Title: Revisiting the link between information technology and supply chain management practices among manufacturing firms

Authors: Charles Omondi Muango; Eugene Abrokwah; Qu Shaojian

Addresses: School of Business, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China ' School of Business, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China ' School of Business, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China

Abstract: This study explores the impact of information technology (IT) practices on the relationship between supply chain management practices (SCMP) variables (leadership information sharing, management strategic planning, continuous improvement and innovation) and operational performance among manufacturing firms in a developing setting. Structured questionnaires totalling 470 were administered through managers and departmental heads in the manufacturing firms located in Thika and Athi River towns within Kiambu and Machakos counties respectively in Kenya. The analysis was conducted using SPSS Amos software version 22. The results show that leadership information sharing, management strategic planning, continuous improvement and innovation relate significantly with the information technology practices. Also, that information technology had a positive influence on operational performance. In addition, leadership information sharing influences the operational performance through information technology, while management strategic planning, continuous improvement and innovation moderately influenced the operational performance among the Kenyan manufacturing firms. These outcomes provide important insight into why information technology influences the manufacturing firms' performance.

Keywords: information technology; leadership information sharing; management strategic planning; continuous improvement and innovation; operational performance.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2021.118580

European Journal of International Management, 2021 Vol.16 No.4, pp.647 - 667

Received: 30 Nov 2018
Accepted: 27 Nov 2019

Published online: 29 Oct 2021 *

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