Supply chain security orientation: conceptual development and a proposed framework

Purpose – This paper aims to report on an exploratory study investigating supply chain security orientation (SCSO), a firm‐level construct addressing companies' multiple approaches toward mitigation of supply chain security breaches and supply chain risk management. Design/methodology/approach – Structured interviews were conducted with managers who were responsible for firms' supply chain security efforts. The resulting data were content analyzed and critical themes presented depicting SCSO. Findings – Key antecedents, outcomes, and moderating conditions were identified based on the qualitative data. Four primary dimensions of the SCSO concept are revealed. Originality/value – The major contribution of the paper is the delineation of the components of SCSO, which appear to be pervasive across firms. Additionally, several drivers of SCSO are identified, and SCSO is linked to positive financial and customer outcomes, as well as supply chain continuity.