Impact of Web-Based Supply Chain Management on Performance : A Study Conducted in Retail Sector of Pakistan

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to determine to what extent IT-empowered SCM effects the operational performance of SCM in retail firms of Pakistan. The present study is based on the framework for the development of IT for effective SCM by Gunasekaran and Ngai, (2004) and expects to develop a theoretical framework that provides guidelines for organizations, practitioners and professionals. The nature of the study suggests positivist paradigm which is expected to be considered as the most appropriate approach to test the key proposition of the present study. Basically, the study has followed quantitative approach. The sample size consists of 200 Supply chain managers form Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Survey method is used for data collection. The data has been collected through self-administered structured questionnaire. To test the relationship of variables Correlation and Regression models are applied. The results of the study depict that all six dimensions of IT proposed in the framework by Gunasekaran and Ngai, (2004) i.e. Strategic planning, Virtual Enterprise, E-commerce, infrastructure of IT, Knowledge and IT management and implementation of IT collectively have positive relationships with the operational performance of SCM. The results of the study provide an understanding of the effect of IT systems and their components so as to increase the Operational performance of Supply Chains in Retail Stores and what can be the additional methods that can increase the Supply Chain efficiency