A taxonomy of supply chain resilience

Global supply chains (SCs) are increasingly exposed to disruptions that challenge their ability to adapt and recover, making Supply Chain Resilience (SCRes) a key concern for scholars, educators, and practitioners. Yet, despite its prominence, the concept remains theoretically fragmented, with numerous definitions and typologies that may obscure rather than clarify its meaning in practice. This study addresses this theoretical and practical dilemma by investigating how SC professionals themselves conceptualise and operationalise SCRes. Drawing on an open-ended survey of 51 practitioners across diverse industries, the data were analysed through iterative deductive and inductive coding to identify shared patterns and themes. As a result, the study develops an empirically grounded taxonomy of SCRes comprising three interrelated dimensions, namely: adaptive capacity, structural agility, and transformative learning. This taxonomy is an original contribution that advances theory by reconciling divergent conceptual perspectives, resulting in a practical decision aid to diagnose and prioritise SCRes investments in production and logistics systems. This study offers managers actionable guidance for embedding resilience in SC strategy and operations, and provides educators with a framework to better prepare future SC professionals for managing disruptions in vulnerable, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environments.