A Systematic Literature Review Protocol for the analysis of practices, measurement instruments and contextual factors inherent to Supply Chain Agility

Abstract

Supply Chain Agility (SCA) has recently received substantial attention in the literature and in practice. The previous literature encompasses a number of different tools and constructs that are used to measure SCA, indicating the need to refine and validate a supply chain-level measurement instrument of SCA. In addition, the role of the contextual factors inherent to the implementation of SCA and the need to achieve a certain fit between SCA and other supply chain and firm strategies and orientations has received little attention by the research community. This paper represents a SLR protocol to identify definitions, practices, and measurement items of SCA, as well as the contextual factors that affect supply chain's ability to implement and measure supply chain agility. Finally, this paper will try to contribute to the theory development and advancement on SCA by clarifying the need to accomplish a certain fit between SCA and other supply chain and firm strategies and orientations.

Is Paper Stationery or Agile? An Investigation of Dynamic Capabilities in the Printing Paper Supply Chain

“…Over the last 20 years, the "sensing" and "agility" concepts have grown in recognition as critical supply chain management capabilities (Aslam et al, 2018). Motivated to manage uncertainties while being responsive, innovative, and meeting customer needs, firms developed capabilities to recognize changing conditions and adapt rapidly to meet the new environment criteria (Alkurdi & Vázquez-Bustelo, 2021;Gligor, 2014). Perceiving environment changes (market sensing) and responding to these changes quickly (supply chain agility) are positioned as dynamic capabilities which are critical to competitiveness (Aslam et al, 2018).…”

“…Most supply chain scholars have combined SCS with aspects of SCA; generally referring to these concepts together as SCA. While Alkurdi and Vázquez-Bustelo (2021) include sensing as part of SCA, Aslam et al (2018) posit that market sensing is an antecedent of agility and, therefore, a separate capability. Aslam et al (2018) argue that firms could not provide supply chain responses without sensing the opportunities and threats in the first place.…”

“…Supply chain agility (SCA) represents a firm's ability to respond quickly to short-term changes in demand or the environment (Aslam et al, 2018) -assuming the firm has the capability to sense the changes (Eckstein et al, 2015). The concept of agility has recently received significant attention from academics, evidenced by multiple comprehensive, structured literature reviews focused on SCA development measurement of (e.g., Alkurdi & Vázquez-Bustelo, 2021;Du et al, 2021;Fayezi et al, 2017). A prevailing view of SCA includes common defining themes: sensing, flexibility, speed, and alertness (Alkurdi & Vázquez-Bustelo, 2021).…”

“…The concept of agility has recently received significant attention from academics, evidenced by multiple comprehensive, structured literature reviews focused on SCA development measurement of (e.g., Alkurdi & Vázquez-Bustelo, 2021;Du et al, 2021;Fayezi et al, 2017). A prevailing view of SCA includes common defining themes: sensing, flexibility, speed, and alertness (Alkurdi & Vázquez-Bustelo, 2021). These authors included both proactive and reactive items to measure SCA.…”

“…Many researchers have explored supply chain agility (SCA), attempting to explain the relationship between SCA and supply chain outcomes or firm performance (Blome et al, 2013;Gligor et al, 2015;Zakir et al, 2022;Zhu & Gao, 2021). Researchers have identified SCA as a key capability for supply chain management and subsequent positive firm performance (Alkurdi & Vázquez-Bustelo, 2021;Braunscheidel & Suresh, 2009;Gligor et al, 2015;Manzoor et al, 2022;Tse et al, 2016). Much of this research finds a positive relationship between SCA and firm performance in large organizations.…”