Tripti Singh

Building theory of sustainable manufacturing using total interpretive structural modelling

The purpose of this paper is to generate theory using total interpretive structural modelling. In this paper, an extensive review of extant literature was undertaken to identify research gaps. To b...

Value creation through relationship closeness

Globalization and technological innovation are creating dynamic networks or chains of interconnected players, often known as value delivery networks or supply chains, in which a firm, whether manufacturing or service, holds the key to creating and delivering value in the form of offerings to the customers. This idea of value creation and exchange is the foundation stone of relationship marketing and it is considered successful when closeness is said to have been established in the relationship which subsequently leads toward the achievement of objectives. In order to study and understand the creation of value through relationship closeness in a value delivery network particularly at the backward end, a literature review is conducted. A framework is further developed with the help of Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), which signifies the antecedents and consequences of relationship closeness between a focal firm and its suppliers. The paper utilizes this methodology to understand the aforesaid phenomenon with the help of identified variables in a structured manner. In the final section, we discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of our study.

Impact of Agility, Adaptability and Alignment on Humanitarian Logistics Performance: Mediating Effect of Leadership

Even though researchers have immensely contributed in the field of supply chain agility, supply chain adaptability and supply chain alignment, their impact on humanitarian supply chain performance and their relationship is not well known. Leadership is the most discussed and one of the most debated dimensions and little is known about leadership integration with a humanitarian supply chain network design. We carried out a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify variables and their items to design a structured questionnaire, which was pretested with experts in the humanitarian supply chain. We conducted an empirical study on a sample of 306 responses that were collected by us during Allahabad Kumbh from senior officials of the police department, Indian Railways, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation and third-party logistics (3PL) companies. We have used the exploratory factor analysis followed by the confirmatory factor analysis to check the construct validity of scales and goodness of fit. We further tested our hypotheses using regression analysis and mediation effect using Baron and Kenny’s (1986) proposed steps. We further checked the mediation significance using the Sobel test. We found that supply chain alignment is a strong determinant of logistics performance and human performance. The supply chain agility is found to completely mediate between supply chain adaptability and human performance and partially mediate between supply chain adaptability and logistics performance. Leadership has a partial mediation effect between supply chain alignment and human performance.

Understanding complex relationship among JIT, lean behaviour, TQM and their antecedents using interpretive structural modelling and fuzzy MICMAC analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand possible linkage between variables that constitute a lean manufacturing enterprise. In the study the authors have tried to decode the complex relationship among variables which is missing in extant literature. Design/methodology/approach – In the study the authors have used systematic literature review (SLR) approach to identify the variables from extant literature and used interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and Fuzzy MICMAC analysis to understand complex equation among variables from Indian manufacturing firm perspective. Findings – The findings using ISM modeling indicate top management support is the bottom level and business performance is the top level. In order to further resolve conflicts the authors have further analyzed variables using Fuzzy MICMAC analysis which has further divided variables into four clusters. The Fuzzy MICMAC output suggests that top management support, real time production information, training and team work are the dr...

Location strategy for competitiveness of special economic zones

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for the firms located inside special economic zones (SEZs) in India and to assess the effect of location on competitiveness of the firm.Design/methodology/approach – A literature review is done to identify the variables and intermediate variables including sub‐variables which affect the location competitiveness of the firm that leads to superior firm performance. Literature support for all the variables in the framework is discussed to establish a logical sequence.Findings – Hypotheses are formulated in a sequential framework to draw relationships between location of a firm in an SEZ as latent function, intermediate functions, and superior firm performance as a dependent function.Research limitations/implications – This developed framework is yet to be empirically tested. Such a paper can be applied in manufacturing industries located in an SEZ.Practical implications – Location competitiveness is an important strategic decision for industries. ...

Exploring dimensions of firm competencies and their impact on performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the dimensions of Indian manufacturing firms’ competencies and to study the impact of these competencies on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach – The authors have adopted a literature survey to identify variables and gaps in the research. Based on the construct and its item identified through the literature review the authors have developed a structured questionnaire which was pre-tested before being used for the final survey. The authors have collected data from 100 firms out of 275 targeted firms in two phases which represents a 36.36 per cent response rate. The data have been subjected to exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using varimax rotation, which reduced the data into seven parsimonious and orthogonal factors. The authors then carried out regression analysis using EFA output to test the relationship between six independent variables, representing competencies of the firm and performance. Findings – Findings show that EFA has reduced the d...

Exploring Determinants of Closeness in Manufacturer–Supplier Relationships: A Study of Select Indian Manufacturing Firms

The phenomenon of rapid globalization and technological innovation has provoked the idea of maintaining relationships with suppliers. Supplier management is gradually shifting from a transaction-based arms-length approach to a relationship-based cooperative approach to procure component supply. Managing relationships with key suppliers is successful when closeness is said to have been established in the relationship. Relational exchange here is identified as the foundation of relationship marketing. The present study endeavors to explore and establish the determinants of closeness in a manufacturer–supplier relationship. A research framework implying the determinants of relationship closeness between a manufacturing firm and its supplier(s) is proposed and tested empirically. Information is collected from select manufacturing firms in India, and data analysis is done with SPSS. Finally, the theoretical and managerial implications of the study are discussed.

The mediating effect of human resource on successful total quality management implementation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the mediating effect of human resource (HR) between independent variables (i.e. leadership and quality culture (QC)) and successful total quality management (TQM) implementation for firm performance as dependent variable. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, the authors have used exploratory factor analysis output as input for mediation statistics. The mediating regression analysis has been performed using exploratory factor analysis based on four steps technique proposed by Baron and Keene in the year 1986 to test the theoretical model. Findings – The mediation statistics output suggests that HR is a complete mediation between independent variables (i.e. leadership) and successful TQM implementation for firm performance and QC is having direct impact on firm performance without any mediation effect of HR. Research limitations/implications – Mediation regression has its own limitations. Satisfying four steps does not, however, conclusively establish ...

Supply Chain Innovation is a Key to Superior Firm Performance an Insight from Indian Cement Manufacturing

The following statistical study shows the results of an investigation of supply chain innovation practices of Indian Cement Manufacturers, which are a significantly large and quickly advancing industry in India. Aside from being a study of adoption of supply chain innovation practices (SCIP) in an emerging super power (India) the benefits of supply chain innovation (SCI) are discussed including the major advances in supply chain management. The statistical study compared innovation supply chain practices (like JIT, WMS, CPFR, and others) in 125 large cement firms to their financial performance measures (ROI, market share, EBIDTA, customer satisfaction, productivity). The resulting correlations showed very high levels of reliability and adequacy, and were uses to make conclusions on which supply chain innovation practices had a positive impact on company financial performance. The conclusions are somewhat astounding with the interesting finding that some innovation practices do not support firm performance and maybe should be avoided; while others ICS practices are shown to support firm performance to a high degree.

Contextual relationship among antecedents of truck freight using interpretive structural modelling and its validation using MICMAC analysis

The purpose of the paper is to develop Truck Freight Model (TFM) using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis. In the present study, we have employed exhaustive literature survey published in reputed refereed and indexed journals and reports published by reputed agencies to identify the variables which are used for developing TFM. In order to further resolve the conflicts among variables identified through literature review we have further adopted expert opinion using ISM model to establish contextual relationship which we further refined the model using MICMAC analysis. The present study provides a unique insight into TFM. The study identifies road condition as an independent variable which results into axle failure or frequent road accidents resulting into shortage of truck drivers, has major impact on different TFM model.