Path analysis model for supply chain risk management

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model to understand the relationship of supply chain risk sources, risk drivers, and risk mitigation strategies to the overall risk exposure of the firm and to validate the model empirically. An attempt has been made to determine the major contributors of supply chain risk as viewed by automotive professionals in today's competitive market. This study empirically validates the effects of the three critical constructs on overall supply chain risk exposure. The limitations of this study can be seen in the use of perceptual data from single informants and the focus on automotive firms in a single country. The detailed operationalization of the constructs sheds further light on the major risk sources, drivers, and mitigation strategies in supply chain networks. Clear evidence of proactive strategies in mitigating risks provides managers with a business case to invest in such initiatives

Competitive cycles in a hyper-connected world

This chapter presents a competitive framework suggesting a circular perspective in analyzing and managing competitive wars in a hyper-competitive and hyper-connected world. The author uses the expression “competitive cycles” to represent the typical journey of a competitive arena. The journey starts with the status quo, characterized by a direct confrontation on specific success factors (war of position); soon or later, however, the competition is disrupted by a game-changing strategy from some player (war of movement). This leads to the next step of the journey, made of imitation strategies, and ending up when the new game eventually becomes the new status quo. Then everything flows, until a new cycle, with its new rules, will start again. The digital tsunami is adding momentum and clock-speed to competitive cycles. In every moment of a firm’s life, it is vitally important to be fully aware of its different seasons. In fact, behind each of them lies a distinctive rationale, which calls for specific offensive and defensive abilities