Reframing disruption: a contingency and resource dependence perspective on the new disruption and automotive supply chain resilience

Li, Weiyuan (2025) Reframing disruption: a contingency and resource dependence perspective on the new disruption and automotive supply chain resilience. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The global spread of the COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the global supply chain, prompting a rethink of the research agenda on supply chain resilience (SCRES). The current research on disruption and resilience-related topics has been revealed to be inadequate in defining and addressing this unprecedented disruption. Furthermore, its considerable impact has rendered preceding strategies for addressing SCRES ineffective, resulting in prolonged recovery periods for the supply chain. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of research that has identified specific and clear strategies for addressing similar scenarios in the future, particularly within the manufacturing sector. Consequently, this research aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of this New Disruption by extending the existing research on supply chain disruption (SCD), and seeks to identify appropriate recovery strategies to enhance SCRES in the event of potential risks in the future. This research has successfully established a framework combining contingency theory and resource dependency theory, conceptualising the disruptive event as the New Disruption, and developed a clear definition that extends the boundary of SCD.

In order to gain insight into the manufacturing supply chain, this research employed a qualitative approach, collecting data through focus groups and interviews with practitioners from organisations occupying various roles in China’s automotive supply chain. Thematic analysis and Interpretive Structural Modelling revealed additional challenges unique to this New Disruption in the manufacturing sector, which were not identified in the literature on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical findings elucidated the manner in which this New Disruption impacted the automotive supply chain from the outset of the lockdown period, gradually permeating the supply chain and amplifying its destructive effects, thus exerting a long-term impact until the recovery stage. In terms of recovery, this research emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts among supply chain partners in facilitating the swift recuperation of the supply chain from disruptions. This may be achieved through the sharing of information,

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
• Supervisor's Name: Lim, Professor Ming and Wilson, Dr. James
• Date of Award: 2025
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2025-85111
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 02 May 2025 15:33
• Last Modified: 02 May 2025 15:35
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.85111
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/85111