The effect of supply chain information management and information system infrastructure: The mediating role of supply chain integration towards manufacturing performance in Malaysia

Supply chain integration and firm performance in the COVID-19 era: the mediating role of resilience and robustness

Purpose

In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the most impactful disruptions which has imposed high levels of uncertainty on supply chains around the world. Supply chain integration (SCI) is highly recommended as an underlying mechanism that can facilitate the development of resilience and robustness as two dynamic capabilities. They can in turn positively influence firm performance and success during the disruptive conditions of COVID-19 era. The study aims to examine whether SCI as an enabler of resilience and robustness can improve firm performance during COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model is developed to elaborate the relationship between SCI dimensions, resilience and robustness and firm’s operational and financial performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey method is then used to empirically examine the model using a sample of 94 companies in the food industry in the province of Tehran, Iran, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study makes several contributions. It provides a novel theoretical model on the relationship between SCI, resilience and robustness and firm performance and tests this model in a less-studied yet critical context (i.e. Iranian food industry) and during a disruptive era (i.e. COVID-19 pandemic).

Findings

The results support the positive effect of three SCI dimensions of internal, product and process integration on operational and financial performance during corona virus pandemic. Furthermore, internal and process integration have positive effects on resilience. Internal, product and process integration have positive effects on robustness. In addition, resilience mediates the effects of internal and product integration on both operational and financial performance, whereas robustness mediates the effect of internal and product integration on financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study was conducted in the Province of Tehran. To test and generalize the results, it is recommended to conduct this study in other places and countries.

Originality/value

These results highlight the importance of SCI dimensions as vital enablers of resilience and robustness and their consequent impact on firm’s performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blockchain and Information Integration: Applications in New Zealand’s Prefabrication Supply Chain

New Zealand’s rising demand for new and affordable homes is driving innovative and effective methods for project delivery. Prefabrication or off-site construction is considered an innovative approach to project delivery that eliminates the limitations of traditional construction methods. However, the prefabrication industry struggles with several challenges, including poor coordination and low supply chain integration amongst its partner organisations. There has been previous literature on improving the prefabrication supply chain integration, but few studies about the role of technology in this sector. Therefore, this article provides intuitions into the applicability and benefits of advanced technologies, namely blockchain, for improving supply chain integration in the context of prefabrication in New Zealand. A questionnaire survey was used to identify the channels used for information exchange between clients and contractors. Moreover, the questionnaire ascertained the positive effects of blockchain on enhancing supply chain integration between the two partners. Blockchain has proven to be a secure information integration instrument that can improve the integration of the prefabrication supply chain by fostering collaboration between organisations.

The coordination effect of B2B digital process capabilities on competitive performance: balancing or complementing

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the consequences of two strategies of coordinating the online procurement capability and the online channel management capability on competitive performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model is presented to examine the performance impacts of these two coordination strategies, namely the balancing strategy (achieving a close match relationship) and the complementing strategy (maintaining the synergy effect), and tested using firm-level data collected from 196 manufacturing firms in China. Garen's two-stage econometric technique was used to identify the impacts of two coordination strategies on competitive performance.

Findings

Our study discusses and compares two different coordination strategies of mitigating the operational tensions across processes and deploying resource configurations for improving competitive performance. Our results show that while the balancing strategy can mitigate the risks resulted, the complementing strategy does not create synergistic effects on the focal firms' competitive performance.

Originality/value

The results extend our understanding of the nature of B2B digital process coordination both in IS management and supply chain operations.

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 Interaction Effect of Information Systems of Shipping and Logistics Firms and Managers’ Support for Blockchain Technology on Cooperation with Shippers for Sustainable Value Creation

Firms apply new technology to value creation. In particular, blockchain technology increases transparency and stability of shipping and logistics firms and this is connected with a high level of collaboration with shippers. In this regard, the objective of this study is to verify the interaction effect of information systems of shipping and logistics firms and managers’ support for blockchain technology on cooperation with shippers. To achieve the objective, this study identified variables based on prior research and analyzed the data collected by a survey. The results are as follows. First, information systems as a resource of shipping and logistics firms have a positive effect on cooperation with shippers. To enhance the strategic resource, they increase cooperation with shippers based on learning and logistics process improvement. Therefore, the relationship between the information systems and cooperation with shippers can be explained as a resource-based view. Second, there is the interaction effect of the information systems and managers’ support for blockchain technology on the cooperation and this can be explained as a resource-based view. Information systems are resources of shipping and logistics firms, and managers should encourage and reward staff for using new technology such as blockchains, followed by a high level of cooperation with shippers.

Impact of Enhanced Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) on Firm Performance through Green Supply Chain Management

This study investigates the impact of enhanced enterprise resource planning (ERP) on firm performance through green supply chain management, supplier integration, and internal integration. The population is the manufacturer domiciled in East Java, Indonesia, which has implemented ERP and been certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the environmental management system. Data collection used a questionnaire designed with the five-point Likert scale. Of 243 manufacturers, 150 questionnaires were distributed, and 135 questionnaires are considered valid for analysis. Data analysis used smart PLS software. The result indicated that all eight predetermined hypotheses were supported. Enhanced ERP affects supplier integration, internal integration, and green supply chain management. Internal integration affects green supply chain management and firm performance. Supplier integration affects green supply chain management and firm performance. Green supply chain management affects firm performance. An interesting finding is that green supply chain management, internal integration, and supplier integration mediate the effect of enhanced ERP on firm performance. This study’s novelty lies in the research model that analyzes the relationship between the four constructs simultaneously with the green supply chain management, internal integration, and supplier integration as a mediating variable. The research provides an insight for the manager on how to improve the firm performance in supply chain management. This study could also contribute to the current research in supply chain management.

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.

E-strategies for aftermarket facilitation in the global semiconductor manufacturing industry

Purpose

The paper presents one of the first attempts to identify and categorise the fundamental barriers currently preventing the multibillion semiconductor equipment manufacturing industry from implementing existing B2B e-trading models for its secondary market. It furthermore proposes a global e-business strategy supporting aftermarket integration with the industry's supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

Because of the global nature of the industry, the research employs a multiple case-study design to explore the state-of-the-art in semiconductor excess management. The data for this analysis are obtained through a number of in-depth interviews with experts from a cross-section of the industry, and further supplemented and validated with a systematic literature review and public corporate data.

Findings

The results indicate that significant market imperfections still exist in the industry due to information and knowledge deficits, organisational inefficiency and IP-related concerns. The considerable levels of third-party competition to the original equipment manufacturers raise questions about the existence and efficacy of reverse logistics processes and Closed-Loop Supply Chain (CLSC) management strategies in this industry. It has been shown that a leaner semiconductor supply chain is achievable through the implementation of the proposed B2B e-marketplace, maintaining the information exchange on the surplus/obsolete equipment and parts.

Originality/value

These outcomes are unique for supporting the design of the first global e-marketplace for the secondary semiconductor equipment and spares. The results can, furthermore, inform the standardisation of the semiconductor aftermarket transactions, streamline knowledge exchange mechanisms amongst different industry players and improve pricing strategies. These contribute to knowledge of principles allowing the aftermarket e-trading to become a key part of the value network in high-tech manufacturing industries.