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Lean Manufacturing Systems (LMS) gained popularity among manufacturers globally. However, their efficacy in developing and least-developed countries remained noticeably understudied. Motivated by this research gap, the researchers of this study designed a quantitative study with a structured survey technique to investigate its context-specific impact on the apparel industry of a developing country. Hence, this study aimed to examine the relationship between LMS and elimination of waste (EOW) and operational performance (OP) and comprehend how the EOW mediates the relationship between an LMS and OP within the apparel industry of a developing economy.

The researchers collected data from 227 garment companies in Bangladesh. These organization-level data were then analyzed using the structural equation modeling approach with AMOS 20.0 software to examine the direct and indirect effects among EOW, LMS and OP.

The findings of this study suggest that EOW has a direct and significant effect on OP. This research also revealed that EOW has a partial mediating effect on the relationship between LMS and OP.

This research focused on a single industry administering self-reported data and cross-sectional design, limiting generalizability and causal inference.

LMS and directing efforts towards EOW can significantly improve the operational performance of apparel companies by reducing lead times and costs, improving quality and increasing productivity.

These findings can provide useful insight to managers, practitioners and future researchers to understand the relationship between EOW, LMS and OP to optimize their production processes and improve OP in the apparel industry.

Considering information processing theory, this study aims to examine how big data analytics (BDA) mediates the influence of e-procurement coordination (EPC) and e-procurement transactional (EPT) applications on transparency and accountability (TA) in the procurement processes of firms within the United Arab Emirates' private sector. Furthermore, it investigates the moderating role of information processing capabilities (IPCs) in the relationships among EPC, EPT and BDA to clarify their collective impact on enhancing TA and procurement performance.

Data were collected from procurement and information technology professionals in the UAE’s private sector through a Web-based survey. Established scales were used to assess e-procurement, BDA, TA, procurement performance and IPCs. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Integrating e-procurement with BDA demonstrates the potential to improve TA and procurement performance in the UAE’s private sector. BDA is positively associated with EPC and EPT applications use, contributing to increased procurement TA and enhancing overall procurement performance.

Organizations can enhance procurement TA by adopting e-procurement and BDA technologies.

This study identifies the mediating role of BDA in the relationship between e-procurement and procurement TA. In addition, it investigates the moderating role of IPCs in the relationship between e-procurement and BDA.