Building Ambidextrous Supply Chains in SMEs: How to Tackle the Barriers?

Ambidexterity involves developing competencies to excel simultaneously on the exploration and exploitation dimensions. Few studies in literature discuss ambidexterity in a supply chain context. The research presented in this paper highlights issues that act as barriers and deserve attention in implementing ambidextrous supply chain strategy in SMEs. To develop a relationship structure existing among these variables, Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) technique is used. Further, variables' impact and dependency is calculated using Impact Matrix Cross-Reference Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) approach. ISM algorithm proves to be a better tool as compared to a large-scale generic questionnaire based study due to its iterative nature that helps to bring forth issues that are difficult to identify otherwise. SMEs in India under tremendous pressure to excel on exploration and exploitation dimensions would be the major beneficiaries of this study. The hierarchy based structure and the classification of factors based on their impact and dependence, will enhance the understanding of SMEs mangers/owners to improve supply chain performance by eliminating barriers and thereby implementing ambidextrous strategy across the supply chain.