Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Management

Program Name/Specialization

Operations and Supply Chain Management

Faculty/School

Lazaridis School of Business and Economics

First Advisor

Dr. Hamid Noori

Advisor Role

Co-supervisor

Second Advisor

Dr. Kevin Hendricks

Advisor Role

Co-supervisor

Third Advisor

Dr. Marc Kilgour

Advisor Role

Committee Member

Abstract

Firms often benefit when an unfavourable event befalls a rival, usually through a shift in demand. But sometimes negative events can adversely affect other firms in the industry, a phenomena referred to as contagion. While contagion can harm the supply chain by disrupting supply or demand, or increasing operating costs, it has not yet been studied in the area of supply chain risk management. Aiming to fill this gap, in the first essay I use real cases to conceptualize the process of contagion and apply related theories and literature to theorize the key factors contributing to contagion risk. The second essay examines the contagion effect of small to moderate events as opposed to extreme events, such as an explosion in a nuclear power plant, where contagion is clearly evident and documented. Finally, the third essay explores the conditions under which low-risk firms may benefit from investing in safety improvements for their higher-risk rivals. My dissertation contributes to the literature by recognizing the role of rivals’ safety in supply chain risk management.

Convocation Year

2018

Convocation Season

Spring

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