Title: The effect of IT range and order quantity flexibility on firm performance: an empirical study

Authors: Yan Jin; Erika Marsillac

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, School of Business and Economics, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, USA ' Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences, College of Business and Public Administration, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA

Abstract: Information technology range (IT range), or the strategic information flow regarding a manufacturing firm's products, production, logistics and suppliers, has long been recognised as a key determinant of a firm's competitive advantage. Various studies also show that flexible suppliers, particularly in terms of order quantity, are important components of agile supply chains, which can be used to cope with changes faced by firms. Prior research has focused on examining each factor separately, but in a supply chain loaded with rich information, it is important for the manufacturing firm to determine how these factors co-exist and influence firm performance (e.g., flexibility). Analysing responses from 201 supply chain professionals, this research suggests that: 1) each factor correlates to the overall flexibility of a manufacturing firm; 2) the strategic information flow provided by the firm's information system moderates the effect of suppliers' order quantity flexibility on a manufacturing firm's logistics flexibilities.

Keywords: information technology range; IT range; order quantity flexibility; product development flexibility; production flexibility; logistics flexibility; supply chain management; SCM; strategic information flow; agile supply chains; firm performance; flexible manufacturing; manufacturing firms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLEG.2012.051413

International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation, 2012 Vol.4 No.4, pp.272 - 288

Published online: 11 Aug 2014 *

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