Operations, risk, and small firms: Field results from irrigation equipment vendors in Senegal

What are supply chain management challenges in a lower-income economy, and how do managers at smaller firms address them? This field study presents these from the perspective of 60 who run selling irrigation equipment Senegal. By canvasing 35 cities, we gain unique visibility into private chains, on which public officials smallholder farmers Africa rely, effectively deliver agricultural goods. The primary for this day-to-day risks that quality contractual nature have financial implications. City size combination with supplier type, firm size, manager network determine risk exposure. Firms’ efforts to manage more reactive than proactive informal formal, reveals an opportunity agencies support customer coordination. Public decision makers should tailor account differential city brings management. include not just financing directly but also entail giving loans customers, certifying suppliers, sharing inventory nonprofit partners.