Unfolding the Linkage Between SCM Practices and Customer Responsiveness in Indian Automotive and Aerospace Manufacturing Firms

The study examines how the supply chain management (SCM) practices impact customer responsiveness, and the same has been tested empirically with the help of a conceptual framework based on a literature review. Previous studies on the relationship between supply chain variables and competitive advantage have been presented earlier with variables including customer satisfaction, quality and flexibility. Still, there is a shortage of literature on customer responsiveness. This study attempts to conduct a structured study well supported by the existing literature to establish the mentioned linkage. The study sample includes 433 employees from 10 Indian automobile and aerospace manufacturing organizations, and the responses have been analysed with structural equation modelling (SEM) and bivariate regression. The study establishes the linkage between SCM practices and customer responsiveness. The results infer that supply chain practices are antecedents to customer responsiveness. The study has also scrutinized the specific items of SCM practices construct that highly influences customer responsiveness. This study also highlights and identifies the research on the linkage between SCM practices and customer responsiveness in the Indian context. For practitioners, this study offers advice for effective policymaking to have more excellent customer responsiveness by concentrating on the specific elements of each SCM practice.

Nexus Between Uptake of Courses and Finance Availability on Success of Expansion Strategies in Public Training Institutions: A Case Study of Kenya Medical Training College

This study investigates the influence of uptake of courses and finance availability on the expansion strategies in public training institutions with reference to the Kenya Medical Training College. The specific objectives of the study are to: reveal the influence of uptake of courses on the success of expansion strategies in the public training institutions and; assess the influence of finances on the success of expansion strategies in the public training institutions. This study is based on the Ansoff Growth Matrix (AGM) and the theory of customer responsiveness. It adopts the descriptive survey design. The study focuses on 2393 KMTC officers from the 73 KMTC campuses in Kenya, 42 ministries of health officials in the 42 counties that have KMTC campuses and 42 local leaders from those counties that have KMTC campuses. The total targeted study participants were thus 2477. From these, 10% (248 persons) were sampled. The study used purposive and stratified random sampling techniques to obtain the study sample. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. Data from questionnaires were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and means) were used to describe the central tendencies of the data. In addition, inferential statistics (Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis) were also used. Data from key informants were analysed using content analysis techniques. The findings show that the two study variables influenced the success of expansion strategies at KMTC campuses. In this regard, Pearson correlation shows that there was statistical significant relationship between uptake of courses (r=.308, p<0.001) and; finance availability (r=0.673, p<0.001) and success of expansion strategies. These findings show that finance availability was the strongest factor that influenced the success of expansion strategies. As such, the success of expansion strategies can only be successful if the college put in place strategies aimed at ensuring that there were sufficient finances. This could go on to enhance the development of facilities and equipping them. An effort aimed at ensuring that new campuses had a high intake of students could also contribute to the level of success of expansion strategies at KMTC. High intakes could enhance the revenue generation, further enhancing the funding and success of new KMTC campuses.

Uptake of Courses and Finance Availability as Predictors of the Success of Expansion Strategies in Public Training Institutions: A Case Study of Kenya Medical Training College

This study investigates the influence of uptake of courses and finance availability on the expansion strategies in public training institutions with reference to the Kenya Medical Training College. The specific objectives of the study are to: reveal the influence of uptake of courses on the success of expansion strategies in the public training institutions and; assess the influence of finances on the success of expansion strategies in the public training institutions. This study is based on the Ansoff Growth Matrix (AGM) and the theory of customer responsiveness. It adopts the descriptive survey design. The study focuses on 2393 KMTC officers from the 73 KMTC campuses in Kenya, 42 ministries of health officials in the 42 counties that have KMTC campuses, and 42 local leaders from those counties that have KMTC campuses. The total targeted study participants were thus 2477. From these, 10% (248 persons) were sampled. The study used purposive and stratified random sampling techniques to obtain the study sample. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. Data from questionnaires were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and means) were used to describe the central tendencies of the data. In addition, inferential statistics (Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis) were also used. Data from key informants were analysed using content analysis techniques. The findings show that the two study variables influenced the success of expansion strategies at KMTC campuses. In this regard, Pearson correlation shows that there was statistical significant relationship between uptake of courses (r=.308, p<0.001)and; finance availability (r=0.673, p<0.001) and success of expansion strategies. These findings show that finance availability was the strongest factor that influenced the success of expansion strategies. As such, the success of expansion strategies can only be successful if the college put in place strategies aimed at ensuring that there was sufficient finances. This could go on to enhance the development of facilities and equipping them. An effort aimed at ensuring that new campuses had a high intake of students could also contribute to the level of success of expansion strategies at KMTC. High intakes could enhance the revenue generation, further enhancing the funding and success of new KMTC campuses.

Effect of Information Technology on Warehousing and Inventory Management for Competitive Advantage

This chapter examined how the use of technology in inventory control impacts organizational performance since inventory is the most valued asset of an organization. From the summary of this study, it can be concluded that the adoption of technology as RFID in inventory management leads to improve the organizational performance in both financial and customer responsiveness. In the business performance, RFID could improve the organizational performance in terms of reducing inventory carrying costs on the warehouse, such as lowering the expiring cost of the product stocked, increasing space in a warehouse, avoiding exceed inventory, and decreasing labor costs. Moreover, from the perspective of customer service, the adoption of RFID could increase customer responsiveness in terms of reducing stock out risk, increasing the accuracy of product delivery, and increasing the interaction between customers with the organization.

Determinants of Strategic Sourcing and the Impact of Them on Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry in Sri Lanka

Sourcing function has become a crucial activity in any organization from recent decades because total supply chain effectiveness of any organization is achieved mainly through efficient sourcing function. Therefore, the study aimed to findout the determinants affecting on strategic sourcing and the impact of each determinant. The study population was targeted to those who are engaged in sourcing of five top ranked players in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry in Sri Lanka. A sample of 300 respondents were considered under stratified sampling method. Through a factor analysis, five factors have been identified as the determinants of strategic sourcing. The identified factors are, supplier’s reliability and Quality, supplier’s Business Environment, supplier’s sustainability, cost advantage and Customer Responsiveness. A linear regression analysis was undertaken to distinguish the impact of each identified determinant on strategic sourcing.