Supply chain alignment for improved business performance: an empirical study

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 511-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Skipworth ◽  
Janet Godsell ◽  
Chee Yew Wong ◽  
Soroosh Saghiri ◽  
Denyse Julien

Purpose – This study aims to explain how supply chain alignment, which remains a major challenge for supply chains, can be achieved and its implications for business performance (BP) by testing the strengths of the relationships between previously identified enablers, supply chain alignment and BP. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review develops hypotheses on the relationships between enablers, alignment and BP. A survey of medium-to-large UK manufacturing companies was conducted where the sample comprised 151 randomly selected companies, and the response rate was 56 per cent. Partial least square regression was used to test the hypothesis. Findings – Two types of supply chain alignment are defined – shareholder and customer – but only customer alignment (CA) has a direct positive impact on BP, while shareholder alignment (SA) is its antecedent. Top management support was shown to be an enabler of both shareholder and CA, while organisation structure, information sharing and performance measurement system enabled SA, while internal relational behaviour enabled CA. Research limitations/implications – Supply chain management research lacks knowledge on exactly how supply chain alignment can be achieved and what BP implications it has. This research provides a tested conceptual model to address this gap. Practical implications – The refined conceptual model provides precise guidance to practitioners on how to improve BP through supply chain alignment. Originality/value – Whilst the strategic management literature emphasizes the importance of SA, this study reveals another crucial alignment – CA – and shows its direct positive impact on BP.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shih-Jung Juan ◽  
Eldon Y. Li ◽  
Wei-Hsi Hung

PurposeThis study aims to explore the relationships among the five components of supply chain (SC) resilience (SCRES): visibility, velocity, flexibility, robustness and collaboration and their impacts on the SC performance under disruption (SCPUD).Design/methodology/approachFive SCRES components are identified from the literature review and data are collected using an web survey from 113 manufacturing companies in Taiwan. The data are analyzed by structured equation modeling with the partial least square solution. Two-stage least-squares (2SLS) regression was used to test the potential endogeneity of SC collaboration (SCC).FindingsThe results reveal that SCC is an exogenous driver of SCRES; it directly affects visibility, velocity, flexibility, robustness and SCPUD. Furthermore, SC flexibility is the only component of SC agility that directly affects SCPUD; it is influenced directly by SC velocity and indirectly by SC visibility through SC velocity. SC visibility is a vital agility component that positively influences SC velocity and SC robustness.Research limitations/implicationsThe data in this study are cross-sectional and the sample size of 113 is relatively small. The relationship between SC robustness and SCPUD needs a longer observation period to reveal. The logistic issue in the shortage of carriers caused by the pandemic has been overlooked.Practical implicationsA firm should enhance its collaboration and flexibility in the SC as they both are the critical antecedents of SC performance (SCP) during the disruption period.Originality/valueThis study integrates visibility, velocity, flexibility, robustness and collaboration into a complete framework of SCRES. The dependent variable, SCPUD, measures SC performance (SCP) under the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first study to investigate the associations of the six constructs in a research model.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1301-1317
Author(s):  
Indro Kirono ◽  
Armanu Armanu ◽  
Djumilah Hadiwidjojo ◽  
Solimun Solimun

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of collaboration, capability and information sharing (IS) on logistic performance, the effect of collaboration and IS on capabilities, the effect of collaboration on logistic performance through capabilities, the influence of IS on logistic performance through capabilities and the effect of logistics capabilities on logistics performance. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a quantitative approach and is included in explanatory research. This research uses cross section research design. The research populations are all companies incorporated in GAFEKSI (Joint Forwarder and Expedition Indonesia) of East Java. Sampling in this research is by using a purposive sample. The sample of this study amounted to 47 forwarder and expedition companies. Data analysis method used is partial least square. Findings Collaboration has a positive impact on capabilities (CAP); capability (LOC) positive impact on logistic performance; collaboration does not directly affect the logistics performance; and construct capabilities (LOC) is the mediation of IS in building business logistics performance. Increasing the intensity of IS has no direct contribution to increased flexibility, and collaboration is driven by partnership and network, whereas CT (trust) can be ignored, as it is not proven to make a dominant contribution to collaboration. Originality/value The novelty of this research is found in the strategic role of capabilities as the dominant latent variable in building business performance of logistic companies. This study finds dual mediation, where both mediations are expressed as full mediation, because the direct effect of mediator latent variables is significant (Little et al., 2010; Hair et al., 1995).


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizem Erboz ◽  
Işık Özge Yumurtacı Hüseyinoğlu ◽  
Zoltan Szegedi

Purpose Industry 4.0 not only impacts the manufacturing industry but also supply chain practices. Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV), the purpose of this paper is to examine how Industry 4.0 affects supply chain integration (SCI) and supply chain performance (SCP). Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from 212 respondents in manufacturing companies. The partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypotheses of this study. Findings The findings reveal that Industry 4.0 has a positive impact on SCI and SCP, and SCI has a positive impact on SCP. In addition, a partial mediating role of SCI has been found between Industry 4.0 and SCP. Practical implications This study reveals the role of Industry 4.0 on supply chain practices and draws attention to SCI in the linkage between Industry 4.0 and SCP. The findings emphasise the need for Industry 4.0 and SCI to enhance SCP. Originality/value There is limited research on the impacts of Industry 4.0 on SCI and SCP. This research finds empirical evidence for these impacts and enhances knowledge of Industry 4.0 by using a sample from an emerging country.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 532-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommy Lau ◽  
Man Lai Cheung ◽  
Guilherme D. Pires ◽  
Carol Chan

Purpose The abolishment of the wine tax in Hong Kong has led to increased wine consumption and increased demand for wine-related professionals, such as sommeliers. Yet the importance of sommeliers’ value-adding performance in the context of upscale Chinese restaurants has not been examined. To address this gap, the SERVQUAL framework is adopted to examine the influence of sommeliers’ service quality (SQ) on customer satisfaction (CS) and loyalty in the context of upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach The survey method is used to collect data from 302 units of the population of interest, partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is used to test the links between constructs. Findings Four of the seven dimensions of sommeliers’ service quality, namely, empathy, tangibles, credibility and assurance, have a significant positive impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, whereas the impact of perceived value and responsiveness on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty is positive but only marginally significant. Reliability has a weak and non-significant impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Research limitations/implications Examining a small number of upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong limits generalisation of the findings to other contexts. Replication of the research in different contexts will enhance generalizability. In terms of implications, the discussion highlights the importance of sommeliers’ service performance on customers’ SQ perceptions SQ, CS and loyalty, all of which are important variables for restaurateurs. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of the influence of the quality of sommelier’s SQ on CS and loyalty in upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong. Given the lack of attention to this service role in the literature, the study contributes theory from which further understanding can develop.


Author(s):  
Hana Suryana

Objective - Explore the data and information on External Environmental Forces and Company Resources on Strategic Orientation, Absorptive Capability, Value Creation and their implication on Business Performance of courier service industry in Indonesia. Methodology/Technique - The nature of this research is descriptive and verification. The unit of analysis is the courier service industry, and a sample of 72 courier companies from various regions in Indonesia. The time horizon is cross-sectional, where the research is done at a certain time. Primary data is collected by a questionnaire and interviews with management of the companies and stakeholders. The analysis is done by using the model verification Partial Least Square (PLS). Findings - Company Resources have the positive impact on Absorptive Capability to increase Value Creation and Business Performance.However, the magnitude of the influence is faced with the problems of in optimal development of Company Resources on the aspects of tangible and intangible assets. The condition makes companies could not optimize in Absorptive Capability as well as Value Creation to improve Business Performance. Novelty - It was very few articles discussing the comparison of the psychological determinants of online self-disclosure and privacy issues between Polish and Indonesian. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords : Absorptive Capability, Business Performance, Company Resources,External Environmental Forces, Strategic Orientation, Value Creation.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Ramos ◽  
Andrea S. Patrucco ◽  
Melissa Chavez

Purpose Considering the unprecedented supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the agri-food sector, the possession of dynamic capabilities (DCs) – particularly, the need for higher agility – seems to be the key to survival in highly uncertain environments. This study aims to use the dynamic capability view (DCV) theory to analyze how three key supply chain capabilities – organizational flexibility, integration and agility – should be combined to obtain the desired supply chain performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors designed a conceptual model in which the relationships between these three key capabilities and supply chain performance were hypothesized. The model was first tested through partial least square regression using survey data collected from 98 members of the Peruvian coffee supply chain. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was conducted to uncover how DCs could be combined in successful supply chain configurations. Findings The authors show that organizational flexibility is a driver of higher agility in agri-food supply chains, together with external and internal supply chain integration, that have a direct impact on agility, which positively affects supply chain performance. Higher levels of supply chain agility are necessary but insufficient to guarantee high performance, as sufficiency is reached when both integration (internal and/or external) and agility are present. Originality/value This study represents a pioneering attempt to apply the DCV theory to agri-food supply chains – characterized by many sources of uncertainty. All the DCs are included within the same model and the joint use of PLS regression and fsQCA provides evidence about the relationships between DCs and how they can empower agri-food supply to obtain the desired performance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 05001
Author(s):  
Osaro Aigbogun ◽  
Zulkipli Ghazali ◽  
Radzuan Razali

Resilience is the vital feature of supply chains that confers the ability to withstand the adverse effects of disruptive events. Most of the previous studies have been conceptual, theoretical, normative, or at best qualitative in approach, concentrating on identifying the elements of resilience. In spite of the proliferation of studies, an empirically validated quantitative study on justifying the measurement dimensions of supply chain resilience is rare, thus the need for further quantitative empirical studies. The context of the present study is the manufacturing supply chain of halal pharmaceuticals in Malaysia. A quantitative cross-sectional design was applied by means of self-administered structured questionnaire survey, using the Supply Chain Resilience Assessment and Management instrument (SCRAM© 2.0). The survey yielded usable responses from 106 manufacturing companies engaged in the production of halal pharmaceuticals in Malaysia. Descriptive statistics as well as partial least square-based structural equation modelling was used to analyze the survey data. This was facilitated by IBM SPSS statistics software (version 21.0), and Smart PLS 3.2.4 respectively. The results suggest that the psychometric properties of the supply chain resilience dimensions (vulnerabilities and capabilities) in the context of the present study are reliable and valid.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bambang Tjahjadi ◽  
Noorlailie Soewarno ◽  
Viviani Nadyaningrum ◽  
Aisyah Aminy

PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether human capital readiness affects business performance, and if so, whether the effect is mediated by global market orientation.Design/methodology/approachThis is a quantitative study employing partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses. Using a survey method, the data were collected using both online and offline questionnaires. As many as 433 owners/managers of micro-, small- and-medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the East Java Province of Indonesia participated in this study. A mediating research framework was developed to investigate the mediating role of global marketing orientation on the human capital readiness–business performance relationship.FindingsThe results show that human capital readiness has a direct and positive effect on business performance. Further analysis reveals that global market orientation partially mediates the effect of human capital readiness on business performance.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, this study focuses on the MSMEs in the East Java Province of Indonesia. Caution needs to be taken if the results are generalized to other regions. Second, it employed a survey method that is commonly criticized as having the potential to be biased.Practical implicationsThe findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of owners/managers of human capital readiness and how it should be improved to better execute global market orientation strategies to achieve the desired business performance.Social implicationsBecause MSMEs play a crucial role in society, this study provides a general model to improve the welfare of society by enhancing the MSMEs' business performance. By understanding its antecedents, namely, human capital readiness and the global market orientation, improvements can be made.Originality/valueHuman capital readiness has been rarely examined in previous studies. This is the only study applying the constructs of human capital readiness, global market orientation and business performance to the Indonesian MSME research setting.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Zimmermann ◽  
Luis Miguel D.F. Ferreira ◽  
Antonio Carrizo Moreira ◽  
Ana Cristina Barros ◽  
Henrique Luiz Correa

PurposeThis paper investigates the effect of the fit between supply and demand uncertainty (SDU) and supply chain responsiveness (SCR) (SC fit) on business and innovation performance in Brazilian companies.Design/methodology/approachThe study presented an analysis carried out on an empirical study based on a sample of 150 manufacturing companies. Business and innovation performance of companies with different types of SC fit ( high–high and low–low fits) and misfit (positive and negative) are compared and discussed.FindingsThe results indicated that SC fit had a positive effect on both business and innovation performance. Further analyses suggested that companies with SC fit present similar business performance, independent of the level of SDU that characterizes the environment where they compete, while companies in environments with higher levels of uncertainty tend to present superior innovation performance. Companies with positive and negative misfit present similar performance.Originality/valueAn analysis of the literature showed that there is no consensus when it comes to the definitions and measurements of SC fit. The paper investigates the effects of SC fit on business and innovation performance, while previous empirical studies have mainly addressed its impact on financial performance. Moreover, this study compares the effects of two types of fit and two types of misfit and assesses SC fit in Brazilian manufacturing companies, analyzing the context of an under-researched reality.


2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chee Wong ◽  
Heather Skipworth ◽  
Janet Godsell ◽  
Nemile Achimugu

PurposeThe importance of supply chain alignment has been discussed since the birth of supply chain management (SCM). Yet it remains a major challenge for supply chains. This paper aims to systematically review the cross disciplinary literature on supply chain alignment in order to identify, and develop constructs for enablers to alignment, and an associated set of hypotheses.Design/methodology/approachA systematic approach has been taken to the literature review, which ensures it is auditable and repeatable. The selection criteria are clearly aligned with the review question ensuring all literature pertinent to the question is identified and reviewed. Relevant information is extracted from the selected papers and synthesised into a set of hypotheses.FindingsSix main constructs for the enablers of alignment are identified and defined: organisational structure, internal relational behaviour, customer relational behaviour, top management support, information sharing and business performance measurement system. While the literature is disparate, across different disciplines there is good support for these enablers. The relationships between supply chain alignment and shareholder and customer value are also argued with the support of the literature. Although each of the enablers is argued to positively affect shareholder and customer value, their interactions with one another are not well supported in the literature, either theoretically or empirically, and therefore this could be an area for further research.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the hypotheses remain theoretical, it is now possible to test them and understand the relative significance of the various enablers to alignment.Practical implicationsThe significance of shareholder and customer alignment on the delivery of shareholder and customer value can be examined, thus moving towards a theory of supply chain alignment. This is needed since in practice companies are struggling with supply chain alignment.Originality/valueThe existing literature on supply chain alignment is disparate and multi‐disciplinary as this descriptive analysis shows, with 72 papers published in 43 different journals. Moreover, most of the papers focus on particular enablers, while this paper brings together six key enablers from the literature to produce a set of hypotheses.


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