How supply chain strategies moderate the relationship between innovation capabilities and business performance

Understanding green supply chain information integration on supply chain process ambidexterity: The mediator of dynamic ability and the moderator of leaders' networking ability

Based on dynamic capability theory, this paper aims to explore the influence of green supply chain information integration (IT system integration and information sharing) on supply chain process ambidexterity (efficiency and flexibility) and expounds on the mediation mechanisms (supply chain dynamic capability) and the boundary condition (networking ability) between the two. Through the sample data test research model of 351 managers of manufacturing enterprises, it is found that information technology (IT) system integration can effectively promote the information sharing level of green supply chain enterprises. Supply chain dynamic capability partially mediates the influence of IT system integration and information sharing on supply chain process ambidexterity. Moreover, networking ability positively moderates the relationship between absorptive capacity, innovation capacity, and supply chain process ambidexterity, but does not play a significant role in the relationship between adaptive capacity and supply chain process ambidexterity.

A preliminary investigation into senior management skills: the context of third-party logistics (3PLs) providers

Purpose

The third-party logistics (3PL) provider has faced significant change since containerisation with the broadening scope of supply chains and technological developments. With these changes, the required supply chain skills discussions have covered mostly graduate skills or employees' skills with a limited discussion to what extent and whether senior management skills were changing. Hence, 3PL senior management skill requirements will be compiled based on existing studies and assessed to check whether these are still relevant and if so to what extent for today's 3PL senior managers.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire has been devised based on 3PL senior management skills identified in the academic literature and sent out to senior managers via professional social networks of 3PL. Based on the previous literature, the senior managers selected had to fulfil the selection criteria of a minimum five years' managerial experience in a 3PL, and a minimum of ten years' experience in general, which limited the sample size to twenty-seven senior managers in the 3PL sector.

Findings

The findings indicated that 3PL senior managers’ skills highlighted an increasing dependence on and importance of relational and behavioural skills, particularly when compared with the more traditional functional and managerial skills. The study indicated that the 3PL senior managers highlighted an increasing dependence and importance upon relational and behavioural skills, particularly when compared with the more traditional functional skills.

Research limitations/implications

The study has explored the senior management skills in 3PL in the UK, albeit the respondents possessing diverse backgrounds. Therefore, it would be beneficial to test whether these findings are exemplary across the wider 3PL sector, not only in the UK but also across Europe to see how corporate agenda for executive supply chain skills could be devised.

Practical implications

Corporate supply chain training and development staff can develop specific programs based on the 3PL senior management skill sets especially on relational and behavioural skills, which are needed for future managers as well as up-skill senior managers' skills which are deemed to be most important in the current 3PL market.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the supply chain skills discussion and reports subject relevant challenges for today’s senior management in the 3PL industry. The findings have generated preliminary discussions on whether senior management skills are changing with the broadening scope of supply chains.