Information and Communication Technology Impact on Supply Chain Integration, Flexibility, and Performance

Abstract

In this chapter, four latent variables will be analyzed to measure the impact of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) on the integration, flexibility and performance of Supply Chain (SC). The aim of the exposition is to provide greater understanding for those responsible of the supply chain, and focus efforts on clear objectives. These clear objectives should help those responsible for the supply chain achieve a better performance within organizations. The information analyzed was obtained from a questionnaire provided to 284 managers in companies located in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The results were used to generate a structural equation model in order to learn the relationships between variables. We have postulated six hypotheses regarding the direct, indirect and total effects. The results indicate that there is no direct relationship between ICT integration and SC performance, but an indirect relationship through mediating variables as SC Integration and Flexibility exists.