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Towards a calculative model of supply chain enabling IT implementation

Damien Power (Department of Management and Marketing, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia)
Richard L. Gruner (Business School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia)

International Journal of Operations & Production Management

ISSN: 0144-3577

Article publication date: 3 May 2016

866

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate inconsistent findings regarding motivations for the implementation of information technology (IT) in the supply chain. Two main theoretical perspectives emerge from the literature. The first predicts a logical progressive implementation of technology over time. The second views situational factors as moderating progressive implementation over time. The authors propose a third, calculative IT implementation model and empirically assess the validity of these diverging models.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors took a qualitative, theory-testing approach. Cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2001 and 2011 – yielding responses from 62 matching firms – showed dynamic IT implementation patterns over time and allowed the selection of nine case studies for comparison.

Findings

Results provide substantial support for a calculative model alongside the situational and progressive perspectives. This model addresses three problematic assumptions that underpin the progressive and situational perspectives: that IT implementation will follow logical stages; that implementation of these technologies represents a rational choice; and that managers implement these technologies to improve the performance of entire supply chains.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical investigations were limited to Australian manufacturers. Further studies should extend the generalisability of the findings and study the phenomenon in different contexts.

Practical implications

The study enhances practitioners’ understanding of the difficulties and complexities of IT implementation decisions among supply chain partners. Such an understanding may motivate managers to pursue IT adoption that goes beyond addressing locally focused performance metrics.

Originality/value

The findings make a significant theoretical and practical contribution and provide the basis for isolating and operationalising the calculative model for further empirical testing.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by a grant from the Australian Research Council and with the financial and in-kind support of GS1 Australia.

Citation

Power, D. and Gruner, R.L. (2016), "Towards a calculative model of supply chain enabling IT implementation", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 36 No. 5, pp. 490-511. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-02-2014-0068

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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