A complex adaptive systems approach has been permeating organizational studies and
the field of supply network management helping to describe and explain supply
network dynamics and emergent inter-firm structures. This has improved our
theoretical knowledge of the nature of supply networks transforming raw materials
into products, within a constantly changing environment. From the early days of
simple structures, describing bi-lateral, local arrangements between firms for the
creation of relatively simple products, we are now in an environment of various
supply network archetypes, describing different global sourcing regimes of highly
integrated, sophisticated products within multi-tier networks.
This thesis is a study of the coevolution of the firm and supply network in the
commercial aerospace manufacturing sector producing jetliners of 100 or more seats.
One of the contributions of this research is to demonstrate how the holistic approach
of complexity science can be applied to describe, understand and gain new insight
into the coevolution of the firm and the supply network. Based on the findings of
multiple interviews and questionnaires in eight global aerospace firms across multiple
supply chain tiers, this research finds high-performing clusters of inter-firm
characteristics, plus the aspects of structure and integration which deliver the supply
network performance. Practitioners can use these specific results to examine their
own firms and the new coevolutionary conceptual framework developed in the thesis
may aid future research studies of complex adaptive systems in practice.
The simple survey design and analysis method used in the final research stage of this
research, has the potential for use in other industries, markets and other complex
adaptive systems generally to examine performance outcomes and the effects of
having or adopting new inter-firm characteristics. Finally, implications for policy
include the potential to legitimize supply networks in order to stimulate competition
and innovation in the economy