Realizing Hyperagility under Time Pressure: Ad Hoc Supply Chains in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the medical product industry faced an unprecedented demand shock for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, face shields, disinfectants, and gowns. In response, many companies from different industries built ad hoc supply chains for these potentially life-saving products. When building ad hoc supply chains, companies showed supply chain hyperagility that allowed them to respond at an extreme speed. In this paper we investigate how companies realize supply chain hyperagility in the context of ad hoc supply chains built in the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a grounded theory-building approach, we conducted and analyzed 52 interviews with representatives of 37 German companies to develop a theoretical model that explains the relationships of four constructs to supply chain hyperagility: Internal and external (dynamic) capabilities have a direct effect on supply chain hyperagility and are moderated by an entrepreneurial and a temporary orientation. Our theoretical model contributes to the literature stream of supply chain agility by developing a new agility construct that addresses the extreme condition of time pressure. Supply chain managers will be able to develop their capabilities for future external shocks such as natural disasters and economic crises in line with our theoretical model.