Title: Exploration factors affecting an ambidextrous supply chain

Authors: Mohd Mehdi; Salma Ahmed

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Studies and Research, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India ' Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Studies and Research, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to identify the exploration factors affecting an ambidextrous supply chain in Indian context. A structured questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale was employed to collect data from 110 supply chain managers working in Indian supply chains. The survey was conducted to examine the different exploration factors affecting an ambidextrous supply chain. Demographic details of the supply chain managers were also collected. Research hypotheses were also framed based on existing literature about ambidextrous supply chain and were statistically tested using structured equation modelling (SEM). The application of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) presented the existence of four constructs; three independent constructs of exploration and one dependent construct of ambidexterity. These four constructs were confirmed by the application of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). After the confirmation of these constructs, the structured equation modelling (SEM) tested the formulated research hypotheses. SEM identified the exploration factors affecting an ambidextrous supply chain. The study is likely to provide supply chain managers significant understanding about the various exploration factors affecting an ambidextrous supply chain. This identification of various exploration factors affecting an ambidextrous supply chain will aid supply chain managers in formulating and executing their decisions appropriately.

Keywords: ambidextrous supply chain; exploration; knowledge practices; innovative practices; exploratory learning; structural equation modelling; SEM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2019.097584

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2019 Vol.32 No.2, pp.195 - 219

Received: 04 Apr 2017
Accepted: 03 Sep 2017
Published online: 30 Jan 2019 *

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