The Impact of Information Technologies and Top Management Support on Supply Chain Performance: An Empirical Approach for Turkey

Abstract

Applications of information and communication technologies have become indispensable for companies, being key determinants of high supply chain performance. Application of information technologies activities throughout the supply chain is vital for the increased success of supply chain applications. Advanced utilization of information technologies will lead to an increased level of information flow, cooperation and communication within the corporation, leading to integration and hence, a soaring up of supply chain performance. However, top management support regarding application and utilization of information technologies increases the efficiency of inter-organization information sharing, thus, creating a favourable impact over supply chain performance. This study assesses the relations between information technologies, internal integration, top management support and information sharing and their effects on supply chain performance. Hypotheses tested in this assessment are analyzed through data collected from personals working for firms in Turkey, via utilizing the Structural Equation Modelling in SPSS AMOS software. The sample consists of senior executives, mid-level managers, specialists and assistant specialists working in a span of sectors (manufacturing, textiles, construction, food and logistic). The structural model put forward is analyzed via data collected from 103 employees. Results of analyzing showing that information technologies has a positive and significant influence in internal integration whereas no similar relationship is prevalent between internal integration and supply chain performance. Moreover, concludes that top management support significantly and positively affects information sharing. In addition to this, information sharing has a positive effect on supply chain performance. All in all, this study aims to provide guidance for firms pursuing to develop their supply chain performance.

Keywords

• Information and Communication Technologies,Information Systems,Supply Chain Managament,Supply Chain Performance

Bilgi Teknolojileri ve Üst Yönetim Desteğinin Tedarik Zinciri Performansına Etkisi: Türkiye İçin Ampirik Bir Yaklaşım

Öz

Bilgi ve iletişim teknolojisi uygulamaları şirketler için bir vazgeçilmez ve yüksek tedarik zinciri performansının kilit belirleyicileri haline gelmiştir. Tedarik zinciri uygulamalarının başarısının artması için, tedarik zinciri boyunca bilgi teknolojileri faaliyetlerinin uygulanması hayati öneme sahiptir. Bilgi teknolojilerinin ileri düzeyde kullanımı, kurum içinde bilgi akışının, işbirliğinin ve iletişimin artmasına ve böylece tedarik zinciri performansının yükselmesine yol açacaktır. Bununla birlikte, bilgi teknolojilerinin uygulanması ve kullanılmasıyla ilgili üst düzey yönetim desteği, kuruluşlar arası bilgi paylaşımının verimliliğini arttırmakta ve böylece tedarik zinciri performansı üzerinde olumlu bir etki yaratmaktadır. Çalışmada bilgi teknolojileri, iç entegrasyon, üst yönetim desteği ve bilgi paylaşımı arasındaki ilişkiler ve tedarik zinciri performansına etkileri değerlendirilmektedir. Bu değerlendirmede test edilen hipotezler, SPSS AMOS yazılımında Yapısal Eşitlik Modellemesi kullanılarak Türkiye'deki firmalarda çalışan personellerden toplanan verilerle analiz edilmektedir. Örneklem, çeşitli sektörlerde çalışan (imalat, tekstil, inşaat, gıda ve lojistik) üst ve orta düzey yöneticilerden, uzmanlardan ve uzman yardımcılarından oluşmaktadır. Öne sürülen yapısal model, 103 çalışandan toplanan verilerle analiz edilmiştir. Bilgi teknolojilerinin iç entegrasyon üzerinde olumlu ve önemli bir etkiye sahip olduğunu gösteren analiz sonuçları, iç entegrasyon ile tedarik zinciri performansı arasında benzer bir ilişki bulunmadığını göstermektedir. Ayrıca, üst yönetim desteğinin bilgi paylaşımını önemli ölçüde ve olumlu yönde etkilediği sonucuna varılmıştır. Buna ek olarak, bilgi paylaşımının tedarik zinciri performansı üzerinde olumlu bir etkisi vardır. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma tedarik zinciri performanslarını geliştirmek isteyen firmalara rehberlik etmeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bilgi ve İletişim Teknolojileri,Bilişim Sistemleri,Tedarik Zinciri Yönetimi,Tedarik Zinciri Peformansı

Kaynakça

1. Bovel, D., & Martha, J. (2000). From supply chain to value net. Journal of Business Strategy, 21(4), 24-28.
2. Brandyberry, A., Rai, A., & White, G.P. (1999). Intermediate performance impacts of advanced manufacturing technology systems: An empirical investigation. Decision Sciences, 30(4), 993-1020.
3. Braunscheidel, M. J., & Suresh, N. C. (2009). The organizational antecedents of a firm’s supply chain agility for risk mitigation and response. Journal of Operations Management, 27(2), 119-140.
4. Byrd, T.A., & Davidson, N.W. (2003). Examining possible antecedents of IT impact on the supply chain and its effect on firm performance. Information & Management, 41(2), 243-255.
5. Frohlich, M.T., & Westbrook, R. (2001). Arcs of integration: an international study of supply chain strategies. Journal of Operations Management, 19(2), 185-200.
6. Green Jr, K.W., Whitten, D., & Inman, R.A. (2007). The impact of timely information on organisational performance in a supply chain. Production Planning & Control, 18(4), 274-282.
7. Green Jr, K. W., Whitten, D., & Inman, R. A. (2012). Aligning marketing strategies throughout the supply chain to enhance performance. Industrial Marketing Management, 41(6), 1008-1018.
8. Gu, Q., Jitpaipoon, T., & Yang, J. (2017). The impact of information integration on financial performance: A knowledge-based view. International Journal of Production Economics, 191, 221-232.

9. Harland, C., Zheng, J., Johnsen, T., & Lamming, R. (2004). A Conceptual Model for Researching the Creation and Operation of Supply Networks 1. British Journal of Management, 15(1), 1-21.
10. Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural equation modeling: a multidisciplinary journal, 6(1), 1-55.
11. Huang, G.Q., Lau, J.S., & Mak, K.L. (2003). The impacts of sharing production information on supply chain dynamics: A review of the literature. International Journal of Production Research, 41(7), 1483-1517.
12. Huo, B., Ye, Y., Zhao, X., & Shou, Y. (2016). The impact of human capital on supply chain integration and competitive performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 178, 132-143.
13. Jarvenpaa, S. L., & Ives, B. (1990). Information technology and corporate strategy: a view from the top. Information Systems Research, 1(4), 351-376.
14. Jin, B. (2006). Performance implications of information technology implementation in an apparel supply chain. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 11(4), 309-316.
15. Karoway, C. (1997). Superior supply chains pack plenty of byte. Purchasing Technology, 8(11), 32-35.
16. Kelle, P., & Akbulut, A. (2005). The role of ERP tools in supply chain information sharing, cooperation, and cost optimization. International Journal of Production Economics, 93, 41-52.
17. Kim, S.M., & Mahoney, J.T. (2006). Mutual commitment to support exchange: Relation‐specific IT system as a substitute for managerial hierarchy. Strategic Management Journal, 27(5), 401-423.
18. Kline, R.B. (2005), Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling (2nd Edition ed.). New York: The Guilford Press.
19. Lai, K.H., Wong, C.W., & Cheng, T.E. (2006). Institutional isomorphism and the adoption of information technology for supply chain management. Computers in Industry, 57(1), 93-98.
20. Lambert, D. M., & Cooper, M. C. (2000). Issues in supply chain management. Industrial Marketing Management, 29(1), 65-83.
21. Li, G., Yang, H., Sun, L., & Sohal, A.S. (2009). The impact of IT implementation on supply chain integration and performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 120(1), 125-138.
22. Li, S., Rao, S. S., Ragu-Nathan, T. S., & Ragu-Nathan, B. (2005). Development and validation of a measurement instrument for studying supply chain management practices. Journal of Operations Management, 23(6), 618-641.
23. Lii, P., & Kuo, F. I. (2016). Innovation-oriented supply chain integration for combined competitiveness and firm performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 174, 142-155.
24. Mentzer, J.T., DeWitt, W., Keebler, J.S., Min, S., Nix, N.W., Smith, C D., & Zacharia, Z.G. (2001). Defining supply chain management. Journal of Business Logistics, 22(2), 1-25.
25. Palmer, J.W., & Griffith, D.A. (1998). Information intensity: A paradigm for understanding web site design. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 6(3), 38-42.
26. Paulraj, A., Lado, A. A., & Chen, I. J. (2008). Inter-organizational communication as a relational competency: Antecedents and performance outcomes in collaborative buyer–supplier relationships. Journal of Operations Management, 26(1), 45-64.
27. Pereira, J. V. (2009). The new supply chain's frontier: Information management. International Journal of Information Management, 29(5), 372-379.
28. Qi, Y., Huo, B., Wang, Z., & Yeung, H. Y. J. (2017). The impact of operations and supply chain strategies on integration and performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 185, 162-174.
29. Radstaak, B.G., & Ketelaar, M.H. (1998). Worldwide Logistics: The Future of Supply Chain Services: Executive Summary, Conclusions and Major Findings. Holland International Distribution Council.
30. Setia, P., & Patel, P.C. (2013). How information systems help create OM capabilities: Consequents and antecedents of operational absorptive capacity. Journal of Operations Management, 31(6), 409-431.
31. Sheu, C., Rebecca Yen, H., & Chae, B. (2006). Determinants of supplier-retailer collaboration: Evidence from an international study. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 26(1), 24-49.
32. Steiger, J. H. (2007). Understanding the limitations of global fit assessment in structural equation modeling. Personality and Individual differences, 42(5), 893-898.
33. Su, Y. F., & Yang, C. (2010). A structural equation model for analyzing the impact of ERP on SCM. Expert Systems with Applications, 37(1), 456-469.
34. Towill, D.R. (1997). The seamless supply chain-the predator's strategic advantage. International Journal of Technology Management, 13(1), 37-56.
35. Vargas, J. R. C., Mantilla, C. E. M., & Jabbour, A. B. L. S. (2018). Enablers of sustainable supply chain management and its effect on competitive advantage in the Colombian context. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 139, 237-250.
36. Vickery, S. K., Jayaram, J., Droge, C., & Calantone, R. (2003). The effects of an integrative supply chain strategy on customer service and financial performance: an analysis of direct versus indirect relationships. Journal of operations management, 21(5), 523-539.
37. Woo, C., Kim, M.G., Chung, Y., & Rho, J.J. (2016). Suppliers' communication capability and external green integration for green and financial performance in Korean construction industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 483-493.
38. Wu, W.Y., Chiag, C.Y., Wu, Y.J., & Tu, H.J. (2004). The influencing factors of commitment and business integration on supply chain management. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 104(4), 322-333.
39. Xu, Y., Boh, W. F., Luo, C., & Zheng, H. (2018). Leveraging industry standards to improve the environmental sustainability of a supply chain. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 27, 90-105.
40. Youn, S., Yang, M. G. M., & Hong, P. (2012). Integrative leadership for effective supply chain implementation: An empirical study of Korean firms. International Journal of Production Economics, 139(1), 237-246.
41. Youn, S., Yang, M.G.M., Hong, P., & Park, K. (2013). Strategic supply chain partnership, environmental supply chain management practices, and performance outcomes: an empirical study of Korean firms. Journal of Cleaner Production, 56, 121-130.
42. Zelbst, P. J., Green Jr, K.W., Sower, V.E., & Baker, G. (2010). RFID utilization and information sharing: The impact on supply chain performance. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 25(8), 582-589.
43. Zhao, X., Huo, B., Selen, W., & Yeung, J.H.Y. (2011). The impact of internal integration and relationship commitment on external integration. Journal of Operations Management, 29(1-2), 17-32.
44. Zhou, H., & Benton Jr, W.C. (2007). Supply chain practice and information sharing. Journal of Operations Management, 25(6), 1348-1365.