Generative AI as a Cognitive Orchestration Capability for Supply Chain Resilience: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract

Resilience in the context of the supply chain has emerged as a crucial strategic issue, given the various disruptions arising due to geopolitical instabilities, climatic disturbances, vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks, logistical issues, and fluctuating demand. While there is increasing interest in using artificial intelligence in supply chain management research, most discussions on the topic center around applying AI to specific functional tasks like forecasting, procurement, logistics management, and operations. In contrast, this paper attempts to answer the following question: What role can Generative Artificial Intelligence play in enabling cross-functional interpretation and decision-making during disruptions? Building on the resource orchestration theory, dynamic capabilities and organizational information processing theory, the paper proposes the construct of GenAI-enabled cognitive orchestration. Cognitive orchestration can be defined as the governance of the use of GenAI for integrating dispersed organizational knowledge, decision processes, and responses across supply chain functions under conditions of uncertainty. The theoretical perspective underlying this research builds on a systematic literature review. The theory goes on to postulate that these results are contingent on the following: data integrity, human validation, timely governance, audibility, cross-functional trust, and decision-making rights clarity. This research makes a contribution in terms of differentiating between cognitive orchestration and some other constructs, including AI-based decision support, analytics capabilities, digital control tower, digital twin, and overall cross-functional integration. Finally, this work proposes propositions for future research as well as prescribes some governance guidance regarding the use of GenAI as orchestration technology.

Keywords: Generative artificial intelligence; cognitive orchestration; supply chain resilience; cross-functional integration; dynamic capabilities; resource orchestration; organizational information processing; AI governance.