The effect of supply chain agility on export performance

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of supply chain agility (SCA) on supply chain responsiveness (SCR), supply chain innovativeness (SCI) and export performance (EP) in the industrial sector in Jordan. It also explores the effects of SCR and SCI on EP. In addition, the study investigates the mediating effects of SCR and SCI on the relationship between SCA and EP. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was prepared based on the extant literature. Data were gathered from 290 companies representing various types of manufacturing in Jordan. The appropriate tests were employed to ensure the validity of the study constructs and their reliability. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Findings SCA was found to directly and positively affect EP. It also positively affected SCR and SCI. In addition, SCR and SCI fully mediated the SCA–EP relationship. Originality/value This study is one of the first to investigate the effect of SCA on EP. Also, it is the first, to the best of the authors knowledge, to highlight the effect of SCA on SCI. Further, this is the first study to examine the mediating effect of SCI on the SCA–EP relationship. Similarly, the mediating effect of SCR on the SCA–EP relationship has rarely been investigated in the literature.