Global Organizational Learning in the Supply Chain: A Low versus High Learning Study

Abstract

The authors examine the effects of organizational learning on customer orientation and relationship commitment in the global supply chain. To examine the effects of exposure to organizational learning, the authors test the hypotheses in low- versus high-learning groups in two different samples. The user sample consists of 175 users, representing the international strategic business units of one U.S.-based multinational corporation (i.e., strategic business units located outside the home country of the United States). The buyer sample consists of the corporate buyers of 200 multinational corporations, and the focus is on their supply chain activities worldwide. The authors examine the activities and relationships between (1) users and buyers (as perceived by the users) and (2) buyers and suppliers (as perceived by the buyers) in the supply chain. Overall, the results suggest that facets of organizational learning have a positive influence on customer orientation and relationship commitment in the global supply chain. In addition, attending learning seminars to increase understanding and use of organizational learning concepts appears to have a positive effect on the supply chain relationships.