TITLE:
Digital Technological Strategies Used by Supply Chain Managers to Mitigate Crisis Impacts on Business Operations
AUTHORS:
Roderick Williams, Kim A. Critchlow
KEYWORDS:
Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Resilience, Managing Crisis, Crisis Resilience Digitalization, Digital Transformation, Business Disruptions, Supply Chain Efficiency, Inventory Management Systems, E-Commerce, Communication Technologies, Converging Technologies
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.14 No.4,
July
16,
2026
ABSTRACT: Ineffective strategies for mitigating supply chain disruptions during crises can adversely affect business operations and profitability. Supply chain managers who lack effective digital technological strategies face heightened risks of operational interruptions, financial losses, and diminished customer satisfaction. Grounded in resource dependence theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry explored the digital technological strategies that supply chain managers in the southeastern United States use to reduce the impact of crises on business operations and profitability. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seven supply chain managers who had successfully digitalized their operations, supplemented by a review of publicly available documents. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes: 1) inventory and financial management technologies, 2) converging technologies, 3) e-commerce, and 4) communication technologies. The findings indicate that the strategic adoption and continuous updating of integrated digital technologies enhance supply chain resilience and minimize operational disruptions during crises. The implications for positive social change include improved continuity of goods and services, strengthened economic stability, and sustained employment within communities.