How advanced information technologies help and hurt adaptation in crisis response supply chains

Kurzfassung

Climate change and geopolitical tensions demand increased adaptability from crisis-response supply chains. Advanced information technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, have been proposed as tools for increased adaptability. However, recent evidence shows that such technologies can also lead to new vulnerabilities and risks, a phenomenon we refer to as technology-induced maladaptation. This paper analyzes the effects of information technologies on resource allocation in crisis-response supply chains and identifies the conditions under which technology-induced maladaptation emerges. We develop an agent-based discrete-event simulation model in which managers adapt their resource allocations and coordination structures in response to climate shocks and geopolitical emergencies, using different information technologies. Using exploratory modeling and rule induction, we examine a sequential and a convergent supply chain configuration. Both configurations use different information technologies and are exposed to disruption patterns representing climate shocks and geopolitical emergencies. Rule induction reveals technology-disruption combinations under which technology-enabled efforts to reduce information delays and accelerate recovery may inadvertently decrease performance. The findings reveal two technology-induced maladaptation profiles: conditional and broad maladaptation. Conditional maladaptation refers to underperformance restricted to specific disruption duration windows, whereas broad maladaptation is distributed across the full range of disruption durations. The disruption pattern and supply chain configuration jointly moderate which profile a technology exhibits. Identifying these profiles advances understanding of maladaptation in crisis-response supply chains as a condition-specific phenomenon.