TY - JOUR
T1 - The power of purpose – lessons in agility from the Ventilator Challenge
AU - Fearne, Andrew
AU - Wagner, Beverly
AU - McDougall, Natalie
AU - Loseby, David
PY - 2021/9/6
Y1 - 2021/9/6
N2 - Purpose: COVID-19 has shaken views of what is normal and what is possible, raising questions about conventional norms, ways of working and our understanding of agility. This paper aims to respond to calls for empirical research of supply chain capacities in times of crisis and offer a unique perspective on agile procurement and supply chain management from a case study of the Ventilator Challenge. Design/methodology/approach: A descriptive case study was undertaken, adopting an inductive approach. Interviews were conducted with the major stakeholders tasked with the design, sourcing and assembly of ventilators. Findings: Findings are delivered across four key areas: context; procurement and supply chain management; technology and culture; and environment. Key challenges and enablers are discussed, highlighting the critical roles of trust, empowerment and enabling technologies in the construction of an entirely new ventilator supply chain, from scratch, in five weeks. Originality/value: This paper delivers contributions for both academic research and practice. The case study offers rich new insights relating to procurement in times of crisis, contributing to efforts to advance beyond outdated approaches for resilience in literature. Practical contributions arise in highlighting the significance of adapted sourcing and recruitment, technology, collaboration, people and power of purpose in enabling agility and achieving the impossible.
AB - Purpose: COVID-19 has shaken views of what is normal and what is possible, raising questions about conventional norms, ways of working and our understanding of agility. This paper aims to respond to calls for empirical research of supply chain capacities in times of crisis and offer a unique perspective on agile procurement and supply chain management from a case study of the Ventilator Challenge. Design/methodology/approach: A descriptive case study was undertaken, adopting an inductive approach. Interviews were conducted with the major stakeholders tasked with the design, sourcing and assembly of ventilators. Findings: Findings are delivered across four key areas: context; procurement and supply chain management; technology and culture; and environment. Key challenges and enablers are discussed, highlighting the critical roles of trust, empowerment and enabling technologies in the construction of an entirely new ventilator supply chain, from scratch, in five weeks. Originality/value: This paper delivers contributions for both academic research and practice. The case study offers rich new insights relating to procurement in times of crisis, contributing to efforts to advance beyond outdated approaches for resilience in literature. Practical contributions arise in highlighting the significance of adapted sourcing and recruitment, technology, collaboration, people and power of purpose in enabling agility and achieving the impossible.
KW - Agile procurement
KW - Agility
KW - Collaboration
KW - COVID-19
KW - Empowerment
KW - Trust
KW - Ventilator Challenge
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85109362086&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/SCM-09-2020-0468
DO - 10.1108/SCM-09-2020-0468
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85109362086
VL - 26
SP - 753
EP - 766
JO - Supply Chain Management: An International Journal
JF - Supply Chain Management: An International Journal
SN - 1359-8546
IS - 6
ER -