THEORETICAL GUIDELINES TO MANAGE AGILE SUPPLY CHAINS

Journal Title: European Journal of Business and Social Sciences - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 3

Abstract

With tremendous levels of competition businesses and supply chains are looking at ways to become more responsive to customers. Supply chains of the future will be distinguished by how agile they are in meeting demands. The objective of this article is to report on a study where theoretical guidelines were developed to manage agile supply chains. In theory, agile supply chains have an unpredictable market demand and have agility as a market winner. A literature research was used to develop guidelines for agile supply chains to manage supply chain drivers. The theoretical guidelines were tested in six firms that show agile supply chain characteristics. These firms were selected by means of convenience, judgmental and purposive sampling. A structured questionnaire was used and the data were collected by means of personal interviews with supply chain managers. The research found that firms do not always choose the right supply chain strategy, and/or manage the supply chain drivers in line with an agile strategy. The article provides a guide for firms to align agile supply chains with the correct supply chain strategy and to manage the drivers in line with the strategy. The research showed that the theoretical guidelines could be useful for firms with agile supply chains.

Authors and Affiliations

Jacobus Daniel Nel, (D. Com)| (Corresponding Author) Higher Colleges of Technology, Box 25035, Faculty of Business, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates E-mail: dnel@hct.ac.ae Tel: +971 55 153 9645, Johanna Adolphina Badenhorst-Weiss, (Prof. )| University of South Africa Unisa main campus, Preller street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Department of Business Management, AJH van der Walt building. E-mail: badenja@unisa.ac.za Tel: +27 12 429 4356

Keywords

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  • EP ID EP10607
  • DOI -
  • Views 306
  • Downloads 13

How To Cite

(D. Com), (Prof. ) (2015). THEORETICAL GUIDELINES TO MANAGE AGILE SUPPLY CHAINS. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 4(3), 136-150. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-10607