanie Gerschberger and Sina Aghaie

This study applies organizational information processing theory (OIPT) to investigate managing production process variability in uncertain environments using information…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study applies organizational information processing theory (OIPT) to investigate managing production process variability in uncertain environments using information technology (IT) capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

We conduct an empirical analysis using the three-stage least squares (3SLS) technique on 1,612 manufacturing firms over ten years.

Findings

The findings show that IT capability plays a dual role: it reduces the positive impact of environmental uncertainty on production process variability and mitigates the negative relationship between production process variability and operational performance.

Practical implications

Our findings suggest that managers should focus on reducing production process variability by strengthening their firms' IT capabilities. This is particularly crucial in volatile environments where external uncertainties can significantly impact operational processes.

Originality/value

Variability in the production process is a significant source of inefficiency and disruption within business processes. Using OIPT, our study contributes to the field by empirically analyzing the role of IT capabilities in reducing production process variability under environmental uncertainty.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

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