An Exploration of the Relational Effects of Supply Chain Disruptions

Recent catastrophic events have disrupted supply chains around the globe, causing practitioners and academics to look more closely at recovery strategies. Recent examinations of supply chain disruptions focus primarily upon the recovery process and its impacts on firm performance. However, less is known about how supply chain disruptions affect business-to-business (B2B) relationships. This study uses interview data from senior supply chain managers to explore how a firm's disruption recovery processes affect supply chain relationships. Results suggest that firms desire supply chain partner participation in the recovery process and value interpersonal characteristics, including honesty, accessibility, and responsiveness.