Mitigating risk in global supplies to the maritime industry

The purpose of this study is to embed using dialogue to mitigate risk in a supply network context. A detailed case narrative is provided of a Norwegian machine parts importer's supply of goods from Shanghai to the maritime industry in Norway involving both shipbuilding and maintenance associated with shipping. The case shows how supply networks consist of tiers of suppliers working together. Risk is managed through an integrated effort involving how people communicate. Given that risk is perception, attention is directed to how risk may be conceived as boundary object; that through development of discourse, risk may be mitigated through dialogue in the supply network. This study provides insights for further conceptual development how to mitigate risk by integrating this conception as a dialogue element, a boundary object used to manage risk in the globalised physical distribution of parts in the maritime industry.