Antecedents to Moving Forward: Impact of Multiple Stakeholder Relationship Networks on Operational Resilience in Cross-Border Critical Infrastructure Systems

Abstract

Amid high uncertainties and frequent disruptions, cross-border critical infrastructure systems (CBCIS) encounter significant operational challenges. Resilient CBCIS are essential for maintaining operational safety and withstanding shocks. As complex sociotechnical systems, CBCIS rely on the interactions between multiple stakeholders, and complex relationships are crucial for enhancing resilience. This study explores the role of stakeholders and the effect of their interactions on operational resilience (OR), aiming to deepen the understanding of how stakeholder relationships affect the ability of CBCIS to withstand disruptions. Based on survey data collected from personnel involved in cross-border critical infrastructure projects in China, we adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining social network analysis (SNA) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), to clarify stakeholder roles, relationships, and multiple pathways for OR enhancement in CBCIS. According to the results of SNA, the special purpose vehicle (SPV), the operation unit, and the Chinese government are the most influential stakeholders, and coordination was identified as the dominant type of interaction among stakeholders in the disruption management of CBCIS. The findings of fsQCA show that the combination of stakeholder relationships can enhance the OR of CBCIS, particularly by improving decision synchronization among key stakeholders in the system, and can increase the efficiency of information exchange and command transmission. This paper enhances the understanding of stakeholder roles and interactions in CBCIS, establishes a literature foundation for studying the antecedents of OR from a stakeholder perspective, and offers multiple pathways to strengthen CBCIS resilience. Additionally, it provides valuable recommendations for managers to better cope with disruptions and enhance the OR of CBCIS. Government agencies and facility operators are increasingly focusing on the operational resilience of infrastructure systems to effectively manage disruption events. This study identified special purpose vehicle, operation unit, and the government as the most influential stakeholders in the disruption management of cross-border critical infrastructure systems (CBCIS), and established coordination as the dominant relationship type. This provides valuable insights into the roles of stakeholders and their relationships in disruption management. Specifically, the government and special purpose vehicle (SPV) possess critical control capabilities in coordinating resources, exchanging information, and transmitting commands. The SPV and the operation unit swiftly integrate resources and maintain close communication with others to ensure a timely response to disruptions. Additionally, this study offers recommendations for facility managers to improve OR through stakeholder interactions. For example, governments should establish effective coordination mechanisms to ensure real-time information sharing, helping all stakeholders reach a consensus on repairing and restoring CBCIS and developing a unified action plan. The SPV and operation unit should coordinate closely with other stakeholders to quickly formulate detailed repair plans, ensuring that disruptions are handled promptly and effectively. These targeted recommendations aim to assist stakeholders in better addressing disruptions and enhancing the OR of CBCIS.