Abirami Radhakrishnan

Testing the accuracy of employee-reported data: An inexpensive alternative approach to traditional methods

Although Information Technology (IT) solutions improve the collection and validation of operational data, Operations Managers must often rely on self-reported data from workers to make decisions. The problem with this data is that they are subject to intentional manipulation, thus reducing their suitability for decision-making. A method of identifying manipulated data, digital analysis, addresses this problem at low cost. In this paper, we demonstrate how one uses this method in real-world companies to validate self-reported data from line workers. The results of our study suggest that digital analysis estimates the accuracy of employee reported data in operations management, within limited contexts. These findings lead to improved operating performance by providing a tool for practitioners to exclude inaccurate information.

Mapping the Critical Links between Supply Chain Evaluation System and Supply Chain Integration Sustainability: An Empirical Study

Supply Chain Integration is widely advocated as an important factor to attain superior supply chain performance. While firms are able to achieve integration, they find it hard to sustain integration. In this paper, the authors argue that to sustain integration partner firms must establish a formal system to evaluate supply chain-wide performance. The authors draw on theories from a number of management disciplines to map the critical links between supply chain evaluation capability and supply chain integration sustainability. The authors develop and test the research model by conducting an empirical study involving 102 firms. The results of the study show that supply chains can sustain integration by establishing a supply chain wide evaluation system.

Applying confirmatory factor analysis multi-trait multi-method approach in supply chain management research

Supply chain integration (SCI) is considered as one of the important critical success factors for firms. Both academic researchers and business managers have attempted to understand the impact of supply chain integration for buyer and supplier firms. To date, the answer still remains unclear and is fuelled by debates that there could be an asymmetric distribution of benefits to buyer and supplier firms. One way to assess the impact of SCI is to assess the joint capabilities of buyer-supplier dyad. It calls for data collection of joint capabilities from the stand point of both the buyer and the supplier firms. When we deal with empirical research involving multiple traits (capability factors) and multiple methods (in this case, buyer and supplier firms), confirmatory factor analysis multi-trait multi-method approach can be applied to assess the construct validity. We provide a methodological review of this approach and provide a detailed empirical illustration by examining the ‘capabilities of buyer-supplier dyad’ construct.

An Improved Measurement Model for Internal Integration: A Systems and Contingency Approach

One of the critical success factors in supply chain management is Internal Integration within the firms. In this study the authors have examined this construct in greater depth and have developed an improved measurement model grounded in systems and contingency theories. The authors have validated the model by conducting a large scale empirical study and by collecting data from 154 buyer-supplier dyads. The authors have established the construct validity by using refined Confirmatory Factor Analysis Multi-Trait Multi-Method Approach. The authors have used multiple perspectives from fields such as operations management, information systems management, and inter-organizational relationship management to present a richer construct.