Study of the Impact of Supply Chain Sustainability Dimensions on Sustainable Competitive Advantage with the Mediating Role of Production Flexibility and Strategic Flexibility (Case Study: Dairy Industry of Fars Province)
Subject Areas :
Shahab
Heidari
1
(Department Economics and Management, Islamic Azad University of MasjedSoliman, Ahvaz, Iran)
Belgheis
Bavarsad
2
(Associate Professor, Department of Management, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran)
Majid
Nili Ahmad Abadi
3
(Department of Economics and Management, University of Qom, Qom, Iran)
Saber
Mola Alizade Zavardehi
4
(Department of Industrial Engineering, Masjed-Soleiman Branch Islamic Azad University Masjed-Soleiman, Iran)
Keywords: Sustainable Supply Chain, Productivity Flexibility, Strategic Flexibility, Sustainable Competitive Advantage,
Abstract :
In today's competitive markets, organizations must possess a high level of adaptability to gain a competitive edge. To explore the impact of a sustainable supply chain on sustainable competitive advantage, this study examined strategic flexibility and flexibility-productivity as mediating variables. The research focused specifically on the dairy industry in Fars province and involves industry experts from the domestic sector, selected through judgment sampling. Data was collected via a questionnaire, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed for analysis. The findings of the study indicated that the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of supply chain sustainability have a significant influence on product flexibility. Additionally, these dimensions have a notable impact on strategic flexibility, except for the social dimension's effect on production flexibility. Furthermore, both production and strategic flexibility positively and significantly contribute to the achievement of sustainable competitive advantage. In conclusion, this research highlighted the importance of a sustainable supply chain in attaining sustainable competitive advantage. The economic, environmental, and social dimensions play a crucial role in enhancing both product and strategic flexibility. By embracing sustainable practices and fostering flexibility in production and strategy, organizations in the dairy industry can maintain a competitive advantage over time.
[1] Brundtland, G.H. 1985. World commission on environment and development. Environmental policy and law, 14(1): 26-30. doi:10.1016/S0378-777X(85)80040-8.
[2] Di Vaio, A., Palladino, R., Hassan, R. and Escobar, O. 2020. Artificial intelligence and business models in the sustainable development goals perspective: A systematic literature review. Journal of Business Research, 121: 283-314. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.019.
[3] Heidari, S., Bavarsad, B., Nili Ahmad Abadi, M. and Mullah Alizadeh Zavardehi, S. 2021. Identifying and Prioritizing Supply Chain Sustainability Indicators for Perishable Products Via Grounded Theory and Fuzzy Hierarchical Analysis Approach. Journal of System Management, 7(1): 233-264. doi:10.30495/JSM.2021.1919814.1427.
[4] Jamaluddin, F. and Saibani, N. 2021. Systematic literature review of supply chain relationship approaches amongst business-to-business partners. Sustainability. 13(21): 11935. doi:10.3390/su132111935.
[5] Vagnoni, E., Franca, A., Porqueddu, C. and Duce, P. 2017. Environmental profile of Sardinian sheep milk cheese supply chain: A comparison between two contrasting dairy systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 165: 1078-1089. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.115.
[6] Musavi, M. and Bozorgi-Amiri, A. 2017. A multi-objective sustainable hub location-scheduling problem for perishable food supply chain. Computers & Industrial Engineering. 113: 766-778. doi:10.1016/j.cie.2017.07.039
[7] Chan, C. and Sarkis, J. 2017. The effects of strategic and manufacturing flexibilities and supply chain agility on firm performance in the fashion industry. European Journal of Operational Research. 259(2): 486-499. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2016.11.006.
[8] de Guimarães, J.C.F., Severo, E.A. and de Vasconcelos, C.R.M. 2018. The influence of entrepreneurial, market, knowledge management orientations on cleaner production and the sustainable competitive advantage. Journal of cleaner production. 174: 1653-1663. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.074.
[9] Jakhar, S.K. 2014. Designing the green supply chain performance optimisation model. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management. 15: 235-259. doi:10.1007/s40171-014-0069-6.
[10] Tahavvor, A.R., Heidari, S. and Zarrinchang, P. 2016. Modeling of the height control system using artificial neural networks. Journal of Agricultural Machinery. 6(2): 350-361. dor: 20.1001.1.22286829.1395.6.2.7.7.
[11] Mathivathanan, D., Govindan, K. and Haq, A.N. 2017. Exploring the impact of dynamic capabilities on sustainable supply chain firm's performance using Grey-Analytical Hierarchy Process. Journal of cleaner production. 147: 637-653. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.01.018.
[12] Suh, C.J. and Lee, I.T., 2018. An empirical study on the manufacturing firm’s strategic choice for sustainability in SMEs. Sustainability. 10(2): 572. doi:10.3390/su10020572.
[13] Vargas, J.R.C., Mantilla, C.E.M. and de Sousa Jabbour, A.B.L., 2018. Enablers of sustainable supply chain management and its effect on competitive advantage in the Colombian context. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 139: 237-250. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.08.018.
[14] Seyyedi, S.M., Mousavi, S.A.R. and Heidari, S. 2010. The Evaluation of Effective Factors on Management Performance Regarding Communication with Customers and Presenting a New and Suitable Pattern for Measurement: A Case Study in the Electronic Industry. Educational Administration Research. 1(2): 79-112.
[15] Huggins, R. and Izushi, H. 2015. The Competitive Advantage of Nations: origins and journey. Competitiveness Review. 25(5): 458-470. doi:10.1108/CR-06-2015-0044.
[16] Camisón, C. and Villar-López, A. 2011. Non-technical innovation: Organizational memory and learning capabilities as antecedent factors with effects on sustained competitive advantage. Industrial Marketing Management. 40(8): 1294-1304. doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2011.10.001.
[17] Abdul Malek, N.A., Shahzad, K., Takala, J., Bojnec, S., Papler, D. and Liu, Y., 2015. Analyzing sustainable competitive advantage: strategically managing resource allocations to achieve operational competitiveness. Management and Production Engineering Review. 6(4): 70-86. doi:10.1515/mper-2015-0038.
[18] Sáenz, M.J., Knoppen, D. and Tachizawa, E.M. 2018. Building manufacturing flexibility with strategic suppliers and contingent effect of product dynamism on customer satisfaction. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management. 24(3): 238-246. doi:10.1016/j.pursup.2017.07.002.
[19] Maury, B., 2018. Sustainable competitive advantage and profitability persistence: Sources versus outcomes for assessing advantage. Journal of Business Research. 84: 100-113. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.10.051.
[20] Tamayo-Torres, J., Gutierrez-Gutierrez, L. and Ruiz-Moreno, A. 2014. The relationship between exploration and exploitation strategies, manufacturing flexibility and organizational learning: An empirical comparison between Non-ISO and ISO certified firms. European Journal of Operational Research. 232(1): 72-86. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2013.06.040.
[21] Agha, S., Atwa, E. and Kiwan, S., 2021. Investigating the impact of strategic intelligence on firm performance and the mediator role of strategic flexibility. Modern Perspectives in Economics. Business and Management. 3: 13-25.
[22] Mbengue, A. and Ouakouak, M.L., 2011, June. Strategic planning flexibility and firm performance: The moderating role of environmental dynamism. 20th International Strategic Management Conference, Nantes, France.
[23] Ebrahimpour Azbari, M., Moradi, M. and Momeneh, M. 2017. The role of customer pressure and innovativeness on sustainable supply chain management and sustainable competitive advantage. Industrial management studies. 15(47): 121-150. doi:10.22054/jims.2017.8119.
[24] Das, D., 2018. The impact of Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices on firm performance: Lessons from Indian organizations. Journal of cleaner production. 203: 179-196. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.250.
[25] Ding, H., Fu, Y., Zheng, L. and Yan, Z. 2019. Determinants of the competitive advantage of dairy supply chains: Evidence from the Chinese dairy industry. International Journal of Production Economics. 209: 360-373. doi:10.1016/j.ijpe.2018.02.013.
[26] Kumar, S., Goyal, A. and Singhal, A. 2017. Manufacturing flexibility and its effect on system performance. Jordan Journal of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering. 11(2): 105 -112.
[27] Eryesil, K., Esmen, O. and Beduk, A., 2015. The role of strategic flexibility for achieving sustainable competition advantage and its effect on business performance. World Academy of Science. Engineering and Technology. 9(10): 587-593.
[28] Kim, M., Suresh, N.C. and Kocabasoglu-Hillmer, C. 2013. An impact of manufacturing flexibility and technological dimensions of manufacturing strategy on improving supply chain responsiveness: Business environment perspective. International Journal of Production Research. 51(18): 5597-5611. doi:10.1080/00207543.2013.790569.
[29] Chen, Y., Wang, Y., Nevo, S., Benitez, J. and Kou, G. 2017. Improving strategic flexibility with information technologies: insights for firm performance in an emerging economy. Journal of Information Technology. 32: 10-25. doi:10.1057/jit.2015.26.