Investigating the impact of absorptive capacity on operational performance: the mediating role of supply chain resilience

PurposeThe main objective of this study is to test whether firms with a higher level of intellectual capital (IC) perform better in terms of their supply chain resilience compared to those with lower levels of IC. Likewise, the study also examines the impact of IC (characterized by human capital, relational capital and structural capital) on supply chain resilience directly and through supply chain learning.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from the 159 processed-food sector firms using a close-ended questionnaire during the corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), partial least squares multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to test a set of hypotheses emanating from a conceptual model of IC and supply chain resilience.FindingsEmpirical results revealed a significant influence of all dimension of IC on a firm's supply chain learning and supply chain resilience. Likewise, findings also exhibit a momentous role of supply chain learning in reinforcing the impact of IC on supply chain resilience. Cross-firm size comparison reveals that supply chain resilience of firms with a higher level of IC performed significantly better than those with lower levels of IC. Firms with a higher level of structural capital had a highly resilient supply chain.Practical implicationsFindings of the study imply that IC and supply chain learning should be considered as a strategic tool and should be strategically developed for uplifting a supply chain performance of a firm. The development of IC and supply chain learning (SCL) not only improves the supply chain resilience of a firm but also can help to integrate the internal and external knowledge for harnessing supply chain resilience.Originality/valueThis research study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic which provides a unique setting to examine resiliency and learning.

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Understanding the relationships between global supply chain risk and supply chain resilience: the role of mitigating strategies

Supply Chain Management An International Journal ◽

10.1108/scm-06-2020-0248 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Juneho Um ◽

Neungho Han

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Global Supply Chain ◽

Theoretical Development ◽

Supply Chain Risk ◽

Content Type ◽

Supply Chain Resilience ◽

Supply Chain Risks ◽

The Impact ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to theoretically hypothesise and empirically explore the relationships amongst global supply chain risks, supply chain resilience and mitigating strategies. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts supply chain resilience as a dynamic capability and resilience capability as a mediating prerequisite in addressing supply chain risk in sourcing, manufacturing and delivery. The moderating role of diverse mitigating strategies is tested to enhance supply chain resilience. Data collected via survey was used for structural equation modelling and additional tests to explore appropriate mitigating strategies for differing risk environments. Findings Achieving better supply chain resilience capability plays an important mediating role between supply chain risks and resilience, while the relationships depend on the performance of seven mitigating strategies. Research limitations/implications The findings contribute to the theoretical development of risk management issues in global supply chains by suggesting the role of supply chain resilience capability. Practical implications The findings offer managerial guidance on how to mitigate the global supply chain risk through the appropriate practice of strategies to strengthen supply chain resilience in an uncertain environment. Originality/value This is the first empirical research examining the impact of mitigating strategies on supply chain resilience. The results provide practical implications for managing uncertain events and offering theoretical insight for future research in supply chain resilience.

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The mediating effect of logistics integration on supply chain performance

The International Journal of Logistics Management ◽

10.1108/ijlm-05-2013-0050 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 553-580 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Arshad Alam ◽

Prabir K. Bagchi ◽

Bumsoo Kim ◽

Subrata Mitra ◽

Fernando Seabra

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Supply Chain Performance ◽

Related Factors ◽

Content Type ◽

Composite Variable ◽

Mediating Role ◽

The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of individual logistics-related factors, namely, supplier involvement (SI), length of supplier relationship (LSR), use of information technology (IT), and logistics integration (LI) on a firm's supply chain performance (SCP) and test for the mediating effect of LI in a multi-country survey conducted in Brazil, Korea and India. The paper also develops a composite variable, supply chain competency (SCC), as an overall measure of the quality of a firm's supply chain and demonstrate its effect on a firm's SCP. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology was based on designing and administering a survey instrument. Data collected from 187 organizations in Brazil, Korea and India were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling methodology. Findings – Results show that for the combined data, the direct effects of SI, LSR and IT on SCP are insignificant while LI has a very significant direct effect on SCP. On the other hand, except for SI, LSR and IT have significant effects on SCP through LI establishing the mediating role of LI. The paper also finds that SCC has a significant effect on SCP. Further, when countries are considered individually the paper finds that IT has a significant indirect effect on SCP in the case of all the countries while LSR has a significant indirect effect on SCP, both in the case of Brazil and Korea. Additionally, in the case of Korea SI has a significant indirect effect on SCP. Research limitations/implications – Like other survey-based research, the findings of this paper are also limited by the sample size. Especially, the observations specific to individual countries are as good as the respective sample sizes. Also, since all the respondents belonged to manufacturing firms, the findings of this paper are relevant for the manufacturing sector. Practical implications – This paper establishes the mediating effect of LI in assessing the impact of logistics-related factors on a firm's SCP. It confirms that although logistics-related factors are necessary for a firm's superior SCP, they are not sufficient unless their interactions are taken into consideration, as evidenced by the significant positive relationship between SCC and SCP. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first paper to study the effect of logistics-related factors on a firm's SCP and establish the mediating role of LI in a multi-country setting. This paper also develops a composite variable SCC and examines its effect on SCP.

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The Role Of Integration And Resilience For Improving Resource Efficiency

European Journal of Business Management and Research ◽

10.24018/ejbmr.2020.5.1.183 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Abdullah Shah ◽

Muhammad Asim ◽

Salman Manzoor

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Sample Size ◽

Target Population ◽

Resource Efficiency ◽

Customer Integration ◽

Supply Chain Resilience ◽

Purposive Sampling ◽

Internal Integration ◽

The Impact

The study aims to examine the impact of customer integration, internal integration, logistics collaborator integration and supply chain resilience on the resource efficiency of the supply chain firms in Karachi. Sample size included 181 responses with the help of purposive sampling, and the target population was supply chain firms of Karachi. The data was analyzed using PLS-SEM. The study found that the customer integration was significantly affecting SC resilience but negatively affecting resource efficiency. Also, internal integration was not affecting customer integration and SC resilience and resource efficiency but affecting the logistics collaborator integration. Moreover, LCI was significantly affecting customer integration, SC resilience and resource efficiency. Lastly, SC resilience was negatively affecting resource efficiency. The study recommends that the managers need to enhance their logistics collaborator integration as it was found to be significantly improving the customer integration, supply chain resilience and resource efficiency. Moreover, the managers need to improve their customer and internal integration as they can enhance their logistics collaboration integration and resource efficiency.

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The role of company competitiveness as mediation variable the impact of supply chain practices on operational performance

Uncertain Supply Chain Management ◽

10.5267/j.uscm.2020.11.002 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 125-132

Author(s):

Maat Pono

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Important Variable ◽

Operational Performance ◽

Primary Data ◽

Significance Level ◽

Food And Beverage ◽

The Impact

This study aimed to explain the role of supply chain practices on operational performance, and supply chain practices on company competitiveness and to analyze the impact of company competitiveness on operational performance. In addition, we also investigate the impact of supply chain practices on operational performance through role of company competitiveness as mediation variable. The study was conducted in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Primary data were collected by questionnaire instrument from 108 food and beverage companies. Method of analysis was both descriptive statistical analysis, and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The study also used Sobel test to determine significance level of mediation role in the model. The results show that supply chain practices could give a positive impact on operational performance. Supply chain practices also gave a positive impact and significant on company competitiveness. Then, company competitiveness had a positive impact and significant on operational performance. Additionally, supply chain practices also had a positive impact on operational performance indirectly through the role of company competitiveness as mediation variable. Hence, supply chain practice was the most important variable to increase both company competitiveness and operational performance. Each company is recommended to implement this variable as competitive weapon in order to get a better operational performance and competitiveness as well.

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Guanxi and operational performance: the mediating role of supply chain integration

Industrial Management & Data Systems ◽

10.1108/imds-06-2016-0198 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 117 (8) ◽

pp. 1650-1668 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mengying Feng ◽

Wantao Yu ◽

Roberto Chavez ◽

John Mangan ◽

Xumei Zhang

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Least Square ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Supply Chain Integration ◽

Operational Performance ◽

Empirical Examination ◽

Content Type ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Ordinary Least Square Regression

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend prior supply chain research by empirically exploring the relationship among guanxi, supply chain integration (SCI), and operational performance. More specifically, this study investigates the mediating role of SCI. Design/methodology/approach Ordinary least square regression is used to analyze survey data collected from 126 automobile manufacturers in China. Findings The results reveal a significant positive relationship between guanxi and SCI, and that SCI is significantly and positively related to operational performance. The authors’ findings further suggest that guanxi indirectly affects operational performance through SCI. Practical implications The empirical findings imply that it is vital for managers to recognize the important mediating role of dynamic SCI capabilities. Originality/value As a fundamental Chinese cultural norm, guanxi can be critical in a supply chain context. Although previous research has identified the importance of guanxi and SCI in improving firm performance, far less attention was given to the study of the mediating effect of SCI on the guanxi-performance relationship. This study thus fulfills the research gap by providing an initial empirical examination of the mediating role of SCI in China’s automotive industry.

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THE IMPACT OF IT ASSETS ON INNOVATION PERFORMANCE – THE MEDIATING ROLE OF DEVELOPMENTAL CULTURE AND ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY

International Journal of Innovation Management ◽

10.1142/s136391961840011x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (08) ◽

pp. 1840011 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

MARIUS STOFFELS ◽

JENS LEKER

Keyword(s):

Absorptive Capacity ◽

Innovation Performance ◽

Research Model ◽

Water Industry ◽

Mediation Effects ◽

Resource Based View ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Organisational Factors ◽

The Impact

Information technology (IT) has been acknowledged as a driver of innovation performance and scholars agree that the impact of IT is mediated by additional organisational factors. Among those mediators between IT and innovation performance, a firm’s absorptive capacity and developmental culture received considerable attention. Empirical evidence suggests that both fully mediate the impact of IT on innovation performance; however, research that jointly considers both dimensions is scarce. Thus, we follow the resource-based view to operationalise IT assets, absorptive capacity, and developmental culture in one research model and apply SEM to test it with a sample of 58 firms from the water industry in Germany. We find simultaneous full mediation effects for both mediators. The fact that both mediation effects are significant in the presence of each other indicates that absorptive capacity and developmental culture explain complementary portions of the variance in innovation performance — a finding we relate to sociomateriality theory.

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