Supply risk perceptions and practices: An exploratory comparison of German and US supply management professionals

Due in part to recent tragedies such as the terrorist events of September 11 and the widespread effects of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, there has been a growing body of research examining supply risk and supply disruptions. However, to date, most of these studies have either relied on qualitative tools for better understanding risk, or have created simulations to replicate the effects of these disruptions. Further, most of these studies have focused on specific company practices or the viewpoints from a single country or culture. To address this research gap, the purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the effects of supply disruption occurrence, how supply risk is perceived and managed, and if differences exist between supply management professionals from the USA and Germany. The preliminary findings indicate that some differences in risk perceptions and management do exist between US and German supply management professionals, which may be explained, in part, from cultural orientation and practices.