Supply chain management practices, retail outlets attributes and organisational performance: a case of organised food retailers in India

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of supply chain management (SCM) practices and retail outlet attributes on the performance of organised food retailers in India during COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Authors conducted empirical research with SCM practices and retail outlet attributes to evaluate the retailers’ performance. The authors present the results from 321 valid responses from the Indian food retailers. The study used structured equation modeling to present the analysis and the results.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that most of the SCM practices (i.e. information technology, level of information sharing, customer relationship, supplier relationship and goal congruence) have a positive impact on performance except the quality of information sharing. The results show that in the time of the pandemic, the retail outlet attributes (image, service quality and convenience) have no significant relationship with the food retailer’s performance while SCM practices are necessary to achieve better performance of the food retailers.

Research limitations/implications

A proactive approach is needed from retailers at the time of pandemic situations to manage the supply chains. The retailers must be extra careful in screening the suppliers for the short and long run. The reason being that in the situation of pandemic, customers might be more demanding and hence, food retailers need to pay special attention to gain growth. It is also required that the policymakers should give importance to the implementation of these SCM practices to be positioned differently.

Originality/value

The research can be valued in terms of its original contribution towards companies in overcoming the disruption caused by COVID-19 to maintain a balance between demand and supply and proposes a completely new theoretical framework. The proposed theoretical model would add value to the existing literature to help the retailers in process of their performance improvement. The study has provided insights for retail organisations, suppliers and government departments to manage their SCs more effectively and efficiently during the pandemic.

Assessment of quality performance in the Egyptian manufacturing industry

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the quality performance of the Egyptian manufacturing industry based on Flynn's quality management practices framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature-based questionnaire was developed to collect the research data. The sample studied included 193 professionals from different manufacturing firms in Egypt. The research model utilized seven first-order constructs to measure infrastructure and core quality practices and the model was analyzed by structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results of the study showed that infrastructure practices had a positive effect on core quality practices, which in turn, significantly influenced quality performance. The findings confirmed that Egyptian manufacturing firms have a good foundation of quality management practices enabling them to improve quality performance.

Practical implications

This study provides a foundation for Egyptian manufacturing firms to develop a practical plan for implementing total quality management (TQM). In addition, the results of this study will help managers and policy makers develop a thorough understanding of the current status of TQM initiatives, enablers and barriers in Egypt.

Originality/value

The study represents one of the few attempts to examine quality practices and quality performance in the manufacturing sector in Egypt. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to examine these parameters in this context in Egypt.

Standardized management systems and risk management in the supply chain

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of standardized management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000 and ISO 28000) on minimizing selected aspects of risk in the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was used to explore this topic. Respondents were divided into two group regarding organization type – logistic service providers and focal companies. Basic data analysis was based on descriptive statistics and on analysis of variance with organization type as a stratification factor. Deeper data analysis was based on factor analysis with principal component analysis and varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization.

Findings

Research shows that standardized management systems turn out to be useful in supply chain risk management (SCRM) regardless of the role that the organization plays in the supply chain. However, the strength of their positive impact varies. There were few respondents among logistic operators who were low in assessing the legitimacy of implementing standardized management systems in the examined context. Having this in mind, especially representatives of logistic operators with a limited budget should consider making the decision to implement standardized management systems.

Practical implications

The obtained research results may be helpful for managers who consider to implement standardized management systems in the context of using obtain guidelines to develop procedures to improve supply chain management and ensure the repeatability of ongoing processes.

Originality/value

Although the number of studies on the SCRM increases, it is worth noting that in the literature there is still a lack of research and studies addressing the impact of standardized management systems on SCRM (especially from the perspective of organizations with various functions in supply chains such as focal companies and logistic service providers). Therefore, there is a need for comprehensive research in this area. According to the authors, the study carried out, at least to some extent, will fill this gap.

Quality management as a determinant factor of productivity

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to analyse the current state of the literature on the relationship between quality management (QM) and productivity as a performance indicator; second, to identify the key constructs of QM practices related to productivity; and, finally, to reveal whether QM can actually be regarded as a determinant of productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was carried out through a systematic literature review, considering 150 papers that studied this relationship between 1997 and 2017 and another 37 papers on the internal determinants of productivity.

Findings

The findings revealed that human resource management, top management and process management were the more relevant constructs of QM practices related to productivity. In addition, 89 per cent of the internal determinants of productivity were related to the proposed constructs of QM practices, which suggest that QM is a determinant factor of productivity.

Originality/value

This review analysed the literature on the relationship between QM and productivity, as few studies have done before, generating original, interesting and useful findings that can guide future research and that also represent a useful tool for researchers, practitioners, managers and policy makers.

Organizational learning, knowledge management capability and supply chain management practices in the Saudi food industry

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of knowledge management capabilities (KMCs) on organizational learning (OL) and supply chain management practices (SCMPs). In addition, to study the effect of OL, KMC and supply chain management on organizational performance (OP).

Design/methodology/approach

To study the relationships between KMC, OL, SCMP and OP, different techniques such as factor analysis, correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to verify the validity of the proposed conceptual model, and to test the suggested hypotheses, data collected from 165 companies in the Saudi food industry (representing a response rate of 64.9 per cent) were used.

Findings

According to the study’s findings, SCMP and OL are positively affected by KMC. Moreover, OP is directly affected by KMC, OL and SCMP.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the specific nature of the sample, the findings of the current research are applicable only to the food industry.

Originality/value

The current research introduced a conceptual model, which has been tested and verified in the Saudi food industry. The findings recommend that both KMC and OL as well as SCMP will contribute to improving the OP. In addition, KMC will improve the SCMP and OL.