Krisenfest: Auswirkungen globaler Unsicherheiten auf DACH-Unternehmen und Maßnahmen zur Resilienz-Steigerung ihrer Lieferketten, dargestellt am Beispiel der Covid-19-Pandemie

Abstract

This thesis examines the effects of global crises, both natural and geopolitical, on companies in the German-speaking region. In recent decades, the frequency of events disrupting business operations has increased rapidly. Besides Brexit and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Covid-19 pandemic has had an especially significant impact, which is why it is the focus of this work. The procurement area is of particular importance here, as the pace of globalization and the interconnections of supply chains have increased significantly in the last three decades. Against this background, this work examines the impacts of the most significant crises of recent years and provides recommendations on how companies can prepare for such crises in a structured and unified manner. Inspired by the VUCA theory, this thesis shows how companies can minimize their vulnerability to disruptions and proactively learn from crises to grow stronger. This literature-based work draws on current reports, professional books, and studies that deal with this topic and reflect the current state of knowledge. Different states of knowledge are combined to analyze the interrelationships between them and to create corresponding recommendations for action. The final chapter of the thesis suggests concrete approaches to enable companies to sustainably increase their supply chain resilience. It is shown that both the impacts of disruptions and the effectiveness of resilience measures can vary greatly between individual companies. This makes it extremely complex to create a standardized toolbox that is applicable to every industry. Nevertheless, after analyzing various crises, especially the Covid-19 pandemic, and scientifically examining resilience in supply chains, this thesis attempts to present different possibilities for doing so. These possibilities, in company-specific forms, are intended in most cases to help minimize the impacts of crises. Overall, the thesis offers important insights and practical recommendations as to how companies in the DACH region can improve their resilience to global uncertainties. By combining theoretical insights with practical approaches, the thesis provides a comprehensive picture of the challenges and solutions in the area of supply chain resilience.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Roland Braune (Supervisor)