The Utility of Critical Systems Practice: A Supply Chain Practitioner Perspective

ABSTRACT This paper explores the application of critical systems practice (CSP) in the context of supply chain management to address disruptions caused by the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study examined the theoretical application of CSP to a real‐world food supply chain case, reviewing how systems thinking can enhance resilience by addressing systemic issues. The case analysis reveals the tactical approaches taken in response to the disruptive effects caused by the pandemic. A causal analysis reveals the presence of unreconciled elements, for example, a lack of inventory transparency between firms, classified as unresolved systemic issues that negatively affect the ability of the wider supply chain to manage the discontinuity of the supply chain. A conceptual framework and retrospective theoretical application articulate CSP's utility in addressing unreconciled systemic issues. This paper is one of the first applications of CSP in a supply chain context, providing a novel lens for examining resilience. Limitations include the research approach (retrospection), with further longitudinal studies, suggested to empirically assess the conceptual framework postulated in this paper.