Investigating the Path from Supply Chain Integration to Business Performance: Evidence from a Sub-Saharan African Economy

Abstract

Following the growing concerns on the inconsistent findings in previous research and drawing on the social exchange and networking theories, this study re-examined the impact of supply chain integration (SCI) on business performance (i.e. value creation and financial performance). The study argues that the impact of SCI on financial performance is through value creation and is depended upon longevity of product life cycle. Using primary data from 79 firms in Ghana, the study finds that value creation is a short-run consequence of SCI while financial performance is a long-run outcome of SCI. Additionally, results show that the financial performance outcome of SCI is experienced more from integrative efforts than from the value creation outcome. Results further indicate that firms whose products stay relatively shorter on the market are more likely to experience lower positive impact of SCI on value creation, and thus firms’ ability to become proactive, monitor, and collect market information on product performance throughout its life cycle is key for coming out with strategies that will enable them maximize product’s life span so as to experience greater benefits that come with pursuing integration with other channel members.