Implementation of network leader sponsored supply chain management systems: A case study of supplier IT business value

This qualitative multiple-case study was conducted to explore and understand how the implementation of required relationship-specific supply chain management system (SCMS) dictated by the network leader within a supplier network affects a supplier organization. The study, on a very broad sense, attempted to research the current validity of how the information technology (IT) productivity paradox advanced over the past 20 years. Specifically, this case study attempted to discover and understand the relationship among relationship-specific SCMS, business value, and internal business processes in a supplier organization within a network leader dominated supply chain. This discovery includes learning how the supplier organization manages their operations after deployment of a relationship-specific SCMS and how they adapted their operations to leverage the mandated SCMS within their organization. The research attempted to answer the following two questions. First, "Have increases in the install base of supply chain management systems championed by network leaders resulted in a boost to IT business value for suppliers within the supplier network?" Results indicated that positive financial benefits from a SCMS implementation were realized by the supplier organization; however, the level of system integration within the supplier organization was the determining factor in financial benefit or not. Second, "Have increases in the install base of supply chain management systems championed by network leaders resulted in a boost to internal business processes for supplier firms within the supplier network?" Results showed that supplier organization can garner positive operational gains from a network leader mandated SCMS implementation.