Purpose

This study aims to analyse whether the presence of supply chain complexity (SCC) influences firms to improve their supply chain (SC) resilience and SC robustness capability. This study also examines an important paradox: whether investing in both exploitation and exploration practices is conflicting or complementary to enabling SC resilience and robustness in the presence of SCC.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a survey-based approach to collect 242 useful responses from SC professionals of Pakistani firms, an important emerging economy context. The data were analysed with covariance-based structural equation modelling to statistically validate the model.

Findings

The analysis reveals several key findings: the presence of SCC has a direct, positive influence on SC resilience and SC robustness; while exploitation practices only partially mediate the nexus between SCC and SC resilience, they fully mediate the relationship between SCC and SC robustness; while exploration practices partially mediate the nexus between SCC and SC resilience, they do not mediate the relationship between SCC and SC robustness and SCC has a significant influence on SC resilience and SC robustness sequentially through exploitation and exploration (i.e. one after the other).

Practical implications

These findings help to reconcile the exploitation versus exploration paradox in cultivating SC resilience and SC robustness in the presence of SCC. The findings assist SC managers in determining how to deploy their limited resources most effectively to enhance SC resilience and SC robustness while facing SCC.

Originality/value

The authors devise and empirically validate a unique framework that demonstrates how the presence of SCC works as a stimulus to build SC resilience and SC robustness.

中文翻译：

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供应链复杂性的一线希望：通过开发和探索建立供应链的弹性和稳健性

目的

本研究旨在分析供应链复杂性（SCC）的存在是否会影响企业提高供应链（SC）弹性和SC稳健性能力。这项研究还探讨了一个重要的悖论：在存在 SCC 的情况下，对开采和勘探实践的投资是否与实现 SC 的弹性和稳健性是冲突的还是互补的。

设计/方法论/途径

作者采用基于调查的方法从巴基斯坦公司（一个重要的新兴经济体）的 SC 专业人士那里收集了 242 条有用的回复。使用基于协方差的结构方程模型分析数据，以统计验证模型。

发现

分析揭示了几个关键发现：SCC 的存在对 SC 弹性和 SC 稳健性有直接、积极的影响；虽然开发实践仅部分调节了 SCC 和 SC 弹性之间的关系，但它们完全调节了 SCC 和 SC 稳健性之间的关系；虽然勘探实践部分调节了 SCC 和 SC 韧性之间的关系，但它们并不调节 SCC 和 SC 稳健性之间的关系，并且 SCC 通过开发和勘探（即一个接一个）依次对 SC 韧性和 SC 稳健性产生重大影响。

实际影响

这些发现有助于调和在存在 SCC 的情况下培养 SC 弹性和 SC 鲁棒性的开发与探索悖论。研究结果有助于供应链管理者确定如何最有效地部署其有限的资源，以在面对供应链CC时增强供应链的弹性和供应链的稳健性。

原创性/价值

作者设计并实证验证了一个独特的框架，该框架展示了 SCC 的存在如何刺激建立 SC 弹性和 SC 稳健性。