Stability in corporate supply chain relationships: establishing the analytical frameworks

The observed corporate changes in many supply chains suggest that instability rather than stability is a consistent pattern in corporate supply chain relationships. This observation should not be surprising given that strategies for change and competitive advantage are central to a firms' purpose, as examined in vast strategic management research. While not universal, many academics and practitioners in supply chain management (SCM) continue to assert that collaboration is an effective strategy towards competitive advantage. This is not to suggest that collaboration in chains is not a worthwhile pursuit and a key differentiator, but rather its application and sustainability is perhaps overstated in theory and practice, and the antithesis of the argument remains under-developed.