Forming structural flexibility dimensions with different design characteristics of dual sourcing: A multiple case study
Other conference contribution, 2025
Purpose
Through increasing disruptions, structural flexibility became essential for building adaptive supply chains in recent years. Understanding how dual sourcing can be deliberately designed to form specific structural flexibility dimensions became essential. Hence, the purpose of this study is to understand how different design characteristics of dual sourcing form structural flexibility dimensions.
Design/Methodology/Approach
The research design is a multiple case study of six dual sourcing cases across two firms representing different design characteristics to face disruptions. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted and analyzed by a thematic and cross-case analysis.
Findings
The findings reveal that design characteristics of dual sourcing that form structural flexibility are the depth of integration in the supply chain and the breadth of utilization across products and components. These characteristics not only have formed different structural flexibility dimensions in quantity but also show that specific structural flexibility dimensions can be formed.
Research Limitations/Implications
The study contributes to the knowledge of how design characteristics of dual sourcing deliberately form dimensions of structural flexibility to obtain adaptability. Furthermore, it contributes to the overall knowledge about the formation of structural flexibility dimensions, as a type of supply chain flexibility.
Practical Implications
Practical implications regarding the integration and utilization mechanisms of dual sourcing are offered for managers seeking to form certain structural flexibility dimensions.
Original/value
A conceptual framework is developed that shows how design characteristics of dual sourcing can be categorized, especially through integration and utilization, and how these types form structural flexibility dimensions. Thereby, the results show that the formation of structural flexibility dimensions can be different and hierarchical.
Through increasing disruptions, structural flexibility became essential for building adaptive supply chains in recent years. Understanding how dual sourcing can be deliberately designed to form specific structural flexibility dimensions became essential. Hence, the purpose of this study is to understand how different design characteristics of dual sourcing form structural flexibility dimensions.
Design/Methodology/Approach
The research design is a multiple case study of six dual sourcing cases across two firms representing different design characteristics to face disruptions. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted and analyzed by a thematic and cross-case analysis.
Findings
The findings reveal that design characteristics of dual sourcing that form structural flexibility are the depth of integration in the supply chain and the breadth of utilization across products and components. These characteristics not only have formed different structural flexibility dimensions in quantity but also show that specific structural flexibility dimensions can be formed.
Research Limitations/Implications
The study contributes to the knowledge of how design characteristics of dual sourcing deliberately form dimensions of structural flexibility to obtain adaptability. Furthermore, it contributes to the overall knowledge about the formation of structural flexibility dimensions, as a type of supply chain flexibility.
Practical Implications
Practical implications regarding the integration and utilization mechanisms of dual sourcing are offered for managers seeking to form certain structural flexibility dimensions.
Original/value
A conceptual framework is developed that shows how design characteristics of dual sourcing can be categorized, especially through integration and utilization, and how these types form structural flexibility dimensions. Thereby, the results show that the formation of structural flexibility dimensions can be different and hierarchical.
Structural Flexibility
Supply Chain Flexibility
Supply Chain Design
Dual Sourcing
Author
Ellen Feist
Supply and Operations Management 03
Patrik Jonsson
Supply and Operations Management 02
Árni Halldórsson
Supply and Operations Management 01
16th EDSI conference
Gothenburg, Sweden,
Gothenburg, Sweden,
REAL: Building resilience: Aligning supply chain reconfiguration and dynamic planning
VINNOVA (2021-03673), 2021-11-15 -- 2024-11-15.
Areas of Advance
Transport
Production
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Business Administration