This study explores the application of Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) in the South African railway industry. The objective is based on determining the critical success factors and exploring the barriers of the application of SCRM in the South African Railway. The study employed a qualitative approach and interpretivism paradigm. The choice of a qualitative approach is due to its potential to solicit lived experiences, behaviours, and attitudes from research participants in their natural environments, specifically within the South African railway industry. This also motivated the choice of the interpretivism paradigm, as it asserts that reality is inherently subjective, multifaceted, and a product of social construction, which is in line with a qualitative approach. The sample size of the study is 10, drawn from managers and senior employees from the SCRM department. The selection of the sample size employed purposive sampling, which is a non-probability sampling technique. The study collected the data using semi-structured interviews and was guided by the interview guide. Thematic analysis was used in the analysis of the data to determine the extent to which it addressed the research questions.
The findings of the study indicate that an effective SCRM hinges on improving internal processes and systems, fostering participatory change management, and ensuring leadership commitment and proactive support. Enhancing communication through multistakeholder collaboration, cultivating a supportive organisational culture, and equipping the workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge are crucial. The findings of the study also identify significant barriers to SCRM, including inadequate information sharing, economic challenges, and external environmental forces. In addition, communication gaps, economic instability, political interference, and globalisation complexities exacerbate these barriers. Organisational culture issues, such as insufficient employee engagement and inflexible processes, further hinder effective risk management. Recommendations have been proposed to enhance communication, adaptability to economic conditions, proactive management of environmental factors, and fostering a supportive organisational culture.
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Future research should focus on developing innovative economic risk management strategies and address broader industry-specific challenges to ensure robust SCRM practices in the railway sector.
- The application of supply chain risk management in the South African railway industry
- Thembekile Mangquku
- B. Makhanya
- University of Johannesburg; M.Eng.
- M.Eng., University of Johannesburg
- 9961200007691
- University of Johannesburg
- University of Johannesburg; Post Graduate School of Engineering Management; Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment
- English
- Thesis