Title: Supply chain capability of countries and its effect on foreign direct investment: a fuzzy-set analysis

Authors: Arshad Alam; Prabir K. Bagchi

Addresses: College of Business, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA ' Decision Sciences School of Business, The George Washington University, Funger Hall 415, 2201 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA

Abstract: International plant location decisions have acquired relevance in a globalised economy and evidence suggests that the overall production and logistics environment of a country would have a bearing on foreign direct investment (FDI). This study attempts to analyse the impact of the production and logistics environment on incoming FDI. We introduce a new conceptual framework of supply chain capability (SCC) of countries and using the 'fuzzy-set analysis' methodology attempt to determine whether SCC is a necessary or sufficient cause for FDI flows. This study validates the basic proposition that supply chain capability of a country is a determinant of FDI. Further, the study suggests that the FDI attractiveness of a country is better explained by a combination of factors as reflected by the composite variable, SCC, than by individual constituent variables. This study offers insights to firm managers to evaluate various competing country environments, thus enabling them to make better strategic decisions about foreign investment.

Keywords: supply chain capability; SCC; foreign direct investment; FDI flows; fuzzy sets; fuzzy logic; supply chain management; SCM; production environment; logistics; strategic decisions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLEG.2013.054435

International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation, 2013 Vol.5 No.1, pp.59 - 80

Received: 21 Sep 2012
Accepted: 25 Mar 2013
Published online: 04 Sep 2014 *

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