Title: SME-based collaborative supply chain management: the impact of information technologies

Authors: David Chien-Liang Kuo, Wen-Hsien Chen, Martin T. Smits

Addresses: Department of Information Management, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Roosevelt Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan. ' Department of Information Management, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Roosevelt Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan. ' Center for Research on Information Systems Management, School of Economics, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands

Abstract: The study aims to provide insight on how Small-and-Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) adjust Supply Chain Management (SCM) in response to the introduction of Information Systems (ISs). An analysis of a three-tier, SME-based Supply Chain (SC) in the Taiwanese nylon fibre market is conducted. Based on this case study, a schema of IT-enabled collaborative SCM of SMEs is built. From the findings, ISs, information sharing, and performance metrics do facilitate implementation of business strategies, leading to synchronised SC operations and improved performance. In contrast, shared SC performance measures and SC-wide IT planning and strategy are not critical successful factors for SME-based collaborative SCM. As well, although it is argued, that advanced Inter-Organisational Systems (IOSs) are essential for SCM, they are found to be unnecessary for performance improvement in this studied SC. Finally, we find no support for the e-market hypothesis in this textile industry market structure.

Keywords: supply chain management; SCM; information systems; case study; small and medium sized enterprises; SMEs; performance measures; Taiwan; nylon fibres; textile industry; supply chain collaboration; information sharing; supply chain synchronisation; supply chain performance; information technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2005.006567

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2005 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.360 - 373

Published online: 21 Mar 2005 *

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