| This dissertation investigated the relationships between business environment characteristics, competitive priorities, supply chain structures, and firm performance in the U.S. technical textile industry. Based on the review of literature on the U.S. technical textile industry, business environment characteristics, competitive priorities, supply chain structures, and firm business performance, a theoretical model was developed and the resulting hypotheses were empirically tested.; The primary data was gathered via the empirical survey-based research methodology and was utilized to test the proposed theoretical model and research hypotheses. A random sample of 995 U.S. technical textile companies was drawn from the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) membership database comprising some 2000 companies. A mail survey and follow-up email with an online survey linkage were used in this study. The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) logos, envelopes and cover letters were used to enhance the response rate of this study. The data collection yielded 202 eligible responses and an eligible response rate of 20.4%.; A two-step approach for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze data and test the research hypotheses. The software packages used were SPSS 13 and LISREL 8.54. In the first step, measurement model was tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to demonstrate the satisfactory measurement model fit, unidimensionality, reliability, and construct validity. In the second step, path analysis was used to examine the proposed hypotheses in the structural model. The purpose was to reveal the impact of congruency between business environment characteristics, competitive priorities and supply chain structures on firm performance, the theoretical model was modified and response sample was split into high performers and low performers in terms of business performance. The two-step approach was repeated in this post hoc analysis.; The findings support the propositions that, in the U.S. technical textile industry, business environment characteristics have a positive causal relationship with the choice of competitive priorities and the design of supply chain structures, company competitive priorities have a positive causal relationship with the design of supply chain structures, and the superior business performance derives from the congruency of business environment characteristics, competitive priorities and supply chain structures. The study concludes with implications, limitations, and directions for future studies. |
