Title: Nature and extent of supply chain integration in Nordic firms

Authors: Prabir K. Bagchi, Byoung-Chun Ha, Tage Skjoett-Larsen, Lars B. Soerensen

Addresses: School of Business, The George Washington University, Duques Hall Suite 660, 2201 G. Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20052, USA. ' School of Business, The George Washington University, Duques Hall Suite 660, 2201 G. Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20052, USA. ' Department of Operations Management, Copenhagen Business School, Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark. ' Department of Operations Management, Copenhagen Business School, Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark

Abstract: Supply chain management has been on the research agenda for more than 20 years. However, there is little evidence of research studying different levels of integration in the supply chain and how integration affects performance. This paper investigates supply chain integration in a sample of 72 manufacturing companies in the Nordic countries. We specifically study in what areas firms are involving their key suppliers and customers in decision-making. We also investigate whether there are any differences between large and small firms when it comes to collaboration with key partners in the supply chain. Besides, we analyse the effect of supply chain integration on perceived performance improvements. The main findings confirm that supply chain integration in the Nordic countries is more rhetoric than reality in most firms. However, we found a clear indication of the value of integration with key suppliers and customers for performance enhancement.

Keywords: supply chain integration; collaboration; performance improvement; information sharing; information technology; organisational integration; supply chain management; SCM; Nordic countries; manufacturing firms; decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISM.2007.011448

International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, 2007 Vol.3 No.1, pp.25 - 51

Published online: 30 Nov 2006 *

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