Supply chain integration: value creation through managing inter-organizational learning

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how inter-organizational learning (including supply chain learning and imitation prevention) mediates the relationships between supply chain integration (SCI) and two dimensions of focal firm performance (i.e. customer service performance and innovation performance). Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional approach was adopted with primary data collected through a survey in China. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with partial least-squares estimations. Findings The findings verify that inter-organizational learning mediates the relationship between SCI and focal firm performance. The results of sub-group model analysis illustrate that both powerful and weak focal firms benefit from inter-organizational learning, but in different ways. Research limitations/implications The responses were all from young executives who had four years’ work experience on average. Top-level executives may provide more comprehensive and accurate input for similar future research. Practical implications The results suggest that successfully integrating the supply chain to create customer value requires both supply chain learning and imitation prevention. Originality/value This paper responds to calls for an inter-disciplinary research between supply chain management and inter-organizational learning by taking into account supply chain learning and imitation prevention as links between SCI and both customer service performance for current success and innovation performance for future prosperity.

Embracing green innovation via green supply chain learning: The moderating role of green technology turbulence

“…Energy shortage and regulatory pressures prompt firms to engage in green innovation (Du et al, ; Lin et al, ; Zhao et al, ). Green supply chain learning has been deemed as an important source of information and resources and has been considered as one of the most crucial approaches for the firm to enhance its innovative capabilities (Flint et al, ; Huang, Ding, & Kao, ; Verghese & Lewis, ; Wu, ; Zhu et al, ). This research investigates whether and under what conditions two dimensions of green supply chain learning (i.e., green supplier and customer learning) proactively enhance two different types of green innovation (i.e., green product and process innovation).…”

“…In order to save cost, the focal firm is likely to innovate on its manufacturing procedures, technology, or equipment to address the misfit that results in green and innovative manufacturing processes. In addition, green supplier learning is conducive to the build of shared norms and goals between supplier and the manufacturer that is likely to reinforce both parties' implementation of green practices (Zhu et al, ). The manufacturer may particularly focus on innovating green processes such as installing energy efficient equipment and pollution control systems (Feng, Cai, Wang, & Zhang, ; Feng & Wang, ) to demonstrate its commitment to the shared environmental goals and as a way of role setting to reinforce the learning process (Chiou et al, ).…”

“…Thus, learning from supply chain partners is a feasible manner to acquire related knowledge (Hernández-Espallardo et al, 2010). Supply chain learning can help firms acquire, disseminate, interpret, and use information and knowhow knowledge that may be conducive to green innovation (Flint et al, 2008;Zhu, Krikke, & Caniëls, 2018). In previous literature, supply chain learning has been suggested to be related with customer service performance, innovation performance, and firm performance (Flint et al, 2008;Hernández-Espallardo et al, 2010;Zhu et al, 2018).…”

Supply chains under resource pressure

“…the philosophy of this technique is different from factor-based methods and it is a prediction-oriented approach (Rigdon et al, 2017). PLS was chosen as the most appropriate technique and it has been applied in many studies in the field of supply chain management (Zhu et al, 2018;Gualandris et al, 2018). PLS can accommodate small sample sizes (Hair et al, 2014).…”

Pengaruh Hard Skills, Soft Skills dan Mediasi Budaya Sekolah Terhadap Kapabilitas Inovasi Guru di Jawa Barat

“…Learning organization menjadi salah satu strategi bagi organisasi untuk mempelajari dinamika lingkungan usahanya (Senge, 1990;Zhu et al, 2018;Kasim et al, 2018;Darwish et al, 2018). Sekolah dengan rutinitas belajar yang terkelola akan menghasilkan kumpulan individu yang knowledgeable, baik hard skills maupun soft skills (Hussain et al, 2018).…”