The effect of relational embeddedness on transparency in supply chain networks: the moderating role of digitalization
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 23 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
An emerging body of literature has pinpointed the role of supply chain structure in influencing the extent to which supply chain members disclose information about their internal practices and performance. Nevertheless, empirical research investigating the effects of firm-level relational embeddedness on network-level transparency still lags. Drawing on social network analysis, this research examines the effect of relational embeddedness on supply chain transparency and the contingent role of digitalization in the context of environmental, social and governance (ESG) information disclosure.
Design/methodology/approach
In their empirical analysis, the authors collected secondary data from the Bloomberg database about 2,229 firms and 14,007 ties organized in 107 extended supply chains. The authors employed supplier and customer concentration metrics to measure relational embeddedness and performed multiple econometric models to test the hypothesis.
Findings
The authors found a positive effect of supplier concentration on supply chain transparency, but the effect of customer concentration was not significant. Additionally, the digitalization of focal firms reinforced the impact of supplier concentration on supply chain transparency.
Originality/value
The study findings contribute by underscoring the critical effect of relational embeddedness on supply chain transparency, extending prior literature on social network analysis, providing compelling evidence for the intersection of digitalization and supply chain management, and drawing important implications for practices.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Bo Feng thanks the support of research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 72310107001); Yi Shen thanks the support of research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 72172101). The authors would like to sincerely thank the guest editors and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions. Bo Feng is the corresponding author, and Yi Shen is the co-corresponding author.
Citation
Feng, B., Zheng, M. and Shen, Y. (2024), "The effect of relational embeddedness on transparency in supply chain networks: the moderating role of digitalization", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-08-2023-0713
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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