Supplier management and dyadic performance: the moderating role of information technology and supplier dispersion

Abstract

The strategic coordination and management of suppliers is seen as a source of competitive advantage for firms which work within an extended enterprise. Since extended enterprises have become more of a norm, Supplier Management (SM) is extremely important to attain as well as sustain competitiveness. Though research on this topic abound, none has comprehensively studied its impact on performance. The current research effort addresses this issue by empirically testing the relationship between SM and dyadic performance. Using hierarchical regression analysis, hypothesised relationships are tested based on a sample of over 200 USA firms. Results show that SM has a significant impact on supplier as well as buyer performance. Moreover, Information Technology (IT) and Supplier Dispersion (SD) are found to moderate the link between SM and dyadic performance.