The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of global supply chains arising from raw material scarcity, production and transportation disruption, and social distancing. Firms need to carefully anticipate the difficulties during recovery and formulate appropriate strategies to ensure the survival of their businesses and supply chains. To enhance awareness of the issues, this research aims to identify and model recovery challenges in the context of the Bangladeshi ready-made garment industry. A Delphi-based grey decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology was used to analyze the data. While the Delphi method helped identify the major supply chain recovery challenges from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the grey DEMATEL approach helped categorize the causal relationships among these challenges. Of the 23 recovery challenges finalized, 12 are causal challenges. The study’s findings can assist decision-makers in developing strategic policies to overcome the recovery challenges in the post-COVID-19 era.

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how buyer–supplier social capital may help mitigate operational supply risk (OSR) of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It empirically examines a framework that posits the direct and mediated impacts of three dimensions of buyer–supplier social capital – structural, relational and cognitive – and supplier integration on the OSR of SMEs and consequently their operational performance. Design/methodology/approach This study uses data collected via a questionnaire from 485 manufacturing SMEs in Bangladesh for analysis using structural equation modeling. Findings The analysis reveals that all the three dimensions of buyer–supplier social capital can effectively reduce the OSR of SMEs, either directly or indirectly through supplier integration. The mediating role of supplier integration in the relationship between social capital and OSR is confirmed and the negative impact of OSR on operational performances of SMEs is verified. Research limitations/implications Generalization of the findings needs to be prudent since the study gathered information only from manufacturing SMEs in Bangladesh on the buyer side of the buyer–supplier dyad. Practical implications Findings of this study can provide references for SME practitioners to formulate their OSR mitigation strategies for enhancing operational performance. Originality/value This study adds to the currently scarce literature on OSR of SMEs by combining antecedents and consequences of OSR in a single framework. It also extends the use of buyer–supplier social capital to risk mitigation research.

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on research undertaken to investigate whether current reverse logistics theories and models can be totally applied in developing countries like China using the electronic industry as a case study.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach was adopted with information collected from company web sites, direct observation, and in‐depth interviews with four major consumer electronic product manufacturers in China. Findings were analyzed and compared across all the cases studied to determine the common external and internal drivers for reverse logistics implementation as well as the obstacles faced by the whole electronic industry. A comparison with the literature was made to identify the gaps between current theories and models and actual practices in China.FindingsThe findings suggest that while reverse logistics drivers vary from company to company, barriers to reverse logistics are common and are mainly external. The major difficulty in implementing reverse logistics in the electronic industry of China is the lack of enforceable laws, regulations or directives to motivate manufacturers. Furthermore, economic support and preferential tax policies are absent to help manufacturers offset the high investment costs of reverse logistics. Low public awareness of environmental protection and underdevelopment of recycling technologies are also some of the obstacles to widespread reverse logistics implementation. The findings also reveal the presence of linkages between the various external factors that are not fully explored in current reverse logistics models.Research limitations/implicationsThe study corroborates the application of transaction cost economics and resource‐based view theory to account for the different approaches to reverse logistics adopted by firms in developing countries. It also reveals a need for further research on the linkages between external factors affecting reverse logistics implementation. The four case studies of large corporations are drawn from a Chinese setting in which implementation of reverse logistics is still in an early stage. The complex nature of China's transitional economy and political considerations may influence the perspectives and practices of small manufacturers in the management of environmental issues thus limiting the generalizability of the findings.Practical implicationsThe study reveals the problems encountered in the implementation of reverse logistics in China and proposes measures to expedite the development.Originality/valueThis paper presents a systematic analysis of the external and the internal factors affecting reverse logistics implementation in developing countries like China. It reveals the need to investigate the linkages between the various external factors that are less explored in current reverse logistic theories and models. The study also identifies the major drivers and obstacles faced by the industry, a clear understanding of which might facilitate the formulation of appropriate nation‐wide reverse ...