Enhancing Transparency in the Supply Chain: An Information Processing Perspective

Abstract

While nowadays’ need to enhance transparency in supply chains (TSC) seems undisputable, supply chain management (SCM) scholars and practitioners lack an operationalization of the phenomenon and a clear understanding of how to enhance TSC. This study aims to address this need by applying a multiple case study design with 24 awarded or industry-wide good practice solutions to disclose how focal companies can enhance TSC. Drawing on information processing theory (IPT), this study contributes to the understanding of the phenomenon by placing TSC in context and identifying 29 TSC determinants that have to be attained in order to enhance TSC. The study reveals that although the targeted effect of enhanced TSC is mainly beneficial for the focal company, it requires all relevant supply chain partners to enhance TSC. By presenting the TSC determinants that are required on an intra-firm and inter-organizational level to enhance TSC, we elaborate IPT in the context of TSC.