Ekanayake, E M A C; Shen, G; Kumaraswamy, M; Owusu, E K and Xue, J (2022) Capabilities to withstand vulnerabilities and boost resilience in industrialized construction supply chains: A Hong Kong study. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 29(10), pp. 3809-3829. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Given the heightened imperatives for boosting supply chain resilience (SCR) in industrialized construction (IC), it is essential to explore the correlational impacts of supply chain vulnerabilities (SCV) and supply chain capabilities (SCC) which are the measures of SCR, specifically in Hong Kong where policymakers actively promote IC. Therefore, this study aims to develop a model to explore the correlational impacts of vulnerabilities and capabilities targeting SCR in IC. Design/methodology/approach: After drawing on the general literature on SCR, empirical research using an expert opinion survey was conducted following the methodological framework of this study. The gathered data were then subjected to the partial least squares structural equation modeling process. Thereby, four hypotheses were formulated and tested for 20 capability–vulnerability relationships. Findings: Seven of the 20 statistical relationships tested were identified to be significant. Accordingly, production-based SCV were identified as the most critical disruptions. “Resourcefulness” could substantially withstand production-based SCV, receiving the highest path significance. An “enablers-results framework” for achieving SCR of IC was also developed based on these findings to help industry practitioners with SCR implementation. Originality/value: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first structured evaluation model that measures the correlational impacts of SCC and SCV targeting SCR in the construction domain. Further, this study adds substantially to the existing SCR and construction “body of knowledge” by proposing a model explaining how various SCV and SCC influence SCR in IC. These findings also inform the industry where and how to deploy critical SCC at appropriate levels, targeting critical SCV, to contain or extirpate them.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | industrialized construction; partial least squares structural equation modeling; supply chain capabilities; supply chain resilience; supply chain vulnerabilities |
| Index terms: | implementation, Hong Kong, vulnerability, supply chain resilience, practitioner, methodology, industrialized construction, body of knowledge, partial least square, resourcefulness, survey, structural equation modelling, drawing |
| Subjects: | environmental hazards, statistical analysis, sociology, Geography, research methods, contractual arrangements, knowledge management, technical documentation, supply chain resilience, practitioner, data collection methods, construction type |
| Topics: | Information Management, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Procurement, Roles and Professions, Supply Chain Management, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here