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Grounded on the resource-based and dynamic capability views and the contingency theories, this study examines the direct and indirect effects of web technology training (WTT) and web-enabled transaction use (WTU) on business performance (BPE) through internal supply chain integration (ISCI) and supplier supply chain integration (SSCI).

Based on survey data collected from a sample of 175 respondents in the USA, the authors used structural equation modeling with AMOS 24.0 to test the measurement model for validity, reliability and the conceptual model for hypothesized structural relationships.

The results reveal that WTT significantly impacts WTU, which, in turn, has a significant direct relationship with BPE. Further, WTU indirectly affects BPE through SSCI. Additionally, ISCI has a significant direct effect on SSCI.

The findings support the relationship between WTT and BPE via WTU SCI. Managers are advised to develop ongoing capabilities in WTT to maximize the value of WTU to enhance the ISCI and SSCI operations, thus leading to improvements in BPE.

The research contributes to the supply chain literature by empirically demonstrating the usefulness of WTT in improving WTU use and BPE through effective ISCI and SSCI.

This study aims to benchmark the operational efficiency of fifty-eight public hospitals across Mexico between 2015 and 2018 and identifies the most critical inputs affecting their efficiency. In doing so, the study analyzes the impact of policy changes in the Mexican healthcare system introduced in recent years.

To measure the operational efficiency of Mexican public hospitals, data envelopment analysis (DEA) window analysis variable returns to scale (VRS) methodology using longitudinal data collected from the National Institute for Transparency and Access to Information (IFAI). Hospital groups are developed and compared using a categorization approach according to their average and most recent efficiency.

Results show that most of the hospitals in the study fall in the moving ahead category. The hospitals in the losing momentum or falling behind categories are mostly large units. Hospitals with initially low efficiency scores have either increased their efficiency or at least maintained a steady improvement. Finally, the findings indicate that most hospitals classified as moving ahead focused on a single care area (cancer, orthopedic care, child care and trauma).

This study examined the technical efficiency of the Mexican healthcare system over a four-year period. Contrary to conventional belief, results indicate that most public Mexican hospitals are managed efficiently. However, recent changes in public and economic policies that came into effect in the current administration (2018) will likely have long-lasting effects on the hospitals' operational efficiency, which could impact the results of this study.

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that examines the efficiency of the complex Mexican healthcare system using longitudinal data.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of web‐based electronic commerce (WEC) use on organizational benefits (OBE).

The researchers develop a research model based on a literature review. A large‐scale instrument was applied to empirically test the model. MANOVA was first used employing a general linear model. Then, univariate tests were performed to further analyze differences. The model was tested and validated using a sample of 180 firms in the USA.

The findings empirically tested that there is a significant positive impact of WEC use on OBE. Findings also demonstrated the multi‐dimensional nature of both factors.

This research develops and validates reliable measures for the WEC use and OBE. It also provides several indicators that can be used to measure the extent of usage of WEC for both transactional and strategic purposes, and OBE that span several dimensions, including information quality, business efficiency, and competitive advantage. These indicators can serve as benchmarks to evaluate the current state of a firm and help in setting future organizational goals, which can also help managers gauge the risks and benefits associated with WEC.

This paper contributes to the literature by providing evidence of the positive impact of WEC on OBE. It also develops and validates measures for all the constructs involved in the study that can be used in other empirical studies.

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of an exploratory survey administered in North America on advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs). The objective of the survey is to compare the status of AMT investment, planning and implementation, and performance in two different regions: Anglo America (developed countries) and Middle America (developing countries).

Responses from 97 Anglo‐American companies (62 from Canada and 35 from the USA) were compared to responses from 125 Middle American companies (85 from Mexico and 40 from Costa Rica). The researchers used different statistical analyses such as exploratory factor analyses, analysis of variance and regression.

In general, Middle American countries representing the developing region show higher AMT investment, planning and implementation activities, and finally, higher performance due to AMT implementation. This phenomenon was hypothesized since developed countries have shifted most of their manufacturing operations into developing countries, while they keep ownership of multinational firms. Therefore, big corporations that previously invested in AMT in their home countries are now investing in AMT in their manufacturing plants in developing countries.

This research provides insights to the growing body of knowledge on AMT. Most AMT research has been done in developed countries. In this study, the researchers show results comparing developed versus developing countries.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of specific supply chain information technologies (IT) for e‐commerce, e‐procurement, and enterprise resource planning (ERP), when implementing lean practices to achieve mass customization (MC) performance. The study further investigates how these technologies may be deployed differently in product and service focused contexts. “Best practices” of high performing MC firms are also explored.

Survey method was employed to collect data from 711 firms in 23 countries. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to establish simple factor structure and construct validity. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze relationships between lean practices, IT use, and MC performance in aggregated and bifurcated samples of product and service focused manufacturers. T‐tests were used to examine differences between the practices employed by high and low MC performers.

Findings suggest that lean practices can reasonably predict MC performance. In this context, of lean practices, e‐commerce and e‐procurement reasonably predict MC performance. ERP is not shown to predict MC performance. Results suggest that e‐commerce use is a better predictor of performance than e‐procurement or ERP for service focused manufacturers. E‐commerce and e‐procurement appear to be reasonable predictors of MC performance in product manufacturers, while ERP is not. “Best practices” related to lean practices, e‐commerce, e‐procurement, and ERP emerge among high MC performers.

This paper describes what is believed to be the first study to examine these three IT approaches in the context of lean practices and supply chain MC performance. This paper also contributes to the growing interest in differences among product and service focused manufacturing firms. Finally, specific “best practices” are provided to add value for practitioners.

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the impacts of supplier‐ and customer‐oriented electronic communication technologies (ECTs) (electronic data interchange (EDI) and internet‐based) on supply chain integration and manufacturing competitive capabilities (flexibility and quality).

The research model is based on resource‐based view of technology use, ECTs, and supply chain management literature. Data from 711 international manufacturing firms International Manufacturing Strategy Survey (IMSS IV) are analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to test the proposed relationships.

The results suggest: the importance of applying two specific ECTs (EDI and internet‐based) for both supplier and customer integration; and the direct impact of supplier integration and customer integration on manufacturing competitive capabilities.

Except for perceptual biases inherent to survey methodology, this research provides rich implications on ECTs (particularly, EDI and internet‐based) on supply chain integration and manufacturing competitive capabilities.

The findings of this research provide practical management insights on ECTs investment and deployment practices. Creation and delivery of values require effective integration of technologies for key performance outcomes across suppliers, customers and internal business processes.

This paper fills the research gap by presenting a research model and empirically validates how ECTs impact on quality and flexibility based on rich empirical data of 711 firms of manufacturing firms.

Recent rapid pace in the introduction of innovations has made adopting new technologies, such as those used for electronic procurement, a routine practice. But successful technology adoption depends on a multitude of factors, including those related to the adopter, to the technology, to the provider and the network within which they operate. Without careful consideration of these factors, effectiveness of benchmarking of technology adoptions may be remiss of predictable outcomes. The paper aims to aid in understanding when and how benchmarking applies to technology adoptions by introducing a new conceptual framework.

The paper combines facets of established theories of innovation adoption to develop a new broad‐based framework. It then applies the framework to develop propositions on the adoption of two distinct types of e‐procurement technologies (EPT), namely electronic data interchange and online auctions.

Three prominent adoption theories that explain innovation adoption are highlighted and it is noted that while useful, on their own, these theories may have limited explanatory power. These paradigms are leveraged to develop an interlocked framework that helps better explain the factors that influence innovation adoption. The factors are categorized into four groups, namely that of the technology, the adopting firm, its trading partners and the network within which it operates.

The paper's conceptual hypotheses need to be empirically validated in a later study.

The paper suggests that application of proper benchmarking practices that are reflective of the technology, the adopter, the provider, and network factors.

This paper fulfils a need to study how benchmarking of innovation adoptions in general, and for EPT in particular, can be made more effective by applying a multi‐dimensional perspective on their adoption.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a quantitative approach to assess the degree of visibility that a focal company has of its supply chain, addressing specifically complex networks and ecosystems.

The study is based on an in‐depth literature review concerning the measurement of supply chain visibility and the assessment of its value. An extensive, six‐month discussion and refinement process with the supply chain managers of nine leading companies was conducted to validate the proposed approach and to conduct real case studies.

The main outcome of this paper is a model to measure the visibility level in complex supply networks. Such a measure can be used for benchmarking and as a diagnostic tool for practitioners to find more easily the areas where a visibility improvement is more urgent.

The model provides a measure of the visibility across the inbound supply chain. Further research will extend the approach to the internal and outbound supply chains. Moreover, limited empirical evidence is presented in this paper, which mainly aims to validate the proposed approach. A wider application of the model could offer interesting opportunities in terms of managerial practice and provide a more extensive basis for benchmarking.

Various authors have attempted to quantify visibility across a supply chain, but they either calculate it only for simplistic, two‐tier or linear supply chains, or they fail to provide a comprehensive visibility metric.

This article investigates the importance of the supplier management process in the quality of the final product. A methodology is developed to analyze the variables involved in the supplier management process and it is illustrated with a case study of the chair manufacturing industry. Research results indicate that the supplier selection process appears to be the most significant variable as it helps in achieving high quality products and customer satisfaction. This paper shows the different analytical steps that arise naturally in the systematic categorization of variables for supplier management. Nine variables related to the supplier selection process were analyzed. Each of these variables was then evaluated through an experimental design using statistical information based on three factors, namely, quality, cost and productivity.