A comparative meta evaluation of supply chain integration on performance: A moderator and mediator perspective

In an environment with ever changing customers' needs and intensifying global competition, quality processes and supply chains are critical for organisational success. To satisfy customers, outsmart competition and improve performance, contemporary organisations are trying to improve on their processes through integrated supply chains. Furthermore, with the dynamic and ever-increasing demand by global customers, while scholars and practitioners fail to agree on the performance outcomes of SCI, one important question is raised whether SCI is really a viable solution for improving performance. Furthermore, the conditions under which SCI effectively contribute to improved performance remains unclear. A comparative meta- analytic evaluation based on Hunter and Schmidt (2004) along with key moderator and mediator analysis was conducted. In the lens of several theories, SCI from two perspectives; SCID (internal, suppliers, customer integration) with 67 studies and SCIF (information, operational, relational integration) with 25 studies was assessed on overall performance as well as on both operational and business performance. Meta-analytic results obtained through Jamovi provided significant correlation coefficients for SCID and SCIF. Therefore, indicating that the association between SCID and performance is medium and positive, while that of SCIF and performance is positive and large. This is a clear indication that SCI from the perspective of SCID and SCIF yields different results, with SCIF having a relatively larger effect. Operational performance was influenced by both SCID and SCIF, although operational and relational integration indicated a significant larger effect on business performance. Thus, individual SCID and SCIF constructs have different effects on business and operational as well as on overall performance. All moderators though with different levels of interactions indicated a significant effect on both SCID and SCIF. With an exception of SC innovation all the tested mediators indicated some form of significant mediation effects. This study significantly contributes to the SCI body of knowledge in a number of ways. Firstly, it provides a theoretical and conceptual framework that examines the impact of SCI from two perspectives SCID and SCIF which is done both at an aggregate and individual level on performance. It further assesses the effects of moderating variables to understand critical conditions for SCI implementation. The study went further to include standard mediation analysis to explore the nature of nonlinear associations on the topic in order to understand why the inconsistencies and lack of consensus exist. Assessment of the effects of individual SCI constructs on both operational and business as well as on overall performance and its corresponding results might serve as a guide to managers on the individual constructs that best predict a specific type of performance. An understanding of probable condition expressed through moderators and their estimated effects on the SCI- performance association will also help the managers to use them to their advantage. The existence of mediators and moderators suggests that SCI-performance association should not be considered in isolation of these factors both at the academic and practical level.