Strategic and Operational Benefits of IOS-Enabled Interorganizational Integration

In this study, we employ the lens of the resource-based view of the firm to examine the strategic value of IOS- enabled interorganizational integration. We first develop the key construct of IOS-enabled interorganizational integration, identifying and defining its two dimensions: interorganizational system integration and business integration. Next, we propose that while the two dimensions have positive impacts on operational performance, only interorganizational business integration has strategic value. The data for this study were collected through a survey of firms in mainland China. The results provide empirical support for our propositions. The study contributes to research by providing a clear conceptualization of IOS-enabled interorganizational integration, establishing the theoretical link between its two dimensions and operational and strategic performance, developing scales for interorganizational system integration and business integration, as well as providing data on the IOS experience of Chinese firms

Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management: Toward an Understanding of the Antecedents to Demand for Assurance

Recognizing the need for effective cyber risk management processes across the supply chain, the AICPA issued a new SOC in March 2020 for assuring cyber supply chain risk management (C-SCRM) processes. This study examines supply chain relationship factors and cyber risk issues to better understand the demand for C-SCRM assurance. Resource-Advantage Theory of Competition provides the conceptual foundation for assessing the dual drivers of relationship building and cyber risk management on demand for assurance. We use a field survey to collect data from 205 professionals enabling evaluation of the complex relationships in the theoretical model. Results support all hypotheses, provide satisfactory model fit, and support the underlying theory. Trust and cyber supply chain risk both positively influence demand for assurance over C-SCRM processes. This study expands the literature on cyber assurance by auditors and elaborates on overall supply chain processes that help drive value from auditors providing such assurance

Understanding the manifold forms of B2B integration - A transaction cost perspective

The need for collaboration within value chains is rapidly increasing and drives enterprise to align and electronically integrate their business processes with their business partners. As technologies evolve, manifold forms of B2B integration have emerged – from e-mail communication to customer or supplier portals, the exchange of EDIFACT- to XML documents, and Web Services. Although serviceoriented architectures (SOA) are considered the future of inter-organizational linkages, no empirical studies have been found which surveyed the impact of SOA on B2B integration costs and benefits. From a research perspective, we still lack a systematic analysis that explains how a specific B2B integration technology impacts the effectiveness of B2B integration. Building on transaction cost theory, this research analyzes the different forms of B2B integration with regard to their impact on connectivity and coordination costs. Based on a field study from the automotive industry, it demonstrates that there is economic rationale for preferring supplier portals to machine-to-machine integration based on EDIFACT or XML messages. Compared to prior technologies, SOA reduces the costs of external integration by eliminating separate B2B integration infrastructures and improving connectivity of internal applications. However, we find that prior literature tends to overestimate the impact of open Internet and Web service technologies on connectivity costs

Internal markets as a sourcing option for the delivery of IS services: Improving outsourcing and insourcing

The need for collaboration within value chains is rapidly increasing and drives enterprise to align and electronically integrate their business processes with their business partners. As technologies evolve, manifold forms of B2B integration have emerged – from e-mail communication to customer or supplier portals, the exchange of EDIFACT- to XML documents, and Web Services. Although serviceoriented architectures (SOA) are considered the future of inter-organizational linkages, no empirical studies have been found which surveyed the impact of SOA on B2B integration costs and benefits. From a research perspective, we still lack a systematic analysis that explains how a specific B2B integration technology impacts the effectiveness of B2B integration. Building on transaction cost theory, this research analyzes the different forms of B2B integration with regard to their impact on connectivity and coordination costs. Based on a field study from the automotive industry, it demonstrates that there is economic rationale for preferring supplier portals to machine-to-machine integration based on EDIFACT or XML messages. Compared to prior technologies, SOA reduces the costs of external integration by eliminating separate B2B integration infrastructures and improving connectivity of internal applications. However, we find that prior literature tends to overestimate the impact of open Internet and Web service technologies on connectivity costs

EMPOWERMENT OF SUPPLIERS THROUGH EFFECTIVE AND STRATEGIC USE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES

This paper discusses the concept of supplier empowerment from the perspective of practitioners and the use of information systems and technologies in empowering suppliers. The paper is based on studies conducted in 18 companies in Europe and the US. Interviews were conducted with supply chain and IT managers in companies operating in automotive, aerospace, electronics, and fast-moving consumer goods industries as well as their suppliers and IT vendors. The interviewees view that it is now getting increasingly more challenging to manage complexities in the upstream compared with downstream market. Looking at it from a supply network perspective, it makes more sense for the entire network if the tasks related to upstream activities are empowered to suppliers. However this would require a high level of trust among supply partners, transparency and visibility of information, and effective and strategic use of information systems and technologies. With effective empowerment of suppliers, companies would be able to better focus on improving the management of downstream market and customers. Use of concepts and technologies such as vendor-managed inventories and supplier portals are common examples of enabling technologies to achieve this

Predicting intention to adopt B2B electronic commerce in Jordan: The moderating role of trust and dependency

Business to Business Electronic Commerce (B2B EC) has great potentials to extend firms’ competency and efficiency. As such, Jordan has an objective to increase the diffusion of this technology. Despite extensive government efforts, the adoption of B2B EC is still limited. Consequently, there have been extensive efforts to better understand the phenomena. Yet, documented findings regarding the determinants of the adoption are not altogether consistent. To provide more insight, this study developed a research model utilizing the Technological, Organizational, and Environmental (TOE) framework to identify the determinants of the firms’ propensity to adopt B2B EC. Since B2B EC is an inter-organizational phenomenon supporting transactions of partnerships, this study emphasizes the context of partnership characteristics. Grounded on inter-organizational theories, this study hypothesized that partnership characteristics, namely trust and dependency, moderate the role of TOE motivating factors. Moreover, given that B2B EC is used on both sides of the buyer/seller relationship, this study examined the differences and similarities in the perception of the marketing and purchasing departments regarding the determinants of the B2B EC adoption. A total of 798 questionnaires were self administrated to marketing and purchasing managers in 462 firms that have large registered capital in Jordan. In total, 114 marketing and 125 purchasing managers participated in this study. Marketing and purchasing responses were analyzed separately using the Partial Least Squares approach. The result revealed that the marketing and purchasing departments do have different views regarding the determinants of the adoption, specifically in terms of the role of Relative Advantage and Competition Pressure. Moreover, the results showed that the moderating role of trust was less pronounced. Meanwhile, the moderating role of dependency was partially supported particularly in the purchasing perspective. These findings have demonstrated how dependence asymmetries between trading partners may change the adoption motivations. They further explain the importance of considering the views of the business partner for the adoption to be done successfully

Migrating supply chain management process online: A study in Malaysian companies

There has been an increasing trend for companies to migrate their Supply Chain Management (SCM) online.In Malaysia however, many companies have not or are reluctant to invest in IT to improve their SCM.In order for companies to successfully migrate their SCM online, companies need to solve both technical and business issues that are involved during and after the migration.One example for solving the technical issues is that of the Rosettanet Standards.Rosettanet promised to solve the integration issues of online SCM in particular by allowing companies to communicate in the same e-business standards.However, there are few taker for this and there is a need to study the problems of migrating SCM online.. A framework is needed for Malaysian companies to successfully migrate their SCM online and using the Rosettanet standards.This paper presents an on-going study supported by Infineon Technologies Malacca

Information and communications technologies as an enabler of supply chain integration

This study is a meta-research analysis that examined the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) as an enabler of supply chain integration. Our analysis covered 55 papers in 34 journals published between 2007 and 2017. RFID systems were the most investigated ICTs in the supply chain integration literature. Besides its impact as an independent variable, ICT’s mediating and moderating roles are also noteworthy. Our study has demonstrated the underutilization of theories in general, dominance of surveys and single case studies, and future research opportunities for the underutilized IS types in SCI. Based on the findings, we proposed a research framework. Our framework illustrated two types of moderating factors between the use of ICT and level of SCI: (1) ICT-related factors as an enabler of SCI, and (2) other factors as an enabler of SCI. ICT-related factors are suitability, criticality, and maturity of ICT; ICT capabilities of, and integration within, an organization; ICT integration with SC partners; and technological differences among available ICT applications. Other factors are availability of industry standards; open information-sharing environment; institutional pressures and organizational culture; and involvement of top management