Relational Antecedents of Information Flow Integration for Supply
Chain Coordination
Patnayakuni, Ravi ravi.patnayakuni@uah.edu
Rai, Arun arunrai@gsu.edu
Seth, Nainika naina.seth@uah.edu
Journal of Management Information Systems;
Summer2006, Vol. 23 Issue 1, p13-49
Abstract
A new model of competition, where competition
is among supply chain networks rather than individual firms, is transforming
traditional market-based buyer supplier relations to one of competition among
cooperative sets. In order to integrate and realize performance gains from
participating in cooperative supply networks, the importance of information
sharing across the supply chain has been emphasized in different literature
streams. In this study, we examine the relational antecedents of this critical
aspect of supply chain integration--that is, information flow integration. Our
objective is to investigate the relationship between relational orientation of the focal firm, as characterized by (1)
long-term orientation of its supply chain relationships. (2) asset
specificity, and (3) interaction routines and the information flow integration
between a firm and its supply chain partners. A research model was developed
and data were collected from 110 supply chain and logistics managers in
manufacturing and retail organizations. Our results suggest that tangible and
intangible resources invested in supply chain relationships enable the integration
of information flows with supply chain partners. Specifically, formal and
informal interaction routines that take time and effort to develop enable
integration of informational flows across a firm's supply chain. Investments in
relation specific assets and long-term orientation in relationships enable the
development of these interaction routines.