Title: RFID mandate compliance: absorptive capacity attributes as differentiating dynamic capabilities

Authors: Rebecca Angeles

Addresses: Management Information Systems Area, Faculty of Business Administration, University of New Brunswick Fredericton, P.O. Box 4400, Tilley Hall, 7 Macauley Lane, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada

Abstract: This study takes a knowledge-based view of the implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to streamline supply chain management initiatives, invoking selected concepts behind absorptive capacity attributes. This study seeks to explore if the firms complying with RFID mandates from their channel masters are characterised by higher levels of selected absorptive capacity attributes compared to the firms not complying with such mandates. Data from a convenience sample of 37 firms that are known to have implemented RFID at different levels in their firms are used to test the key study proposition. Using t-tests and discriminant analysis, the data confirms that, in fact, the firms complying with RFID mandates have higher levels of absorptive capacity attributes than their noncompliant counterparts.

Keywords: radio frequency identification; RFID; supply chain management; SCM; absorptive capacity; organisational learning; knowledge-based view; mandate compliance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVCM.2008.019516

International Journal of Value Chain Management, 2008 Vol.2 No.3, pp.287 - 312

Published online: 14 Jul 2008 *

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