Reforming Global Supply Chain Operations Management under Pandemics: The GREAT-3Rs Framework and Research Agenda

Abstract

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has posed serious threats and challenges to global supply chain operations. To survive the crisis, it is critical to rethink the proper setting of global supply chains and reform many related operational strategies. In this paper, we combine a careful literature review with real-world case explorations to examine the impacts and specific challenges brought by the pandemic to global supply chains. We first classify the related literature from the demand and supply sides. Based on the insights obtained, we search and report real practices of global supply chain operations under COVID-19 in nine top global enterprises. To achieve 3Rs (responsiveness, resilience, and restoration), we then propose the “GREAT-3Rs” framework, which shows the critical issues and factors for proper global supply chain operations management (GSCOM) under different pandemic stages (i.e., pre, during, post-pandemic stages). In particular, the “GREAT” part of the framework includes five critical domains, namely government proactive policies and measures, redesigning global supply chains, economic and financing strategies under risk, adjustment of operations, and technology adoption, to help global enterprises to survive the pandemic and achieve 3Rs. Finally, we establish a future research agenda.