The shared fate of technologies and supply chains: from global to adaptable supply chains

A direct consequence of the growth of international trade and globalization is that global supply chains have dominated industry and have created technology-supply chain ties, or configurations. The recent experience of increased supply chain disruptions, usually created externally by geopolitical events and deglobalisation trends, mean that questions are being asked about the robustness of the main configuration, that of a global supply chain. In this paper, we argue the ties create a shared fate between technologies and supply chains. Although the ties may have been historically justified, path dependency mean that they are not removed when they should. More adaptable supply chain designs should be designed to allow technologies to thrive. This argument is illustrated with a case study of the windsurfing industry.