The Nature of Supply Networks

The Nature of Supply Networks takes us through the fascinating world of supply networks, using an interdisciplinary lens from complexity science and operations management. The result is a unique and powerful combination of firm-level perspectives, complex triadic relationships, and the wider, emergent ecosystems. This is a timely and important book that guides a research agenda for supply chain management in an increasingly volatile world. A must-read for both scholars and practitioners. * Alexandra Brintrup, University of Cambridge * Business resilience is anchored on having a solid supply network. Choi provides the foundational framework combined with new theoretical developments and practical insights on how to build a first-class supply network. Understanding the complex supply networks and building collaborative relationships can enable companies to orchestrate the supply network for resilience, and managing it as an adaptive system allows the network to jointly become an engine of innovation and value creation. This is a great book for supply chain leaders, practitioners, and researchers. * Hau Lee, Stanford University * I have been excited about this book since first hearing about it. The concept of supply networks developed in this book is important. In fact, it is a much better construction of the relationships we call supply chain management than supply chains themselves. The Nature of Supply Networks is a spellbinding examination of wider, emergent ecosystems told in a clear and concise manner. It is an important work for practitioners and academics. * Dale Rogers, Arizona State University * Hardly any organization could create value for its customers without the input from its suppliers and other stakeholders in the wider ecosystem. Hence, the understanding of how suppliers and the interaction among them create value is of utmost importance. This book contains a critical analysis of supply network structures and management practices. It is research-based and forward-looking. Many firms-from small firms to multinationals-still have to understand and take up many of the practices discussed in the book. * Stephan M. Wagner, ETH Zurich * Today, companies are, more than ever before, embedded into global supply networks. Developing collaborative relationships with supply chain partners and integrating processes though digital technologies are crucial for achieving competitive advantages. This book addresses these issues by applying the network concepts and complex adaptive systems theory. It presents best practices for supply base management and supply network design. All supply chain researchers and practitioners should read it. * Xiande Zhao, China Europe International Business School *