Mediation effect of business process and supply chain management capabilities on the impact of IT on firm performance: Evidence from Chinese firms

Investigating business process management on environmental performance considering the mediating role of information technology

Businesses in the current world need to plan in light of rapidly evolving factors including technology, equipment, the competitive market, customers, etc. To address the ever-increasing environmental concerns, corporations have implemented new policies and procedures. In this research, we apply a technological intervention to analyze how the uncertain nature of business management affects environmental performance at Huangshi in Hubei. The study's focus, quantitative nature, and descriptive-analytical approach all make it a subset of applied research. The library study approach is used to gather data for the purpose of compiling theoretical underpinnings and research material. Statistical packages like SPSS and PLS are used to do both descriptive and inferential analyses on the data. The hypothesis was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The study's findings revealed that BPM has a direct, beneficial, and statistically significant impact on corporate operations in terms of their impact on the environment ( β =  0.359, P < 0.05). A good and noticeable impact on environmental performance is also produced by the indirect management of business processes through the mediation of information technology. The path coefficient and t-statistic findings indicated a positive and substantial influence of business process management on information technology. There is a clear and substantial correlation between information technology and environmental performance ( β =  0.381, P < 0.05). Policy implications suggest that integrating BPM with IT solutions can significantly enhance environmental performance.

Mediation effect of knowledge management on the impact of IT capability on firm performance: exploring the moderating role of organization culture management

Introduction

With the development of the digital economy, a multitude of firms have embarked on the path of digital transformation through information technology (IT). Scholars have called for attention to the mediating or moderating mechanisms of IT capability on firm performance. This study argues that further exploration is needed regarding the relationship between IT capability and firm performance.

Methods

This study obtained questionnaire data from 152 IT senior managers of randomly selected manufacturing firms. The data was used to empirically test the proposed hypotheses using hierarchical regression analysis.

Results

The results showed that IT capability has a positive effect on firm performance directly and indirectly via knowledge stock and knowledge process. Moreover, organizational culture management moderates the relationship between knowledge stock/knowledge process, and firm performance.

Discussion

This study proposes the "resources-knowledge-performance" mechanism, which sheds light on the "black box" of how IT capability affects firm performance. This enriches the research on knowledge from different perspectives and the the research on organizational culture by discussing the moderating role of organizational culture management in the relationship between knowledge stock/process and firm performance. Our research also has important managerial implications to firm.

Exploring the relationship between digitalization, resilient agri-food supply chain management practices and firm performance

Purpose

This study aims to explore the mediating role of digital technologies-based supply chain integrating (SCI) strategies on the agri-supply chain performance (SCP) and firm performance (FP). This research has introduced recently emerged digital technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT). Further, based on theoretical support and an extensive literature review, this research has proposed some hypotheses, which have been quantitatively validated for their significance.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was formulated based on an extensive literature review. Data for this research were gathered from a survey completed by 119 respondents from different departments of agri-firms. Further, partial least square (PLS)-based structured equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the proposed hypothetical model.

Findings

The results confirm that IoT-based digital technologies and supply chain processes (organization integration [OI], information sharing and customer integration [CI]) have a significant positive correlation. Furthermore, supply chain practices are positively associated with SCP. Finally, it has been found that FP is positively impacted by SCP.

Research limitations/implications

This research is used to analyse the mediating impacts of digital supply chain processes as a linking strategy for SCP and FP. For practical purposes, this research provides investment decisions for implementing digital technologies in SC strategies. The findings have proposed implications for managers and practitioners in agri-firms based on existing theories: contingency theory (CT) and relational view theory. Also, this study suggests the deployment of smarter electronically based tags and readers, which improve the data analytics capabilities based on auto-captured data. Thus, the availability of quality information improves the data-driven decisional capabilities of managers at company level.

Originality/value

This is a unique and original study exploring the relationship between digitalization, resilient agri-food supply chain (AFSC) management practices and firm performance. This research may be extended to other industries in view of the results from SCP and impact of digitalization.

Digital Innovation and Firm Environmental Performance: The Mediating Role of Supply Chain Management Capabilities

Given the omnipresence and profoundness of the ongoing pandemic from the Coronavirus disease 2019, its potential spread can be minimized through social distancing. However, this practice causes increasing difficulties and undesirability of traditional transactions or interactions. Accordingly, various manufacturing firms around the world have become more committed not only to accelerating the development of digital technologies, but also to integrating them with existing processes. In this study, we address an important issue of how manufacturing firms can adapt to the ever-changing volatility and unpredictable global business environment, and achieve sustainable growth by developing a strong supply chain management capability. Two specific interrelated research questions are considered: (1) How do supply chain management capabilities contribute to firm environmental performance; and (2) What are the sources of such capabilities? In so doing, we integrate various forms of digital innovation into a supply chain management capability logic to explore their antecedents and consequences. By using survey data from 272 manufacturing firms in China, we examine the relationship between three key forms of digital innovation (i.e., product, platform, and service) and firm environmental performance. Results show that digital product, platform, and service innovations all have positive contributions to supply chain management capability. In turn, supply chain management capabilities have a partial mediating effect between digital product innovation and firm environmental performance, but a full mediating effect between digital platform and service innovations and firm environmental performance.

The Impact of Dynamic Accounting Information System on Organizational Resilience: The Mediating Role of Business Processes Capabilities

For decades, one of the main concerns of both practitioners and academics has been the business value of dynamic accounting information systems (DAIS). A number of studies have demonstrated the positive effects of information systems capability on overall organizational performance, but our understanding of the business processes capabilities through which such gains are achieved remains limited due to a lack of focus on the turbulent business environment. As a result, the research on information systems continues to debate such a connection. The role of business process capabilities in modulating the link between dynamic AIS capability and organizational resilience was investigated in this study. Our results show that, while firm-wide dynamic AIS capability has characteristics of flexible AIS, complement BI system, and AIS-related human resource competency, the impact on organizational resilience is positively affected by mediation of business process capabilities based on 144 matched questionnaires selected from large companies from various sectors listed on the Bursa Malaysia. Our results also suggest that dynamic AIS capability has an impact on organizational resilience. According to the Resource-Based Theory (RBT) and dynamic capabilities view (DCV) viewpoints, there is a link between dynamic AIS and business process capacity to improve organizational resilience. The findings strongly support the claim that an organization’s dynamic AIS capabilities—both flexible AIS, complementary business intelligence (BI) system, and AIS-related human resource competency—can help an organization improve its resilience. This research’s practical and theoretical ramifications as well as its limitations are examined.

A Multi-Country Empirical Study Of ICT-Induced Productivity Variances By Economic Magnitude And Industry

Global trends such as the prolonged decline in productivity growth and lower fertility rates across many regions have rendered productivity-led growth an important phenomenon. This paper investigates: 1) Does the effect of ICT use on firm-level productivity vary between firms operating in the manufacturing and services industry? 2) How does the country's economic magnitude influence the impact of ICT use on firm-level productivity in manufacturing and services firms? We incorporate the evaluation of the endogeneity issue for the generation of the final results using the 2SLS approach. Using a sample of 2407 manufacturing and service firms operating in 34 countries with diverse economic magnitude, we find that ICT use positively affects manufacturing firms' productivity compared to the service sector. Furthermore, we find that effect of ICT use on firm-level productivity is more potent for manufacturing firms operating in high-income countries when compared to their counterparts in lower-income countries.

Examining the Relationship between Information Systems, Sustainable SCM, and Competitive Advantage

Sustainability, information systems (IS), and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) are the main research areas of this study. In an era where environmental and social responsibility is becoming increasingly more important, SSCM is very significant for the survivability and competitiveness of organizations. Information systems may facilitate sustainable practices, as they support supply chain processes, decrease costs, and enable the control and monitoring of operations. The aim of this research is to explore the relationship between information systems and SSCM and explain under what circumstances they could lead to competitive advantage or increase internal business performance. To analyze the above, the methodology comprises a literature review enabling the understanding and conceptualization of the main research constructs and revealing the gaps of previous research. It also comprises qualitative research based on a single-case study allowing an in-depth examination of the subject of study. The findings reveal that the use of information systems, combined with strong interorganizational relationships and collaboration, can support SSCM practices. They can bring important business advantages, such as improved business performance and increased customer loyalty, but not necessarily competitive advantage. The results of this research show that SSCM is a promising field of study, with prospects for future research.

Role of enterprise information system management in enhancing firms competitive performance towards achieving SDGs during and after COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of firms' information system management capabilities on competitive performance for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). It also examines the moderating effects of multi-sensory stimuli capability on firms' competitive performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon the resource base and dynamic capability view as the overarching theoretical framework, this research conducted an empirical study among manufacturing and services enterprise employees. This study applied multiple cross-sectional surveys for data collection. A total of 241 usable data were obtained and explained through structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

The statistical results explore that variables under their respective direct relationship are positively and significantly influence. Interestingly, firms information system management capability has a relatively large magnitude of positive and direct effects on the competitive performance of firms' that complement on achieving firms SDGs and coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the multisensory stimulus capability of service firms positively moderates (amplifies) the relationship between marketing information system management capability and competitive performance.

Practical implications

The proposed research model provides insights into the utilisation of firms information system management capability to achieve competitive performance in their relevant industry. In addition, it deepens the understanding of the contingency effect of using multisensory stimulus capability of firms on competitive performance.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, drawing on the resource-based theory and dynamic capability theory, this study is the first to assess and examine the influence of firms information system management capability on the competitive performance of firms by considering the moderating variables (i.e. multisensory stimulus capability) in context to COVID-19 pandemic by considering the scope of SDGs.

Information technology (IT) governance and IT capability to realize firm performance: enabling role of agility and innovative capability

Purpose

With the ever-growing turbulent business setting, there is a great interest to study how a firm tailors information technology (IT) capability to shape agility and innovation capability to stay ahead of the competition. This study examines how IT governance and IT capability can be tailored to achieve firm performance through agility and innovative capability in a turbulent environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the dynamic capability theory, this study based on the primary survey data of 253 responses from senior IT and business executives in China proves the hypothesized relationship in the proposed model.

Findings

This study shows that the IT governance mechanism positively impacts on IT-enabled dynamic capabilities. Further, IT-enabled dynamic capabilities positively impact on agility and innovative capability that in turn support to achieve firm performance. The environmental uncertainty is only significant in the IT-enabled dynamic capabilities–business process agility relationship.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests corporate leaders and executives to better exploit their resources and tailor IT capabilities in the turbulent environment. Further, this study offers theoretical and practical implications.

Originality/value

This study proposes ways for executives to examine the multifaceted nature of environmental uncertainty to achieve agility, innovation and firm performance rather than simply investing in IT.

Understanding the link between IS capabilities and cost performance in services: the mediating role of supplier integration

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the link between information systems (IS) capabilities, supplier integration and cost performance in the service context. Specifically, it empirically investigates how supplier integration meditates the relationship between three dimensions of IS capabilities and cost performance in service firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 156 UK service firms was conducted and the data analyzed to determine the role of supplier integration in mediating the effects of IS capabilities on firms' cost performance. The research model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM), and the neural network model was used to rank the relative influence of significant predictors obtained from SEM.

Findings

The results confirmed that supplier integration fully mediates the effects of information technology (IT) for supply chain activities and flexible IT infrastructure on cost performance and partially mediates the effect of operations manager's IT knowledge on cost performance. The results showed that operations manager's IT knowledge is the strongest predictor of supplier integration.

Originality/value

This study takes a step toward quelling concerns about the business value of IS, contributing to the development and validation of the measurement of IS capabilities in the service operations context. Additionally, it adds to the emerging body of literature linking supplier integration to the operational performance of service firms.

The impact of information technology capabilities on agri-food supply chain performance: the mediating effects of interorganizational relationships

Purpose

Motivated by the apparent presence of the “productivity paradox” of information technology (IT) in agri-food supply chain (SC), the purpose of this paper is to explore how IT capabilities affect agri-food supply chain performance (SCP). Specifically, this paper investigates the direct and indirect impacts of IT capabilities on agri-food SCP through interorganizational relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs the questionnaire survey method based on relevant literatures. Data are collected from Chinese 265 core firms' agri-food SC. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is mainly employed for hypothesis testing and analysis.

Findings

The main findings are as follows. First, IT capabilities have significant direct impact on agri-food SCP. Second, IT capabilities enhance interorganizational relationships in the agri-food SC. Third, interorganizational relationships positively influence agri-food SCP. Last, interorganizational relationships are important path factors and mediate the indirect impact of IT capabilities on agri-food SCP.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to a particular sample, that is, agriculture-related firms in Chinese agri-food SC. The results need to be generalized to encompass wider samples. Future research could in greater detail study the links among IT capabilities, interorganizational relationships and agri-food SCP.

Practical implications

The study's findings could provide practical reference value for agriculture-related firms to design appropriate strategies to solve the IT “productivity paradox” and improve agri-food SCP from the perspectives of IT capabilities and interorganizational relationships.

Originality/value

This paper constructs a newly developed framework based on the resource-based view (RBV) and relational view to examine the links among IT capabilities, interorganizational relationships and agri-food SCP, and innovatively verifies the mediating effect of interorganizational relationships on the impact of IT capabilities on agri-food SCP.

Effect of information technology-enabled supply chain integration on firm's operational performance

Purpose

Using the assumptions of the resource-based view, relational view and swift, even flow theories and the overarching principles of supply chain management, the study aims to test the role of information technology (IT) capability (cross-functional application, supply chain application and data consistency) in enabling supply chain integration (SCI; internal, customer and supplier integration) and the impact of SCI on firm's operational performance in terms of quality, delivery, production cost, inventory level, customer service and product-mix flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

The structural equation modeling approach is used to test theoretical predictions underlying the relationship among dimensions of IT capability, SCI and operational performance based on data obtained from senior executives of 108 large manufacturing firms listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Findings

The results suggest that IT capability has positive impact on SCI, except for data consistency, which is found to have negative impact on internal integration. The results further indicate that SCI, especially customer integration, has positive and significant impact on all operational performance indicators.

Practical implications

The findings inform future initiatives associated with the SCI improvement via specific IT capabilities. When undertaking such initiatives, managers are advised to consider the differential impact of the following IT capabilities on SCI: cross-functional applications, supply chain applications, and data consistency capability.

Originality/value

The study makes an empirical contribution to the body of knowledge by demonstrating the value of the multidimensional representation and analysis of IT capability, SCI, and operational performance given a differential and even opposed influence by some of the dimensions in specific business contexts.

IT strategy and business strategy mediate the effect of managing IT on firm performance: empirical analysis

Purpose

The multifaceted effect of IT in organizations has been widely examined. However, the intervening role of IT strategy and business strategy on the effect of managing IT on firm performance remains less strong. This study examines how managing information technology (MIT) effects on firm performance by looking at the mediating role of IT strategy and business strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the resource-based view of IT and contingency perspective, theoretical insights for managing IT and the mediating effect of IT strategy and business strategy on firm performance are established. The model is empirically tested by using hierarchical regression and structural equation modeling for the data collected through the survey of 194 senior IT and business managers in China.

Findings

The significant and impactful relationship found in the model for the proposed idea. The results show that both IT strategy and business strategy partially mediate the effect of managing IT on firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

The findings highlight that managing IT does not merely influence better firm performance; instead, the coherent amalgamation of IT strategy and business strategy can enrich firm performance. The theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Originality/value

In line with the call for rigorous research to integrate the managing IT and firm strategies, this study demonstrates the mediating role of business strategy and IT strategy between the managing IT and the firm performance relationship, hence contributing to the IS research literature.

The Role of Innovative Climate in the Relationship between Sustainable IT Capability and Firm Performance

Information Technologies (IT) and IT-based capabilities represent a sovereign approach to firm survival and success in today’s business environment. The reflections of information technologies on company performance has always been a controversial topic in the management literature. As previous studies examining these kinds of relationships reported mixed results in terms of information technologies efficiency paradox, scholars are still trying to specify the underlying mechanisms and organizational factors linking IT to financial performance. Building on the resource-based view and positioning theory, this paper focuses on sustainable IT capabilities to generate value from IT investments. Moreover, the conflicting results regarding the effects of IT on firm performance lead to questions such as what sort of organizational contexts influence IT usage and enable firms to achieve business goals. This study considers IT capability as a three-dimensional construct—managerial IT capability, technical IT capability, and human support—and investigates the effects of sustainable IT capability on firm performance as well as analyzing the moderating effect of innovative climate. By studying the data from 221 managers of IT companies listed in the top 500 list of Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), we found that: (1) managerial and technical IT capabilities have significant and positive effects on quantitative performance, all aspects of IT capability—managerial IT capability, technical IT capability, and human support—are significantly and positively associated with qualitative performance, and (2) the relationship between technical IT capability and quantitative performance becomes stronger when the organizational climate is more innovation-oriented. (3) Similarly, the relationship between managerial and technical IT capabilities and qualitative performance becomes even stronger when the organizational climate is more innovative. The study concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and managerial implications.

How do Partners Benefit from IT Use in Supply-Chain Management: An Empirical Study of Taiwan’s Bicycle Industry

To be sustainable and growing amongst uncertain environments and intensive global competition, supply-chain network leaders have established supply-chain management systems (SCMS) to leverage the resources and knowledge of their partners to achieve greater supply-chain capabilities (SCC) to respond to market changes and complexity. Although several studies have investigated the benefits to network leaders from these systems in various industries, little attention has been paid to the delivery of substantial benefits and advantages to its partners. Based on information technology (IT) applications and SCC literature, this paper proposes a model relating partners use of SCMS to benefits. Data from 168 partners using an SCMS implemented by a leading bicycle supply chain in Taiwan to test the hypotheses that SCC and operational performance has a mediating role linking SCMS use in order to affect a partner’s performance. The results indicate that SCMS implementation has a significant impact on SCC, which in turn create a significant positive effect on operational (sustainable) performance, ultimately leading to improved growth rate and profitability in partners. Another interesting finding of the research is that SCMS cannot directly affect financial performance. In addition, from sustainable performance aspects, it is revealed that IT enables supply chain management (SCM) to achieve environmental value through information sharing (up and down), process integration (vertical and horizontal) and automation (i.e., planning, operation and control). This finding highlights the importance for maximizing benefits and sustainability for the whole supply-chain partners, the IT implementation must be integrated with the sustainable development goals and inserted in the eco-operation supply-chain platform process. The results also contribute to the debate in prior studies by disclosing why so many partners could not find to gain benefit from these IT implementations. Furthermore, this study represents the first attempt to examine how partners benefit from IT use in SCC for traditional industry.

Factors that Sustain Health and Safety Management Practices in the Food Industry

Due to the significant change in business organizations, scholarly interest has diverted from studying the determinants of financial performance to understanding the environmental activities, sustainability practices, and health and safety management practices. Despite the extensive literature, it is yet to understand either internal or external factors that improve health and safety management practices in SMEs. This research examines the influence of the internal factors—intellectual capital, information technology capabilities (ITC), and entrepreneurial orientation, and the external capabilities—government financial support, institutional pressure, and managerial networking on six health and safety management practices: management commitment, staff training, worker involvement, safety communication and feedback, safety rules and procedures, and safety promotion policies. We researched 410 Pakistani SMEs from the food business industry. The results indicate that intellectual capital significantly improves management commitment, safety communication and feedback, and safety rules and produces; ITC significantly improves management commitment and safety communication and feedback; and entrepreneurial orientation significantly facilitates safety training and worker involvement only. In the external capabilities, government financial support has a significant influence on management commitment, worker involvement, safety rules and policies, and safety promotion policies. Institutional pressure has a significant influence on management commitment, safety training, safety communication, and feedback and safety promotion policies. Managerial networking significantly influences safety training, worker involvement, safety rules and procedures, and safety promotion policies of SMEs. Focusing only on the food industry is the major limitation of this research, this study recommends SMEs to give sufficient attention to their internal and external factors to enhance health and safety management practices. Further implications are discussed.

Enhancing supply chain performance through collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment

Purpose

Despite the importance of collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR), its influence on supply chain innovation capability (SCIC) and supply chain performance (SCP) has not been sufficiently examined. The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedence of SCP through CPFR and SCIC.

Design/methodology/approach

Through cluster and stratified random sampling, 286 responses from top managers of 1,574 Nigerian manufacturing companies were analyzed. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling with AMOS graphics.

Findings

The results show that SCIC has a full mediating effect on the relationship between CPFR and SCP. Specifically, CPFR has a significant relationship with both SCP and SCIC, and SCIC also relates significantly to SCP.

Practical implications

This study offers implications for manufacturers in developing countries in general, and in Nigeria in particular, by providing a guideline on how to improve SCP through CPFR.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the limited studies on CPFR and SCP by extending this line of study into the realm of innovation capability and innovation. It integrates the social exchange theory and the dynamic capabilities theory to examine the collaborative processes of CPFR in the supply chain context. This study stressed the importance of boundary theoretical spanning by extending CPFR and SCP into the domain of innovation capability.

How does business-IT strategic alignment dimension impact on organizational performance measures

Purpose

Despite the conceptual, empirical and theoretical advances in alignment–performance relationship, there is a limited research on the alignment dimensions and organizational performance measures. Though strategic alignment is believed to improve organizational performance, the purpose of this paper is to develop conjectures for understanding how different alignment dimensions influence organizational performance measures.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were acquired from 161 senior IT and business managers paired responses in China and were analyzed by using a structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

The hypothesized relationships are largely supported. Thus, quality-oriented strategic alignment dimension has a significant relationship with all performance measures. Contrary to expectations, both product and marketing-oriented strategic alignment dimensions do not show a significant impact on financial return. The marketing-oriented strategic alignment dimension also has an insignificant relationship with operational excellence.

Practical implications

This study suggests that the business–IT alignment can be dimensioned to better combine business strategy and IT strategy. Hence, managers can focus specific alignment dimension instead of entire strategies of a firm for a better decision making.

Originality/value

Findings suggest guidance for formulating combined business and IT strategic alignment into dimensions and proposing insightful and practical implications.

Big Data Capabilities and Firm’s Performance: A Mediating Role of Competitive Advantage

Big data (BD) capabilities have now grabbed the attention of strategic management researchers because of their significant role in firm’s performance and success. Nonetheless, very little empirical evidence has so far been put forward about the contribution of BD capabilities towards a firm performance and Competitive Advantage (CA). This research examines the impact of Big Data Technological Capabilities (BDTC) and Big Data Personal Capabilities (BDPC) on firms’ performance with a mediating role of CA among the firms operating in the world’s top emerging economy such as China. Data were collected through structured questionnaires using a sample size of 312 firms. The hypotheses were tested in AMOS.21 using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results indicate that BDTC and BDPC have significant positive impact on firm performance and CA and there is also significant positive relationship between CA and firm performance. The study highlights that CA partially mediates the relationship between BDTC and firm performance as well as between BDPC and firm performance. Hence, BD-oriented firms achieve CA which in turn leads to superior performance in dynamic markets. This study discussed implications for managerial practices.

Impact of supply chain collaboration and knowledge sharing on organizational outcomes in pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the proposed relationships concerning the supply chain collaboration (SCC) practices and knowledge sharing with organizational performance in the pharmaceutical industry of a developing country.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 203 executives working in various pharmaceutical companies of Bangladesh participated in the study. Factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to test the proposed research hypotheses.

Findings

This study reveals that both knowledge sharing and collaboration practices in the supply chain significantly influence customer satisfaction leading to business competitiveness as evidenced in the superior product quality and new product innovation in this knowledge-intensive industry. It further reveals a statistically significant correlation between SCC and knowledge sharing practices.

Research limitations/implications

This study is performed only on the manufacturers in the pharmaceutical industry from the perspective of a developing country. Future studies could cover other entities operating in a pharmaceutical supply chain.

Practical implications

The findings of the study have significant practical implications due to the fact that the aspect of knowledge sharing exerts influence on customer satisfaction that holds the key to competitive priorities. The managers need to address this issue seriously.

Originality/value

Few studies have been performed vis-a-vis the impact of both SCC and knowledge sharing on the organizational outcomes in the pharmaceutical industry from the perspective of a developing country.

Mediating role of process simplification in process integration and upstream supply chain flexibility

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of process simplification on the relationship between process integration and upstream supply chain flexibility in Indian automotive organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The three-step mediation analysis was performed using SPSS macro PROCESS to assess the mediating role of process simplification on the relationship between process integration constructs: top management commitment and supplier relationship; and upstream supply chain flexibility.

Findings

The results indicate a complete mediation effect of process simplification between supplier relationship and upstream supply chain flexibility, while partial mediation effect is noticed between top management commitment and upstream supply chain flexibility.

Practical implications

For Indian automotive managers, the study suggests that for improving the upstream supply chain flexibility, organizations must have a strategy towards improving the simplification of supply chain processes by upgrading technology and providing training to their suppliers. This understanding will help the automotive managers to simplify their upstream supply chain processes for gaining competitive positioning and maximizing the organizational profit.

Originality/value

This study has considered the mediating role of process simplification (a relatively less studied variable) specifically in the context of its impact on upstream supply chain flexibility. Also, the presented study explores this role in the Indian automotive domain which further enhances its value for both practitioners and researchers alike.

Information Technology Resources, the Organizational Capability of Lean-Agile Manufacturing, and Business Performance

This article drew on the resource-based view of the firm and assessed how manufacturing firms—particularly in developing countries—can leverage their IT resources in support of lean manufacturing and agile manufacturing. The data collection was conducted via a survey of Iranian automobile manufacturers that supply international automobile makers. The result showed that IT resources are crucial to the development of lean manufacturing and agile manufacturing. The value of IT is truly transformed to performance improvement when IT resources are effectively leveraged in support of these manufacturing systems. Lean and agile manufacturing are two manufacturing strategies that can co-exist in one system and agile manufacturing may flourish under lean manufacturing circumstances. Complementarities exist among different practices of lean manufacturing as well as different dimensions of agile manufacturing. The authors' findings offer theoretical insights regarding the values of IT-enabled lean manufacturing and agile manufacturing at operation and strategic levels.

Coordination and responsiveness issues in SME supply chains: a review

Purpose

Globalization and liberalization of the world economy have leveled the field for all competitors across the globe. To face global competition successfully, SMEs have to break their isolation in the value chain. To overcome the dynamic challenges of the market, supply chain management can be an important tool for SMEs. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize different issues related to the coordination and responsiveness of supply chain management in SMEs, through a review of the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 116 research papers, mainly from referred international journals, are reviewed to identify the thrust areas of research. On the basis of the review, gaps are identified and a research agenda is proposed.

Findings

It is observed from the review that SMEs have not been very proactive in implementing supply chain management. These organizations face a lot of problems in coordinating their operations with other members of the supply chain. They are localized in functioning. On export fronts SMEs face many constraints due to lack of resources and poor innovative capabilities. To face the challenges of open global market, SMEs have to manage their problems and supply chain risks effectively. Research gaps are identified in different areas of the supply chain such as coordination and responsiveness issues, service quality issues, and performance benchmarking for future directions of research.

Originality/value

This paper explores the major areas for research on coordination and responsiveness of SME supply chains. The findings of the paper will be highly useful for the researchers to decide the direction of their research.