Relationships of Dynamic Capability, Supply Chain, and Sustainability Performances in Korean Logistics Firms Considering the Moderating Effect of a Supply Chain Strategy

Purpose Mass personalization (MP) presents challenges such as highly individualized orders and fluctuating demand, requiring more flexible supply chains. This study explores supply chain flexibility (SCF) through a collaborative lens and proposes a framework capturing the dynamic, interdependent nature of supply chain relationships, addressing a key empirical gap on how collaboration mechanisms affect SCF in MP contexts. Design/methodology/approach A single case study was conducted of a European bicycle manufacturer with an established MP strategy and SCF experience. Using an abductive approach, we analyzed semi-structured interviews with internal managers, suppliers, and retailers through a three-stage coding process. Findings Based on Cao et al.’s (2010) collaboration framework, nine supply chain collaboration (SCC) mechanisms supporting SCF were identified, including novel MP-specific mechanisms such as rolling forecasts, order adjustment and digital product configurators. These mechanisms are organized into two interrelated flexibility dimensions: spanning flexibility, referring to rapid and accurate information dissemination across supply chain actors, and ecosystem flexibility, representing a firm's capacity to establish adaptive, trust-based and enduring collaborations with key partners. The study highlights the mutually reinforcing nature of these mechanisms in enabling SCF in MP contexts. Originality/value This study is among the first to examine the intersection of MP, SCC and SCF. It contributes a revised model of network-oriented SCF, introduces and categorizes MP-specific SCC mechanisms, and emphasizes the role of ecosystems. Findings offer actionable insights for managers seeking to align SCC with personalization goals.

This study examines the impact of green investment on firms’ new quality productivity within the signaling theory framework. Using panel data from A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2012 to 2022, we find that green investment significantly enhances corporate productivity, a conclusion that remains robust across alternative measurement approaches and instrumental variable estimation. Further analysis indicates that supply chain concentration strengthens the positive effect of green investment, while higher information disclosure can attenuate its marginal returns. These findings extend the understanding of green investment from an environmental commitment to a strategic driver of productivity, thereby enriching the application of signaling theory in the field of sustainable development. The results provide practical insights for firms seeking to optimize green resource allocation and manage supply chain relationships, while also offering evidence-based guidance for policymakers to design differentiated incentives and refine information disclosure frameworks.

ABSTRACT This study examines whether environmental regulation targeting downstream customers induces carbon emission reductions among upstream suppliers, using data from China's A‐share listed firms. The results reveal that environmental regulation generates a significant carbon reduction spillover effect across the supply chain via regulation pressure transmission. Key mechanisms driving this effect include green reputation pressure, supply chain stability pressure, and operational pressure. Moreover, the resulting emission reduction spillover reinforces supply chain relationships. These findings offer valuable insights for promoting green and low‐carbon transformation throughout supply chains and contribute to the design of integrated environmental policies.

ABSTRACT Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors have become increasingly important in corporate supply chain management practices. This study constructs a dataset representing the supply chain relationship network among publicly listed firms to examine the co‐movement effect of ESG performance. Empirical analysis demonstrates that customers' ESG performance significantly improves suppliers' ESG performance. This is driven by the governance of ESG collaborative networks, where common directors act as the primary driver and common ownership serves a supporting role. It also occurs through collaborative channel governance mechanisms, specifically the stability of customer–supplier relationships and geographic proximity. This vertical co‐movement is further reinforced by customers' horizontal peer effects derived from industrial isomorphism and regional proximity, creating a multi‐dimensional diffusion framework. Additionally, a “structural paradox” is identified: high network centrality in a supplier suppresses ESG co‐movement. This is driven by a “strategic substitution” logic, whereby suppliers with significant network power reinforce bilateral ties and rely on private channels instead of multilateral network collaboration. Ultimately, collaborative governance leads to a downstream‐to‐upstream carbon reduction effect. A heterogeneity analysis shows that this effect varies by industry and region, offering theoretical insights and policy implications for achieving ESG co‐movement and carbon‐neutrality goals through networked supply chain management.

Purpose The article has three objectives. First, drawing on transaction cost economics (TCE), it examines the mediated relationship between asset dedication and the benefits that suppliers derive from customer relationships by means of legal contracts. Second, drawing on relational exchange theory (RET), it examines the moderating effect of both personal loyalty and personal conflict on the relationship between suppliers’ asset dedication to customers and the extent of legal contracts. Thirdly, it investigates how these interpersonal dynamics moderate the link between the extent of legal contracts and the benefits that suppliers derive from customer relationships. Design/methodology/approach Survey data was obtained from 506 managers or senior managers of Australian small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs), which in Australia are defined as organizations with less than 200 employees. Findings We found support for a mediated relationship between asset dedication and the benefits that suppliers derive from customer relationships through the extent of legal contracts. Contrary to our hypothesis, the results show that personal loyalty strengthens the relationship between asset dedication and the extent of legal contracts, while personal conflict does not show any moderating effect. Further, as expected, the results show that personal loyalty diminishes the relationship between the extent of legal contracts and the benefits derived by suppliers, while personal conflict enhances the relationship. Practical implications The findings call for attention to firms that rely on their representatives in managing interorganizational relationships. Firms need to establish a solid system that provides clear behavioral guidelines for the firms’ representatives when negotiating with other firms in order to limit the influence of personal and subjective issues on business matters. Furthermore, legal contracts will help ensure the fulfillment of the goal of interorganizational relationships in situations of personal conflict. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, integrating TCE and RET, this is the first study to examine the interaction between interpersonal and interorganizational relationships within a supply chain context. Specifically, our findings highlight the dual role of personal loyalty in contract formation and contract enforcement with it strengthening the former and weakening the latter.

Purpose Research on supply chain management that specifically addresses passive opportunism is limited. This paper aims to fill this gap by drawing on transaction cost economics to examine the effects of two crucial aspects of contractual governance (i.e. contractual control provisions and contractual coordination provisions) on the passive opportunism (i.e. contractual passive opportunism and responsive passive opportunism) of suppliers. Furthermore, this study uncovers virtual governance as a boundary condition that affects the effect of contractual provisions on passive opportunism. Design/methodology/approach Using survey data collected from 164 firms, this study employed ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to evaluate the proposed hypotheses. Findings This study finds that contractual control provisions mitigate contractual passive opportunism but increase responsive passive opportunism, while contractual coordination provisions effectively reduce responsive passive opportunism. Moreover, virtual governance exacerbates the negative relationship between contractual control provisions and contractual passive opportunism, and lessens the effect of contractual control provisions on responsive passive opportunism. However, virtual governance weakens the negative effects of contractual coordination provisions on responsive passive opportunism. Originality/value First, this study contributes to transaction cost economics and relationship governance literature by shedding light on how contractual governance can be effectively used to manage passive opportunism, an important yet under-investigated issue in buyer–supplier relationships. Second, it offers a more nuanced understanding of governance–opportunism relationship by highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of both contractual governance and passive opportunism. Third, by introducing virtual governance as a boundary condition, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the contingencies that influence the effectiveness of traditional governance mechanisms in digitally enabled supply chain relationships.

Purpose Research has shown that supply chain resilience is of paramount necessity in today's interconnected world. Owing to this essence, this study set out to examine the effect of supply chain digitalization on supply chain resilience, through supply chain ambidexterity, as well as the moderating role of relational governance in the relationship in the context of Ghanaian manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 247 manufacturing firms in Ghana using structured questionnaires administered in person. The study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional design and analyzed the data using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test both mediation and moderation effects. The constructs were adapted from validated scales in prior research and refined for contextual relevance. Findings The results reveal that while the direct relationship between supply chain digitalization (SCD) and supply chain resilience (SCR) is negative and non-significant, SCD exerts a positive and significant effect on SCA, which in turn significantly enhances SCR. Thus, SCA fully mediates the SCD–SCR relationship. However, relational governance (RG) does not significantly moderate the relationships between SCD, SCA and SCR. Interestingly, excessive reliance on RG may even weaken the positive digitalization–resilience link, suggesting that overembedded relational structures can constrain digital adaptability. Research limitations/implications Despite the valuable insights presented, this study is not without limitations, which also provide fertile ground for future research. Firstly, the study employed a cross-sectional design, capturing data at a single point in time. This temporal limitation restricts the ability to draw causal inferences about the relationships between SCD, ambidexterity, resilience and RG. Future research should consider adopting longitudinal approaches to better understand how these dynamics evolve over time, particularly as firms deepen their digital transformation efforts. Secondly, the research focused exclusively on manufacturing firms in Ghana, which may limit the generalizability of the findings across other sectors or regions with different institutional, cultural or technological environments. Subsequent studies could explore similar models in diverse contexts such as healthcare, logistics or retail sectors, or compare findings across developing and developed economies. Third, although the study integrated both RG and SCA, other potential mediating or moderating variables such as supply chain agility, absorptive capacity or digital maturity levels were not included. Incorporating these variables could offer a more in-depth understanding of the complex mechanisms underpinning digital resilience. Moreover, future studies could investigate how different types of ambidexterity (e.g. structural vs contextual) influence resilience in various supply chain contexts. For example, structural ambidexterity might involve dedicating separate teams for exploration and exploitation, while contextual ambidexterity allows individuals to switch between the two modes. Also, future research should explore the conditions under which RG enhances or hinders supply chain outcomes, considering factors like the complexity of supply chain relationships and the technological capabilities of firms. Practical implications Managers should prioritize digital investments that strengthen ambidextrous capabilities, balancing efficiency and innovation rather than relying solely on digital tools or relational trust. The study's maturity assessment framework offers a practical roadmap for benchmarking firms' progress in digitalization, ambidexterity and resilience. Policymakers should also support digital infrastructure, training, and collaborative ecosystems that enable firms to leverage digital technologies flexibly. Social implications Policymakers should also support digital infrastructure, training and collaborative ecosystems that enable firms to leverage digital technologies flexibly. Originality/value This study extends complex adaptive systems theory and the relational view by showing that resilience emerges not directly from digitalization, but through ambidextrous learning and adaptation. The findings advance the state of the art by explaining how digital transformation outcomes depend on adaptive mechanisms rather than technological intensity alone, providing both theoretical insight and managerial guidance for building resilient, digitally enabled supply chains.

ABSTRACT Based on the data of U.S. listed firms from 2015 to 2021, this paper uses a difference‐in‐differences model to empirically investigate the impact of the 2018 U.S.‐China trade tensions on the supply chain arrangements of U.S. firms with China. The baseline estimation results indicate that after the trade tensions, U.S. firms have reduced their supply chain dependence on China. The results of the mechanism analyses imply that based on an implicit policy logic of “more imports, more restrictions,” the U.S. has restrained the supply chains related to China through raising import tariffs, expanding export controls, and strengthening supply chain reviews. The results of heterogeneity analyses find that U.S. firms in high‐tech industries, those with specific supply chain relationships, and those with weak market power have significantly reduced their dependence on China. The results of extended analyses reveal that after the occurrence of the trade tensions, the supply chain arrangements of U.S. firms have shown a trend of “China plus N” and “prioritizing near‐shoring and friend‐shoring.” There is a “de‐risking” trend in U.S. supply chain arrangements with China, even though they have not yet developed into a “decoupling” state.

Predicting rare yet high-impact risks in low-carbon supply chains (LCSCs) is critical for sustainable operations but challenged by data imbalance and complex interdependencies. This study proposes a Meta-Learning-based Graph Convolutional Network on Prototype Space (ML-GCNPS) to address these issues. Using a real-world, multi-modal dataset of firm-level carbon emissions and supply-chain relationships, we model the LCSC as a graph. The model first extracts node features and embeds them into a prototype space for enhanced class discrimination. An adaptive Vertex-to-Edge (V2E) network then constructs the graph topology, enabling risk propagation via GCN. Extensive experiments demonstrate that ML-GCNPS significantly outperforms state-of-the-art baselines, achieving an AUPRC of 0.850 and reducing the False Negative Rate (FNR) to 0.080. These results, coupled with a low Weighted Average Cost (WAC) of 45, confirm its practical value for accurate and cost-effective risk early-warning.

ABSTRACT In the era of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), weak supply chains hinder global economic development, which has been the focus of governments, businesses, and academia. Stable supply chain relationships guarantee supply chain resilience. Based on the relationship perspective, this study uses panel data on China’s A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2023 to systematically investigate how interlocking directors influence the stability of supply chain relationships. It finds that interlocking directors significantly enhance the stability of supply chain relationships. The mechanism analysis reveals that interlocking directors stabilize supply chain relationships through governance, innovation, and operation synergies. Heterogeneity tests reveal two critical findings: (1) the type of interlocking directors does not affect the interlocking directors’ network effects and (2) interlocking directors for the stability enhancement effect of supply chain relationships are more significant when they are concurrent in the peer industry and enterprises have stronger information absorption capacity or are non-policy-supported industries.

Purpose This study explores differences in environmental consciousness between supply chain buyers and suppliers and their impact on affective commitment, environmental information sharing and environmental management performance. It offers an empirical and theoretical model to address challenges in achieving environmental alignment among supply chain partners. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted among 600 supply chain professionals (300 buyers and 300 suppliers) in South Korea’s manufacturing sector, examining key relationships using multi-group structural equation modeling in SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0. Findings Buyers and suppliers differ in their environmental consciousness and engagement. The positive effect of environmental consciousness on affective commitment is stronger for buyers, and its impact on environmental management performance is significant only for buyers. The positive effect of affective commitment on environmental information sharing is stronger for buyers, but that of environmental information sharing on environmental management performance does not significantly differ between the groups – collaboration drives sustainability improvements. Practical implications The findings suggest that to enhance environmental performance, supply chain managers should tailor sustainability strategies based on buyer–supplier roles, strengthen environmental awareness through organizational leadership and implement structured environmental information-sharing systems supported by continuous monitoring. Originality/value This study focuses on organizational supply chains and reveals differences in how buyers and suppliers interpret and act on environmental imperatives, providing insights for firms seeking to enhance sustainability collaboration and contributing to the broader discourse on environmental process management.

Corporations are increasingly pressured to adopt Creating Shared Value (CSV) not only as a means of profit generation but as a strategic approach to addressing societal challenges. Through value chain innovation, firms can simultaneously enhance competitiveness and contribute to social problem-solving. Although supply chain performance has been widely studied, limited research has examined the combined relationships among CSV activities, information characteristics, and information performance. This study analyzes how CSV—reflected through business and societal value—affects information sharing and information quality, and how these factors further influence sustainable information performance across management, behavioral, and technological dimensions. Using data collected from 182 firms, the findings reveal that CSV activities significantly improve both information sharing and information quality, which subsequently enhance information performance. These results highlight CSV’s essential role in establishing cooperative supply chain relationships and strengthening organizational information capability. By integrating CSV principles with information-driven processes, this research provides theoretical and managerial contributions and demonstrates that fostering high-quality information flows grounded in CSV can support long-term competitiveness and societal value creation.

ABSTRACT Purpose Collaboration and supply chain integration are actual in business relations. This study explores the relationship between marketing and transaction costs, considering sellers” and buyers” perspectives. It examines the Relationship Marketing Theory (RMT) on satisfaction (economic and non-economic) and its role in formalization and specific assets related to Transaction Costs Theory (TCT), which determines business dependence. Methodology Data from 300 buyer reps and 300 seller reps in different Taiwanese industries were collected. The hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modeling. Findings The results reveal that economic and non-economic satisfaction directly affect formalization and specific assets among buyer reps, but only in formalization among seller reps. Research implications The findings offer valuable insights into the significance of investing in specific assets within B2B relations from RMT and TCT perspectives. Practical implications The results suggest buyer and seller reps prioritize fostering economic satisfaction in the other party due to its formalization role, which stimulates the other party’s investments. Originality This research reveals the relevance of satisfaction in business relations. It contributes to marketing knowledge through the lens of TCT, considering the RMT on satisfaction from both the seller and the buyer reps’ perspectives.

The European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy, embedded within the Green Deal, aims to create equitable and sustainable food systems, fostering environmentally responsible practices and addressing challenges comprehensively throughout the agri-food supply chain. Organic farming plays an important role in this transition, particularly in the context of the circular economy. This study explores the key determinants influencing supplier-retailer relationships in the organic agri-food supply chain, focusing on the interaction between Romanian suppliers and retailers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative and qualitative analysis, the research identifies price, quality, and trust as essential factors shaping demand. Given Romania’s growing organic agriculture sector and the increasing consumption of organic products in German-speaking markets, this study highlights both challenges and opportunities for enhancing trade relations. As one of the first investigations into the East-West dynamics of the EU organic agri-food supply chain, the findings provide valuable insights for strengthening sustainable agriculture and market integration in Romania. It is also relevant for other Eastern European countries emphasizing the importance of a strong green agri-food sector throughout the European Union, as well as coordinated efforts along the supply chain.

Purpose This study investigates the impact of the perceived deep structure of organizational culture on perceived supply chain performance using Schein’s iceberg model. It explores the connections between three layers of culture, supply chain capacities and their influence on sustainability. It examines whether deep-level cultural factors have a stronger impact on supply chain performance than shallow-level factors. It has implications for scholars and Korean companies seeking to shift organizational culture. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted among supply chain management-related professionals in Korea. A total of 300 questionnaires were collected and used for statistical analysis, and structural equation modeling using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 was employed to test eight hypotheses. Findings The findings reveal that all three levels of perceived organizational culture positively impact perceived supply chain resilience and flexibility. While flexibility significantly enhances relationship sustainability, resilience shows no significant effect, indicating different functional roles of these capabilities in sustainable supply chain management. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by linking organizational psychology with supply chain management by utilizing Schein’s iceberg model. Earlier research mostly considered the visible face of the supply chain, while this study examines the roles of cultural elements that affect supply chain sustainability. It provides an original perspective by showing that profound cultural aspects form basic assumptions that affect supply chain resilience and flexibility. It therefore examines sustainable supply chain management, going beyond shallow and technical modifications.

The last decade has seen widespread adoption of Machine Learning (ML) components in software systems. This has occurred in nearly every domain, from natural language processing to computer vision. These ML components range from relatively simple neural networks to complex and resource-intensive large language models. However, despite this widespread adoption, little is known about the supply chain relationships that produce these models, which can have implications for compliance and security. In this work, we conducted an extensive analysis of 760,460 models and 175,000 datasets extracted from the popular model-sharing site Hugging Face. First, we evaluate the current state of documentation in the Hugging Face supply chain, report real-world examples of shortcomings, and offer actionable suggestions for improvement. Next, we analyze the underlying structure of the existing supply chain. Finally, we explore the current licensing landscape against what was reported in previous work and discuss the unique challenges posed in this domain. Our results motivate multiple research avenues, including the need for better license management for ML models/datasets, better support for model documentation, and automated inconsistency checking and validation. We make our research infrastructure and dataset available to facilitate future research.

Purpose This study investigates how blockchain technology enhances supply chain resilience and relationship performance by reinforcing inter-organizational relationships. Drawing on the relational view and boundary object perspective, we examine how blockchain influences relational trust and network capability, strengthening supply chain resilience and ultimately improving relationship performance. Design/methodology/approach We proposed a conceptual framework and tested it using structural equation modeling (SEM) based on survey data collected from 251 manufacturing firms in China. Findings The results indicate that blockchain technology significantly enhances supply chain resilience and improves relationship performance by fostering relational trust and network capability among supply chain partners. However, inter-organizational systems adaptability was found to negatively moderate the relationship between supply chain resilience and relationship performance, suggesting that system complexity may reduce the relational benefits of resilience. Originality/value This study shifts the theoretical focus from the resource-based view to a relational perspective, providing new insights into how blockchain technology strengthens supply chain relationships to improve resilience and performance. It also challenges assumptions about technological adaptability by revealing that greater flexibility in inter-organizational systems may introduce coordination burdens that diminish relationship outcomes.

The rise of generative AI (GenAI) technology is revolutionizing firm operations and supply chain management, profoundly influencing firms within the GenAI supply chain network. While a few emerging studies have explored the impact of GenAI initiatives on firms’ stock performance, it remains unclear how such disruptive technology initiatives affect the stock price movements of their supply chain partners. This paper empirically investigates the impact of firms’ GenAI initiatives on the abnormal stock returns of their suppliers by analyzing data on news, supply chain relationships, and daily stock prices. The analysis indicates that, on average, a firm's GenAI announcement leads to a positive abnormal return of 0.27% for its suppliers on the announcement day, with additional evidence of sustained long-term value creation. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that this spillover effect is more pronounced among suppliers with higher R&D intensity, stronger sales growth, closer geographic proximity to the focal firm, and operations in less competitive industries. Furthermore, the positive abnormal returns are significantly greater when the GenAI initiative pertains to product innovation rather than process improvement. Our findings have important implications for supply chain stakeholders navigating the adoption of GenAI technologies.

The interaction between supply chain relationships and corporate finance has become a focal issue in academic and practical circles, especially under the dual drivers of globalization and marketization. This paper systematically reviews existing research on this topic, covering theoretical foundations from perspectives such as agency theory, stakeholder theory, and co-opetition game theory, which explain the nature of customer-supplier relationships. It also combs through empirical studies from four core angles: competition-cooperation, signal transmission, spillover effects, and information transfer, summarizing findings on how supply chain relationships impact corporate investment, financing, operations, and performance, as well as existing controversies. The aim is to clarify the research context, identify theoretical and empirical gaps, and provide theoretical support and direction for deepening future research on supply chain and corporate finance.