The question of what characteristics of a supply network make it resilient, particularly in times of disruption, has received a great deal of attention. One issue that has been overlooked is how the power, and more specifically the power asymmetry, of the supply network partners influences its resilience.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of power asymmetries in the supply network on its resilience during periods of catastrophic disruption. Power asymmetry was operationalized using the alternative, access and control sub-dimensions of network-based power and resilience was measured using changes in the network structure.
Traditionally power asymmetries have been perceived as having a negative impact on supply chain dynamics. Based on a dataset that consists of 135 supply chain networks observed over 10 years, including the COVID-19 pandemic period, the fixed effect regression results are consistent with prior research and show that, overall, power asymmetries have a negative impact on supply network resilience. However, this negative impact was significantly positively attenuated, or even reversed during the pandemic.
The findings extend the current narrative of power asymmetries as a negative force to suggest that context matters. It also highlights the importance of supply chain visibility in understanding network-based power and the challenges of managing network dynamics during periods of disruption compared to business as usual.
Dr. Canan Kocabasoglu-Hillmer, Reader, joined the Operations and Supply Chain Management group at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) in 2008. Prior to that she was an Assistant Professor at the School of Business, University of Kansas.
Her research focuses on the drivers of effective collaboration between supply chain partners.
She currently works on understanding the role of suppliers in managing supply chain risks and creating resilience.
She has published in the Journal of Operations Management, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, Industrial Marketing Management, International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research and Quality Management. She became an Area Editor for Purchasing & Strategic Sourcing for the International Journal of Operations and Production Management in 2018.
The seminar will be held in English.
Major Information: Elisa Villani (e.villani@unibo.it).