Supply chain agility: a mediator for absorptive capacity
ISSN: 1746-5265
Article publication date: 26 February 2018
Issue publication date: 24 April 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the mediating effect of supply chain agility (SCA) in the relationship between absorptive capacity (AC) and firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use data from 231 Spanish firms and test the hypothesis by structural equation modelling.
Findings
SCA mediates the relationship between AC and firm performance.
Research limitations/implications
The cross-sectional survey and the use of managerial perceptions may need to use longitudinal and real measures in future studies to validate causal relationships.
Practical implications
SCA may contribute to explain why AC improves firm performance. Firms with more agile supply chains may benefit more from their efforts in AC to improve firm performance.
Originality/value
A conceptual framework has been developed to explain the relationships of the main constructs of the study (AC and SCA) with firm performance and whether SCA mediates the relationship between AC and firm performance.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research has been funded by a Grant (ECO2014-56912-R) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Education and Innovation.
Citation
Martinez-Sanchez, A. and Lahoz-Leo, F. (2018), "Supply chain agility: a mediator for absorptive capacity", Baltic Journal of Management, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 264-278. https://doi.org/10.1108/BJM-10-2017-0304
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited