Supply Chain Resilience as Endotherm Resilience: Theorizing Through Metaphorical Transfer

Christopher S Kwaramba, Susan Meyer Goldstein, Paul Benjamin Lowry, Quinton J Nottingham, Erica F Cooper

Production and Operations Management · 2024 · Volume 33 · Issue 2

Abstract

This study explores the application of formal metaphorical transfer to construct theory regarding supply chain resilience, a topic of increased significance due to rising supply chain disruptions. We propose an ecological resilience perspective to illuminate the complex, dynamic nature of supply chain systems. Our research pivots around two questions: (1) Can the resilience of endotherms (warm-blooded animals) serve as a conceptually robust source phenomenon for metaphorical transfer to the study of supply chain resilience? (2) What theory-based principles can be derived from this metaphor to enhance our understanding of supply chain resilience? After rigorously establishing the conceptual equivalence between endotherm resilience and supply chain resilience, we identify a set of theory-based principles that provide insights into the evolving field of supply chain resilience. These principles help illuminate the adaptive and predictive dimensions of supply chain resilience. This paper contributes to theory building in operations management and supply chain management while suggesting new avenues for future research.

Keywords

Supply chain resilience, theory building, metaphors, metaphorical transfer, endotherm resilience

Enable JavaScript for citation tools and additional paper interactions.