Managing operational risks through knowledge sharing in food supply chains

Despite the unprecedented growth in research on knowledge management and supply chain risk management, most prior studies discuss these two topics in isolation. Also, there is a scarcity of empirical research on both topics. By pulling together these two seemingly interrelated concepts, this study devises an integrated model investigating the extent to which operational risks affect supply chain performance and moderating role of knowledge sharing. The data set is based on 225 responses collected from the firm managers of the Australian Agri-food supply chains (ASCs) and analysed through structural equation modelling. The findings uncover that operational risks significantly undermine ASCs performance. However, knowledge sharing inversely moderate the adverse effect of operational risks, such that the higher the knowledge sharing, the lower the adverse performance effect of operational risks and vice versa. The findings enhance managerial discernment about the criticality of frequently occurring operational risks and the role of knowledge sharing in risk mitigation. The novelty of the studies lies in the unified model that simultaneously delves into the performance effect operational risks and moderating influence of knowledge sharing on risk-performance nexus.