Resilience in rural supply chains: the impact of information sharing on responsiveness

Purpose This study examines how small rural purchasing firms in Ghana build supply chain resilience by developing responsiveness across logistics, operations, and supplier networks. It focuses on the role of differentiated information-sharing practices in enabling these firms to adapt to structural constraints and supply chain disruptions. Design/methodology/approach Survey data from 287 small rural businesses in Ghana are analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling and Importance-Performance Matrix Analysis to identify key drivers of responsiveness and their impact on resilience. Findings Effective information sharing significantly enhances supply chain resilience in small rural purchasing firms by improving the responsiveness of logistics processes, operational systems, and supplier networks. Practical implications The study highlights the need for friction-differentiated policies and an ecosystemic approach to strengthening rural supply chain resilience. It advocates for anticipatory resilience mechanisms, relational governance, and digital infrastructure to support small rural businesses and regional economic sustainability. Moving beyond transaction cost-centric strategies, it emphasises the dynamic interactions between logistics, operations, and supplier networks as critical to resilience and growth. Originality/value Unlike research centred on urban or global supply chains, this study addresses rural-specific challenges and proposes a framework for sustainable economic growth in Ghana, contributing to both academic discourse and policy development.