An Investigation on the Effect of Supply Chain Integration on Competitive Capability: An Empirical Analysis of Iranian Food Industry


  •  Seyed Mahmood Hosseini    
  •  Shahriar Azizi    
  •  Narges Sheikhi    

Abstract

In the current conditions of competitive market, companies shed light on not only their own organization’s
affairs, but also on the identification of other relevant resources and factors out of their organization to have
appropriate reaction in facing with them. That is to utilize opportunities to gain competitive advantages and
enhance their level of competitive capability. The key concern in a supply chain is to coordinately managing and
controlling of all the primary and support activities of the company that will be achieved with an appropriate
integration of supply chain. In fact, having an integrated approach to the processes, internal and external, and
emphasis on win-win approach instead of negotiating approach between elements of the chain are the most
important issues in supply chain integration context.
This study investigates the impact of supply chain integration on competitive capability. According to the
findings of the study, supply chain integration has direct positive influence on competitive capability. In more
depth, integration with suppliers has direct negative impact on competitive capability elements of cost leadership
and differentiation. Internal integration has no direct impact on competitive capability. On the other hand,
internal integration influences on cost leadership and differentiation indirectly through integration with suppliers
and integration with customers. So, it can be resulted from findings that internal integration as a foundation for
supply chain integration has direct influence on integration with supply chain partners, suppliers and customers,
and eventually, results in improvement of competitive capabilities of the organization.


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