Prioritizing Responsiveness Barriers in Healthcare Supply Chain: A Joint ISM–MICMAC Approach

Abstract

The healthcare supply chain faces difficulties with its ability to be responsive. This study evaluates barriers within responsive healthcare supply chain management (RHSCM) by developing a hierarchical framework. The research involved interviews with ten experts to analyze eighteen barriers of RHSCM through Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis which resulted in mapping relationships across thirteen levels. The study reveals that while inaccurate demand forecasting occupies the apex of the ISM hierarchy (Level 1) and represents an important barrier. The resistance to change within organizational culture (R17) at the lowest level of the hierarchical structure. The research provides theoretical contributions to healthcare supply chain research while providing specific guidance for leaders who want to improve both system responsiveness and patient care outcomes.