Supply chain practices and performance: the indirect effects of supply chain integration

Antecedents of agriculture supply chain performance during COVID-19: an emerging economy perspective

COVID-19 led to several complications like labor shortage, inadequate availability of supply chain facilities, price fluctuation, panic behavior, and uncertainty. Despite the challenges, the farmers and stakeholders adopted different strategies for sustaining the agricultural supply chain performance. Hence, the study proposes to explore the antecedents that led to the ASC performance and their linkages. The study combines literature review and qualitative methods to understand and recognize antecedents that impact ASC performance in developing countries. The conceptual model is built with the underpinning theory (the theory of commitment and organization). A quantitative survey follows the study to validate the theoretical model empirically using covariance-based structure equation modeling (AMOS). The ASC performance in the earlier phase of COVID-19 was disrupted. With time, ASC performance was managed by linking different antecedents. The findings reveal the application and linkage of organization theory and theory of commitment which led to ASC performance. The study finds a unique contribution among academia and practitioners by paving directions to manage the uncertainty during COVID-19 and any such risk triggers in the future. The study offers essential insights for practitioners and policymakers to develop a road map for ASC during the calamities.

Impact of sustainable supply chain management and customer relationship management on organizational performance

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the effect of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) , competitive advantage (CA) and customer relationship management (CRM) on organizational performance (OP).

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered questionnaire was employed in the present study as a research tool, consisting of 20 items. Information was gathered from 93 executives employed in the supply chain management (SCM) division of the multiple organizations in Chattogram, the commercial hub of Bangladesh and the findings of the research were evaluated using SMART PLS 3.0.

Findings

The findings supported the hypotheses that were formulated. The analysis shows that SSCM and CRM are significantly related to OP. The results show, however, a positive but insignificant relationship between CA and OP. In developing countries, SSCM and CA are more likely to be employed by businesses in order to accomplish OP. However, the relation between CRM and OP has been given comparatively less importance. It has been suggested that CRM, together with SSCM, should be considered in order to achieve OP.

Originality/value

Earlier study neglected to use the CRM in the measurement of OP along with CA and SSCM. This research seeks to emphasize the influence of CRM in the organization, together with SSCM. This lets companies understand the effect of SSCM and CRM in general since those companies must respond to consumer demands to product and industry developments and transfer appropriate resources to enhance manufacturing processes that combine technological and managerial efficiency.

The impact of customer and supplier collaboration on green supply chain performance

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which institutional pressures affect supplier and customer collaboration and how collaboration explains green supply chain performance using institutional and stakeholder theories.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper builds on empirical evidence gathered from responses of Iranian industrial managers based on a self-administered survey. The hypotheses in the conceptual model are tested using Smart-PLS (partial least square).

Findings

The results provide evidence that regulatory requirements and internal motivators, as institutional pressure, enable customer and supplier collaboration. Furthermore, customer collaboration has a positive effect on supplier collaboration and, consequently, positively affects environmental and economic performance. But supplier collaboration is just positively affecting environmental performances and is not effective on economic performance.

Research limitations/implications

The subject is that the study is a questionnaire-based survey, and the validity and reliability of the results are influenced by the respondents' idiosyncrasies. This study provides a comprehensive model of drivers, supply chain collaboration and performance in the context of the industry sector. The study contributes by providing empirical data with a focus on customer and supplier collaboration and their interrelationship in GSCM modelling.

Originality/value

The current paper is one of the new field of research which demonstrate the significance of customer and supplier collaboration with each other to attain green performance. It also contributes to show the effect of institutional pressure on the customer-supplier collaboration that fosters green performance in the supply chain.

Supply chain integration and economic performance: empirical evidence from a developing country

Purpose

This study seeks to investigate the impact of supply chain integration (SCI) practices on economic performance in Vietnamese enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on data collected from 144 Vietnamese enterprises, this study employs partial least squares path modeling to analyze the direct and indirect relationships among external integration, information integration, process integration and economic performance.

Findings

Analytical results indicate that of the three SCI practices, external integration has a significant and positive impact on economic performance. Process integration and information integration, on the one hand, reveal insignificant direct impact on economic performance, and on the other, show significant indirect effect on economic performance through external integration.

Originality/value

This study sheds new light on the contribution of SCI to economic performance in developing economies and offers suggestions for not only local management but also foreign investors on the efficient allocation of resources to achieve higher economic performance.

Impacts of strategic orientations on Saudi firm performance: is supply chain integration a missing link?

Purpose

Little previous research has investigated the relationships among strategic orientations, supply chain integration and firm performance. The purpose of this study is to advance a research model that examines the direct and indirect effects of strategic orientations via supply chain integration on firm performance in the Saudi transitional context.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on data collected from a survey using questionnaires completed by 187 top management members of Saudi firms from different sectors. To analyse the data and test the proposed hypotheses, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were conducted using the AMOS statistical analysis package.

Findings

Results show that both market orientation and supply chain integration have a significant positive direct effect on Saudi firm performance. They also reveal that supply chain integration fully mediates the effect of technology orientation on firm performance, while partially mediating the effect of market orientation on firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the literature by showing how SCI could serve as an organizational capability that links strategic resources to firm performance. The main limitation of this study is that it was not possible to generalize the findings. Future research perspectives were proposed to address this limitation and add new insights to the field.

Practical implications

The results could help decision-makers in Saudi firms choose the right strategic orientations and aid them in integrating their supply chains by sharing the necessary information and coordinating operations with key partners to enhance their firms' performance.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to conduct such an investigation in the Saudi context. The study simultaneously examines the role of supply chain integration in linking strategic orientations to firm performance and fills a current research gap in such a transitional context.

Supply chain integration and export performance: the mediating role of supply chain performance

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of supply chain integration (SCI) in terms of supplier, customer and internal integration on supply chain performance (SCP) and export performance (EXP). The effect of SCP on EXP is also explored. This study further seeks to examine the mediating effect of SCP on the relationship between the types of SCI and EXP.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of this study consists of manufacturing companies in different industries in Jordan. Data were gathered using self-administered questionnaires; managers from 271 companies responded to the survey. The study constructs were assessed for validity and reliability, and it was ensured that acceptable levels of these tests were obtained. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

The findings showed that supplier and customer integration were not drivers of EXP, but internal integration positively impacted EXP. In addition, internal and customer integration positively affected SCP, while supplier integration did not. Also, SCP positively impacted EXP. Furthermore, customer integration and internal integration indirectly impacted EXP through SCP.

Practical implications

Manufacturers should establish both intra- and inter-organizational collaborations to improve their performance. Specifically, managers in developing countries need to pay substantial attention to internal integration, as it is the key antecedent of both SCP and EXP. Furthermore, managers must be aware of the essential role of customer integration in improving SCP and subsequently EXP. Therefore, they should make long-term plans to integrate and incorporate key customers. In addition, managers are advised to reconsider their current relationships with suppliers. By failing to take advantage of the valuable expected contribution of supplier integration, manufacturers may lose export opportunities to international competitors.

Originality/value

The present study addresses an evident gap in the available literature regarding the effect of SCI on EXP. It tests a comprehensive model underlining the role of SCP on the relationship between SCI types and EXP. This study is also valuable because it was conducted in a developing country. Generally, manufacturing companies in developing countries face more SC-related difficulties than those in developed countries; these challenges can limit the export abilities of manufacturers in developing countries. The study offers important implications for the managers of manufacturing companies to improve their SCP and, subsequently enhance their EXP.

An integrated supply chain – human resource management approach for improved supply chain performance

Purpose

Human resource management (HRM) is struggling to cope with the increasingly volatile demand for skilled resources in the logistics and supply chain sector. Thus, this study discovers the possible integration of HRM and supply chain management (SCM) practices for improved supply chain performance. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of intra HRM–SCM and joint HRM–SCM decisions on the performance of the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

An intra HRM–SCM and joint HRM–SCM model is developed following an empirical study. Survey data collected from 109 supply chain managers from Indian logistics firms are used to test the developed hypotheses. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze and validate the model.

Findings

The results suggest that supply chain performance is significantly influenced by joint HRM–SCM, compared to intra HRM–SCM practices, especially under volatile demand environments. Training and development, recruitment and selection, and performance management affect joint HRM–SCM significantly compared to the other three factors identified. Moreover, HRM and SCM show strong correlation and mutual support in identifying and fulfilling the demand of the logistics and supply chain sector.

Practical implications

With a growing trend toward globalization and digitalization, a joint HRM–SCM model will help businesses make robust and informed decisions for improved supply chain performance.

Originality/value

An empirical relationship between joint HRM–SCM, intra HRM–SCM, supply chain inhibitors and supply chain performance is established in this study. Although some part of this relationship may already exist, the study provides robust evidence to support this complex, collaborative relationship.

The effect of supply chain quality management on supply chain performance: the indirect roles of supply chain agility and innovation

Purpose

The current study seeks to investigate how supply chain quality management (SCQM) and supply chain agility (SCA) and innovation (SCI) have an impact on supply chain performance (SCP) and how SCQM affects SCP through the mediating role of SCA and SCI capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

In line with the research objective, a quantitative model was applied, and a multi-item survey questionnaire was developed to collect primary data. A random sample of 284 manufacturing firms belonging to different industries was used. The measurement model was assessed for validity and reliability, and satisfactory levels of these tests were demonstrated. Research hypotheses were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results of the current study have significant implications in regard to the further improvement of SCP through SCQM. The study also found that SCQM plays a key role across the entire SC network in facilitating and developing SCA and SCI capabilities. The remarkable findings of the current study revealed the indirect effect of SCQM on SCP through SCA and SCI. These results broaden the work of previous studies which identified the positive effects of SCQM on performance by providing meaningful insights into SCQM's role in promoting SCA and SCI capabilities, which, in turn, further improves SCP.

Originality/value

This study addresses a gap in the literature concerning the effect of SCQM on SCP. In addition, it is the first study, to the best of the researchers' knowledge, to explore the role of two major SC capabilities, namely, SCA and SCI on the SCQM–SCP relationship. Moreover, the present study addresses a questionable issue in the literature regarding practices that conceptualize SCQM. Several studies confuse SCQM practices with internal quality management (QM) practices. This study defines SCQM as consisting of collaborative QM practices with external SC members and proposes five related practices for measuring SCQM.

A framework for measuring customer loyalty for 3PL industry: a case of evolving market

Purpose

This research aims to propose a framework for measuring customer loyalty for third party logistics (3PL) industry by exploring the attributes that are more attractive to customers and ascertain the mechanisms for increasing customer loyalty in 3PL industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from one hundred and thirty-three (133) respondents who were employees of different industries that outsource 3PL services. The partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) was deployed for analysis.

Findings

The results showed that service quality has a significant positive impact on customer orientation, customer satisfaction and relationship quality. On the other hand, customer orientation has been observed to positively impact customer satisfaction but an insignificant impact on customer loyalty and relationship quality. Customer satisfaction has a significant positive impact on relationship quality but an insignificant impact on customer loyalty. Also, relationship quality has a significant positive impact on customer loyalty.

Practical implications

The results recommend that 3PL companies' managers focus more on developing quality relationships with their customers, delivering exemplary service quality and offering customer orientation.

Originality/value

This study will help the stakeholders gain much more understanding and insights on how competitive advantage can be achieved and, consequently, help 3PL become the market leaders.

Quantitative Analysis of Sustainable Use of Construction Materials for Supply Chain Integration and Construction Industry Performance through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

This research focuses on the mediating role of construction materials, sustainable use between the construction supply chain integration and the construction industry performance. In this concern, the case of Pakistan was considered specifically. The research design employed in this study was quantitative and a close-ended survey questionnaire was used as a research instrument. The sample size used is comprised of 300 participants and analysis was performed through the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results revealed that the effect of the components of supply chain integration on the construction industry performance was statistically significant. Moreover, outcomes also substantiate the mediation role of using construction material sustainably. The scope of the research was limited to the construction industry of Pakistan; however, future research would focus on other countries and industries.

The value of supply chain integration in the Latin American agri-food industry: trust, commitment and performance outcomes

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the antecedents and performance outcomes of supply chain integration in the agri-food industry in Latin America, a context that the literature on supply chain management has not extensively addressed. The quinoa supply chain, an industry that has encountered a boost in market demand in the past year, is selected as the unit of analysis. Supply chain integration dynamics are analyzed to provide recommendations about integration strategies and benefits in the agricultural sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model was designed in this study, which includes the drivers (i.e. trust and commitment) and outcomes (i.e. operational and economic performance) of supply chain integration. The relationships were verified through a unique survey, the data of which were collected from 79 respondents operating at different levels of the Peruvian quinoa supply chain (i.e. suppliers, producers and customers). The proposed hypotheses were tested through the partial least squares (PLS) regression.

Findings

The results underscore the relevance of trust and commitment as enablers of supply chain integration initiatives in the agri-food industry. These factors are particularly essential for involving the farmers who are the most upstream actors in the supply chain and characterized by unstructured organizations. A high level of integration in these types of supply chain enhances the capacity to improve operational performance, which in turns positively affects the main economic indicators.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the discussion of supply chain integration in the agri-food industry, which remains unexplored thus far. It relies on a multitier collection of responses, which is extended to all the levels of the quinoa supply chain, thereby providing the study with a unique depth of analysis. Furthermore, this work contributes to the ongoing discourse on the performance impact of supply chain integration, which several SCM scholars have recently questioned.

Influence of big data and predictive analytics and social capital on performance of humanitarian supply chain

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to investigate the role of big data and predictive analytics (BDPA) and social capital on the performance of humanitarian supply chains (HSCs); second, to explore the different performance measurement frameworks and develop a conceptual model for an HSC context that can be used by humanitarian organizations; and third, to provide insights for future research direction.

Design/methodology/approach

After a detailed review of relevant literature, grounded in resource-based view and social capital theory, the paper proposes a conceptual model that depicts the influence of BDPA and social capital on the performance of an HSC.

Findings

The study deliberates that BDPA as a capability improves the effectiveness of humanitarian missions to achieve its goals. It uncovers the fact that social capital binds people, organization or a country to form a network and has a critical role in the form of monetary or non-monetary support in disaster management. Further, it argues that social capital combined with BDPA capability can result in a better HSC performance.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed model integrating BDPA and social capital for HSC performance is conceptual and it needs to be empirically validated.

Practical implications

Organizations and practitioners may use this framework by mobilizing social capital, BDPA to enhance their abilities to help victims of calamities.

Social implications

Findings from study can help improve coordination among different stakeholders in HSC, effectiveness of humanitarian operations, which means lives saved and faster reconstruction process after disaster. Second, by implementing performance measurements framework recommended by study, donors and other stakeholders will get much desired transparency at each stage of HSCs.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the missing link of social capital and BDPA to the existing performance of HSC literature, finally leading to a better HSC performance.

The influence of supply chain leadership and followership on organizational performance

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze how supply chain leadership and supply chain followership affect a company's value. Specifically, this will take place through an analysis of transformational leadership and followership behaviors on shared value creation, in order to achieve higher performance and greater alignment of common values.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a structured questionnaire to gather data from a cross-sectional sample of 456 supply chain partners of the largest Portuguese energy supplier. Structural equation modeling is used to test the proposed hypotheses, and a multigroup analysis is conducted to find out how supplier dependence can impact the suggested relationships.

Findings

Findings suggest that supply chain leadership positively impacts supply chain followership, shared value, and common values. Additionally, it was possible to observe that the influence of supply chain leadership and supply chain followership on performance occurs in an indirect way through the mediation of shared value and common values.

Research limitations/implications

The research considers only one company's suppliers. The relationships between variables need to be explored in other practical case studies and longitudinal investigations.

Originality/value

The study provides a better understanding of the impacts and chain of effects between supply chain leadership and supply chain followership on performance, while considering the role of dependence as a moderating variable. The overall results may support the importance of truly sustainable business leadership capable of promoting shared value creation along the entire supply chain.

A collaborative scenario-based decision model for a disrupted dual-channel supply chain

Purpose

Distribution systems usually utilize both traditional retailing channels in conjunction with e-channels. The purpose of this paper is to investigate a dual-channel supply chain, comprising a traditional retailing channel and an e-channel under disruption. By benchmarking against the centralized decision structure, the authors intend to propose a collaboration model to achieve channel coordination as well as more reliable decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Four different channel disruption scenarios, with customers’ reaction toward disruptions, are examined, and then, optimal pricing decisions for both centralized and decentralized decision-making structures are extracted. Next, a collaboration mechanism based on the dominancy power of channel members is developed to entice all channel members to participate in channel coordination. By benchmarking the proposed collaboration model against both the decentralized/centralized structures a win–win solution is guaranteed for all channel members. In addition, the proposed model ensures more reliable decisions than the centralized structure, as it guarantees less fluctuated income levels.

Findings

This study shows, as the disruption probability grows, the channel profit decreases while the channel-retailing price increases. Furthermore, the exact alignment of the centralized decision-making approach and the proposed collaboration model is not achievable due to the problem infeasibility. Numerical experiments and sensitivity analyses benchmark the performance of the proposed collaboration mechanism against the centralized structure for the full alignment with centralized decision-making approach.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the channel conflict literature as jointly considers pricing decisions, disruptions and coordination. Further, consumers’ reaction toward disruption is analyzed through a transshipment agreement.

Supply chain integration: a review of enablers, dimensions and performance

Purpose

The conceptualization of integration is built on intra- and inter-organizational relationship to manage the entire supply chain. Despite the growing number of research studies, there is a lack of consensus in current literature to define and conceptualize supply chain integration (SCI) and its drivers. The purpose of this paper is to provide comprehensive views on SCI, thereby contributing to existing literature by providing taxonomy to drivers and sources, dimensions and outcome of SCI.

Design/methodology/approach

The systematic approach to literature review has been adopted to carry out this research. The study cites 154 articles, out of which 110 articles have been thoroughly reviewed, covering drivers and sources of SCI, SCI dimensions and SCI outcome.

Findings

For the conceptualization of SCI dimensions, two major themes have been identified: first, internal integration, customer integration and supplier integration; second, information sharing, process coordination and strategic alliance. The authors also found that desire to improve and environmental factors prompt organizations to integrate with their partners to realize the desired outcome. Additionally, the paper identifies that integration plays a significant role in enhancing performance; nevertheless, maturity of integration may have a direct relationship with performance, and the same has been suggested as propositions for further study.

Research limitations/implications

This paper has taken the systematic perspective to review existing studies and projected propositions, which is entirely based on collective views that may require empirical support.

Originality/value

The paper is a unique contribution that reviews the research articles on SCI systematically. The paper also provides a distinct perspective and food for thought to practitioners, as the proposed framework may serve as a reference point to assess current SCI practices in the organizations.

Impact of supply chain information sharing on performance of fashion enterprises

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel research model to examine the relationship among information sharing (IS), supply chain integration (SCI), operational performance (OP) and business performance (BP) in the fashion supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 247 executives from Chinese fashion brand firms was conducted and the data were analyzed to investigate how IS affects the organizational BP. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to study the relationship among IS, SCI, OP and BP.

Findings

The empirical research results indicate that IS is critical to enhance the SCI and OP, and both SCI and OP exert mediating effects on BP of fashion brands. This result also reveals constructive suggestions that allow fashion brands to strengthen their SCI and OP, as well as BP.

Research limitations/implications

Multiple data sources were applied to develop the sampling frame, and respondents were selected (according to their experience and position) to ensure they had the knowledge and expertise to provide valid response. However, this could not guarantee the adequacy of the sample. This limitation is compounded by the reliance on a simple respondent per firm, which precludes testing for inter-rater reliability.

Practical implications

The empirical findings provide an enhanced understanding of the relationship among IS, SCI, OP and BP in Chinese fashion brand settings. The research results will help fashion brands to improve supply chain efficiency and enhance company performance.

Originality/value

Although previous studies have realized that the value of IS varies in different industries, few have specifically explored the impact on the fashion industry characterized by short life cycles, high volatility, low predictability and high impulse purchasing. To fill this knowledge gap, the present study employed a questionnaire survey and SEM techniques to explore the relationship among IS, SCI, OP and BP in the fashion supply chain. Comprehending the impact mechanism of IS on organizational performance can provide useful management insights into the development of effective strategies that allow enterprise to improve BP.

Effect of supply chain management practices on customer development and start-up performance

Purpose

The number of entrepreneurial start-ups operating in developing countries has grown tremendously in recent years. However, research suggests that most start-ups in developing countries fail shortly after becoming operational. The purpose of this paper explores how supply chain management (SCM) practices may enhance the performance of start-ups in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study develops and empirically tests a research model which explores the effect of SCM practices on customer development and start-up performance. A survey of 300 start-ups operating in Ghana was conducted, with 72 usable responses obtained. The research model was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results confirmed the positive impact of SCM practices on customer development and start-up performance. Customer development was also found to positively impact start-up performance. Additionally, a partial mediation role of customer development on relationship between SCM practices and start-up performance was observed.

Originality/value

To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study that empirically explores the effects of SCM practices on the performance of start-ups. This is also the first study that examines the effect of SCM practices on customer development to the best of the researchers’ knowledge.

Price premium effect, supply contracts and strategic decision making under environmental considerations

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of collaboration between supply chain entities in a dyadic setting where the manufacturer invests in greening and technology adoption effort leading to a price premium effect for the supply chain players.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses game theoretic approach to analyze the model of inter-firm interaction in a vertical channel setting consisting of a retailer and manufacturer. The paper studies strategic decisions of the channel members in a decentralized and centralized structure and extends this to decision making under contractual settings.

Findings

A two-part tariff completely coordinates the green supply chain, while a cost sharing and revenue sharing contract only achieve partial coordination. Nevertheless, a cost sharing, as well as a revenue sharing contract, increases the greening and technological adoption effort by the manufacturer while yielding the supply chain members a strictly larger profit. Furthermore, a revenue sharing contract in comparison to a cost sharing contract, leads to a larger greening and technological adoption effort by the manufacturer, lower wholesale and retail prices and a strictly larger profit for both the manufacturer and the retailer.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the green supply chain pricing, technology and contract literature considering strategic interactions between a manufacturer and retailer in a supply chain under price premium effects of greening activities and technological advancements.

Supply chain redesign for lead-time reduction through Kraljic purchasing portfolio and AHP integration

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a flexible and extensible model for the classification of suppliers, within the purchasing guidelines and market trends of an Italian small company, leader in the production of street lamps. The model is applied to identify critical supply chains with the final objective of lead-time reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is obtained by the application of the purchasing portfolio analysis through the construction of Kraljic matrix. Profit impact and supply risk criteria are selected according to the main company requirements, and then prioritized by the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Finally, supply chain lead-times are analyzed with Gantt diagrams.

Findings

The application of the model allows the determination of company criticalities in terms of high lead-times and of the involved suppliers. The analysis of critical suppliers positioning in the Kraljic matrix allows the definition of some possible strategies to implement for lead-time reduction.

Research limitations/implications

Purchasing portfolio analysis and Kraljic matrix are practical instruments to quickly frame company purchasing situation, but their application is not simple due to the numerous and different factors involved, especially in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), where resource are scarce and several constraints limit operations. The objective of the research is the development of a practical tool for strategic purchasing, simple and robust to be implemented in SMEs, with limited resources and access to quantitative supplier data.

Originality/value

Evaluation criteria definition is one of the most difficult phases, such as their univocal and quantitative comparison. The problem of selecting and prioritizing both quantitative and qualitative criteria for suppliers classification is overcome with the combined application of Kraljic matrix and AHP. The newly integration of the two methodologies allows the realization of a reliable and robust model for suppliers classification, which can be easily adapted to company business strategy changes.

Benchmarking the triple-A supply chain: orchestrating agility, adaptability, and alignment

Purpose

Limited research examines the triple-A supply chain of agility, adaptability and alignment. The purpose of this paper is to draw on extant literature under the lens of resource orchestration theory to develop a comprehensive framework of antecedents and consequences of triple-A supply chains, allowing both scholars and practitioners to benchmark and prioritize triple-A capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review focusing on four supply chain journals is conducted to integrate the distinct bodies of knowledge on supply chain agility, adaptability and alignment.

Findings

The integration of this literature identifies common and distinct antecedents and consequences of each, developing a comprehensive model of triple-A supply chains as well as proposing opportunities for further study.

Originality/value

Limited studies to date have an integrated agility, adaptability and alignment, thus lacking a comprehensive framework of triple-A supply chains. Managers can use the findings to determine actions needed to deploy triple-A capabilities and better understand the resulting potential benefits.

Purchasing and supply management skills revisited: an extensive literature review

Purpose

Research on purchasing managers and their skills requirements supports the training and education of purchasing professionals. This paper offers an in-depth analytical review of the purchasing skills reported in the supply chain management (SCM) literature. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the most important skills and factors that influence these skills.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a systematic literature review methodology. Two databases, Scopus and Web of Science, are searched for relevant articles. The selected journal articles are used as sources to obtain a view not only on the relevant purchasing and supply management (P/SM) skills, but also on factors that emphasize certain P/SM skills. This paper also summarizes the ten skills ranked as most important (often described as the “top ten”) among the sample articles.

Findings

The paper highlights the essential skills for purchasing professionals, verified both by their frequent appearances in rankings and by citation frequency in the literature. Generic managerial skills, such as communication, cost analysis, teamwork, problem-solving, negotiation, influencing, and persuasion, as well as information technology skills, received the most attention in the literature and rankings of the “top ten” P/SM skills. This paper provides a refined categorization of purchasing skills, which have merged recently with other discussed skills, such as political and entrepreneurial ones, into this categorization. This paper identifies factors that affect purchasing managers’ skills requirements.

Originality/value

This paper presents a structured overview of 57 peer-reviewed articles from high-quality journals about purchasing skills. The review contributes to the purchasing skills literature by showing the most relevant skills and the factors that influence skills requirements. These factors also provide arenas for further research related to purchasing skills.

Framework to precede collaboration in supply chain

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to help supply chain (SC) decision makers successfully penetrate through SC collaboration and strengthen their SC in the global market by understanding collaborative activities, and understand how these activities are related to each other in the SC.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a set of collaborative activities from literature, and the developed model is helpful for SC decision makers to monitor their SC activities and take corrective actions to improve collaboration in their SC by using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis.

Findings

This study reveals that collaborative activities increase the value of whole SC. The various activities are modeled on the basis of “an activity influencing other activities” and “an activity influenced by other activities,” which is useful for SC managers to take a decision.

Research limitations/implications

The current study is literature based; therefore, there would be need of more explanation of the activities which lead to understand and implement SC collaboration in case of service and manufacturing industry.

Practical implications

The model of this study is helpful for decision makers to implement supply chain collaboration (SCC) and to understand various SCC activities on the basis of their driving and dependence power.

Originality/value

This research provided insight into skills needed for SC decision makers to implement collaboration in the SC using ISM. The results of the study could be adopted to monitor the existing SCC program or design new collaboration program to meet the global market requirements. To the best of knowledge, there is no reference that discusses SC collaborative activities on the basis of their driving and dependence powers.

Best supply chain management practices and high-performance firms

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the best supply chain management (SCM) practices that are implemented in medium- and large-sized Gulf manufacturing firms (MFs).

Design/methodology/approach

This study has explored seven SCM practices, i.e. supplier collaboration, flexibility with partners, usage of internet, customer focus (CF), lean production (LP), internal integration (II) and quality management (QM). It assumes that the best-performing firms must be the ones implementing the best practices. t-test and multiple linear regression analyses were used to establish the best practices, implemented by medium and large-sized Gulf MFs.

Findings

The results showed that QM, CF and supplier collaboration are considered as best SCM practices in Gulf MFs. Usage of internet may have been the best practice previously, but not anymore. LP cannot yet be qualified as, but may develop into the best SCM practice.

Practical implications

The study provides a useful contribution to the field of best SCM practices as it provides better decision-making insights and a benchmarking base to top managers, policy makers and academics. It is likely to result in increased overall performance of their firms.

Originality/value

The study provides an understanding of the distinctive characteristics of the best SCM practices, implemented by Gulf MFs. It has broader implications for all MFs, particularly in developing economies where the growth of manufacturing and effective management of their supply chains is a key element for the economic development.

The mediating role of customer related performance outcomes on the relationship between customer integration and firm performance

Purpose

Even though supply chain integration (SCI) has been considered as a vital contributor to business performance, the research shows inconsistency in its finding. Accounting for these inconsistencies, researchers (Fabbe-Costes and Jahre, 2007; Van der Vaart and van Donk, 2008) have highlighted the need to relate the level of integration in a single relationship to the performance outcomes of that relationship. The purpose of this paper is to make an effort in this direction and investigate the impact of customer integration (an important dimension of SCI) on customer-related performance outcome (CRPO) and financial performance of the firm.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an extensive literature review, a research model has been developed hypothesizing the relationships between customer integration, CRPO and financial performance. The research model is then tested using data collected from 214 Indian manufacturing companies. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationship between constructs of interest.

Findings

The result showed that there is no direct effect of customer integration on financial performance instead the relationship is fully mediated through CRPO.

Originality/value

This study conceptualizes and develops scale for the specific performance outcome resulting from a high level of integration between manufacturer and key customers and labels it as CRPOs. It further investigates the mediating role of this immediate performance outcome on the relationship between customer integration and firm performance.

The effect of supply chain information management and information system infrastructure

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the relationship between supply chain information management, supply chain information system (IS) infrastructure, supply chain integration and the manufacturing performance of firms in manufacturing industry in Malaysia. Therefore, the study addresses a gap in research concerning the effect of supply chain information practices toward manufacturing performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design for this study employed the quantitative method using survey questionnaires that have been developed based on a thorough and detailed analysis of the relevant literature. Based on a sample consist of 248 usable data, mediated multiple regression analysis was used to examine the research model.

Findings

The findings indicate that supply chain integration fully mediates the relationship between supply chain information management and supply chain information system infrastructure (ISI) toward manufacturing performance.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to a particular sample: i.e. electrical and electronics manufacturing firms in Peninsular Malaysia. Thus, the results need to be generalized to encompass wider samples.

Practical implications

Organizations interest in making all members in their supply chain to communicate using information network to support managers in better decision making while adopting more enhanced information management and system infrastructure. As a plus, it helps in integrating various internal and external value chain processes across manufacturing firms in the organization’s supply chain network. As result, manufacturing firms could improve their performance in the long run.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in employing a newly developed framework-based existing theoretical argument to examine the effectiveness of supply chain information management and system infrastructure with an improved influence from supply chain integration toward the manufacturing performance.

Investigating the impact of knowledge flow enablers on SC performance in Indian manufacturing organizations

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between supply chain knowledge flow enablers (SCKFEs), knowledge flow performance and supply chain (SC) performance (operational performance, customer satisfaction, and financial performance) for Indian manufacturing organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured survey was used to collect the necessary data within the Indian manufacturing industry. Construct validity was conducted using convergent validity, reliability, and discriminant validity. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model.

Findings

The results of the study are tested based on data from 269 respondents from an Indian manufacturing organizations show positive influence: from SCKFEs to knowledge flow performance; knowledge flow performance to SC performance. In essence, the research reveals that the awareness to implement SCKFEs will increase the knowledge flow performance and SC performance.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are beneficial for decision-making authorities in the organization to know the importance of SCKFEs and their influence on knowledge flow performance and SC performance.

Originality/value

This is the unique study, which provides the theoretical framework which shows the relationship among SCKFEs, knowledge flow performance and SC performance and validates the framework with the help of an empirical study with Indian organizations.

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.