Modelling supply chain Visibility, digital Technologies, environmental dynamism and healthcare supply chain Resilience: An organisation information processing theory perspective

Abstract

The healthcare sector is a complex and critical industry that requires a resilient supply chain to ensure patients receive the care they need. However, the pandemic and geopolitical crises have highlighted the need for a more comprehensive understanding of healthcare supply chain resilience. To address this, healthcare providers and policymakers increasingly recognise the importance of digital technology in enhancing their supply chain resilience. Despite this recognition, there is a lack of empirical studies that have explored the relationship between supply chain visibility, digital capabilities, and environmental dynamism in the healthcare sector. Therefore, our study aimed to fill this gap by utilising organisational information processing theory (OIPT) to explain the relationship between these factors. Our analysis of 137 survey responses revealed that supply chain visibility is a foundational resource for digital capabilities. Moreover, digital capabilities are vital in enhancing healthcare supply chain resilience in highly turbulent environments. Our research expands the concept of the OIPT to offer a more comprehensive explanation of how supply chain visibility is a crucial factor for the effective functioning of digital technologies, particularly in highly uncertain environments. Our findings also provide useful insights for healthcare managers and policymakers who wish to enhance their supply chain’s resilience and leverage digital technologies to achieve this objective.