The Non-Negotiable Antecedents of Supply Chain Resilience

Recent research in supply chain resilience has predominantly focused on identifying a range of antecedents that are sufficient for its development. However, there remains a significant gap in understanding which of these antecedents are not merely contributory but fundamentally necessary for establishing supply chain resilience. This distinction is crucial: while altering sufficient antecedents might impact resilience, their absence does not preclude it due to potential compensatory effects of other factors. In contrast, necessary antecedents, though not guaranteeing resilience, are indispensable; their absence unequivocally prevents the realization of resilience, a scenario that cannot be rectified by modifying other variables. Grounded in dynamic capabilities theory, we hypothesized that supply chain visibility, responsiveness, flexibility, and collaboration are necessary prerequisites for fostering supply chain resilience. To empirically test these hypotheses, we applied the 'Necessary Condition Analysis' (NCA) methodology (Dul, 2016a) survey data collected from manufacturing firms in Australia. The results indicate that, among the hypothesized factors, supply chain responsiveness and collaboration emerge as indispensable antecedents. Their absence invariably undermines the development of resilience within the supply chain, underscoring their critical role. This study not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of supply chain resilience but also provides practical guidance for managers in prioritizing efforts to enhance resilience in their operations. By identifying and focusing on these non-negotiable elements, firms can more effectively allocate resources and strategies to enhance their supply chain robustness against disruptions.