Linking organization design to supply chain responsiveness: the role of dynamic managerial capabilities

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate how managers' abilities to design and implement organizational change initiatives affects supply chain (SC) responsiveness. Extant research focuses on specific process and resource options to address responsiveness, with only limited reference to managers' capabilities in adapting to new organization designs that organize processes and resources. Consequently, organizational theory that characterizes the implications of developing and implementing various designs is ignored. The study directly leverages organization adaption, organization design and the dynamic managerial capabilities literature to address the question of how to improve SC responsiveness.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data are used to identify specific dynamic managerial capability constructs, as well as the expected relationships depicted in our conceptual model. The authors test these relationships using quantitative survey data collected from 199 SC leaders.FindingsThe authors find that capabilities in organization design, functional leader negotiations and workforce communications foster SC responsiveness via improved structural adaptability (SA). The findings explain how and when organization design actions impact SA and responsiveness, and more importantly, why managers should invest in developing a workforce communication capability as the foundation for organizational adaptability.Originality/valueBy applying organization adaption, organization design and dynamic managerial capabilities concepts, the research expands the existing study of responsiveness in the SC organizational context.

The manufacturing adaptive capabilities of firms: the role of technology, market and management systems-related adaptive capabilities

“…Further, this study empirically demonstrates that MngAC positively relates to ManfAC. Although earlier studies have examined the relationship between management and manufacturing competencies from a strategic perspective (Roh et al, 2022), the current finding explicitly illustrates the impact of MngAC on ManfAC from a capability theory perspective. It appears that MngAC adjusts decision-making to allocate resources for manufacturing processes and create conditions that can elevate manufacturing processrelated knowledge, tasks, and actions.…”

“…Further, this study empirically demonstrates that MngAC positively relates to ManfAC. Although earlier studies have examined the relationship between management and manufacturing competencies from a strategic perspective (Roh et al. , 2022), the current finding explicitly illustrates the impact of MngAC on ManfAC from a capability theory perspective.…”

A review of research on supply chain adaptability: Opening the black box

“…Communication to the workforce of a new vision, strategy, and ways of operating promotes adaptability (Roh et al, 2022). Improved visibility also enhances the ability to adapt and innovate supply chain processes to meet sustainability goals (Erhun et al, 2021).…”

“…Decision makers adapt their sourcing strategies in response to organizational communication about supply risk rather than historical risk levels (DuHadway et al., 2018). Communication to the workforce of a new vision, strategy, and ways of operating promotes adaptability (Roh et al., 2022). Improved visibility also enhances the ability to adapt and innovate supply chain processes to meet sustainability goals (Erhun et al., 2021).…”

“…At least 29 studies examine a firm changing its supply chain strategy, structure, or processes in anticipation of or response to a changing business environment . Several of these studies identify the factors, both internal and external to the firm, that influence supply chain adaptability (e.g., Hohenstein, 2022; Lim & Shiode, 2011; Liu et al., 2020; Lorentz et al., 2013; MacKay & Chia, 2013; Ng et al., 2018; Pratap & Saha, 2018; Pu et al., 2019; Roh et al., 2022; Rose et al., 2016; Tong et al., 2018). A few works illuminate the process of adaptation using qualitative research methods (e.g., Charpin et al., 2021; Friedrich et al., 2022; Größler et al., 2006; Roh et al., 2017).…”