Essays on the Role of Network Structure in Operational Performance

Abstract

Research on supply chain networks is an important emerging field. A network perspective is essential because a supply chain is more of a network of organizations involved in various stages of manufacturing and product distribution, than independent firms or simple linear chains. In today's volatile world of interdependence and connectivity among firms and facilities, supply chain management must go beyond single organizations and embrace a holistic view of entire networks. Managers who fail to take into account firms' or facilities' relationships with respect to the rest of the network may produce biased performance evaluations and ineffective improvement strategies. In my dissertation, I investigate the effect of network structure on firms' operational performance. The dissertation consists of three inter-related essays. The first essay explores how a warehouse's inventory efficiency is affected by its structural position in the network. The second essay prescribes optimal strategies to invest resilience resources in the supply chain network against supply shocks. The third essay clarifies the learning behavior of a supply network that improves resilience through its suppliers' disruptions. The dissertation takes a multi-method approach by utilizing data analytics, stochastic optimization, agent-based simulation, multi-level analysis, etc. The dissertation is motivated by and grounded in real supply chains. The network data and the operational context are related to world-renowned manufacturing and/or logistics companies. This dissertation is informed by business practice and difficulties. Its prescriptions and implications will, in turn, inform organizations.