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Postponement in supply chain risk management: a complexity perspective

Lookup NU author(s): Bo Yang, Professor Ying YangORCiD

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Abstract

While the poor response implications of supply are often not elaborated on in the literature, postponement has recently been mentioned as a useful tool for managing supply risk and disruptions. To interpret this in a more complete manner, this paper has attempted to explore the role of postponement in supply chain risk management from a complexity perspective. After a review of the relevant literature, it first draws insights emerging from normal accident theory that addresses the system characteristics of catastrophic accidents and applies them to supply chain disruptions. This is followed by the utilisation of normal accident theory to explain the role of postponement in supply chain risk management. Building on this, this paper also investigates the complexity implications of some commonly recommended measures to mitigate supply chain disruptions. In certain circumstances, the introduction of those measures may add to the complexity of a system and thus become inherently infeasible. The paper concludes with a summary and some suggestions for further research.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Yang B, Yang Y

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Production Research

Year: 2010

Volume: 48

Issue: 7

Pages: 1901-1912

Print publication date: 01/01/2010

ISSN (print): 0020-7543

ISSN (electronic): 1366-588X

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207540902791850

DOI: 10.1080/00207540902791850

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