IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/proeco/v257y2023ics0925527322003437.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The impact of buyer-supplier communication on performance: A contingency and configuration approach

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Siyu
  • Huo, Baofeng
  • Wang, Qiang

Abstract

Although communication plays a fundamental role in the collaboration between buyers and suppliers, existing studies have not combined the communication media and content dimensions to analyze the complex communication phenomenon, therefore cannot answer “what to say” and “how to say” between buyers and suppliers to improve performance. This study combines these two dimensions to identify four communication activities between buyers and suppliers, lean media operational communication, lean media plan communication, rich media task communication, and rich media vision communication. We empirically examined the impacts of communication activities and communication patterns on operational and financial performance based on a sample comprising 200 Chinese manufacturers. Using the contingency approach, we found that lean media operational communication and rich media task communication enhance delivery performance, and rich media vision communication decreases delivery performance. Lean media plan communication and rich media task communication promote flexibility performance. Four types of communication indirectly increase financial performance via operational performance. Using the configuration method, we found that different communication patterns perform differently in terms of three types of firm performance. This research pioneers to combine the media and content perspectives to explore communication activities. The combination of contingency and configuration approaches provides a comprehensive angle in investigating communication-performance relationships.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Siyu & Huo, Baofeng & Wang, Qiang, 2023. "The impact of buyer-supplier communication on performance: A contingency and configuration approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:257:y:2023:i:c:s0925527322003437
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2022.108761
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527322003437
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ijpe.2022.108761?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cai, Shaohan & Yang, Zhilin & Hu, Zuohao, 2009. "Exploring the governance mechanisms of quasi-integration in buyer-supplier relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(6), pages 660-666, June.
    2. Bourland, Karla E. & Powell, Stephen G. & Pyke, David F., 1996. "Exploiting timely demand information to reduce inventories," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 92(2), pages 239-253, July.
    3. Li, Gang & Fan, Huan & Lee, Peter K.C. & Cheng, T.C.E., 2015. "Joint supply chain risk management: An agency and collaboration perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 83-94.
    4. Baofeng Huo & Muhammad Zia Ul Haq & Minhao Gu, 2021. "The impact of information sharing on supply chain learning and flexibility performance," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(5), pages 1411-1434, March.
    5. Sriram, Ven & Stump, Rodney, 2004. "Information technology investments in purchasing: an empirical investigation of communications, relationship and performance outcomes," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 41-55, February.
    6. Huang, Yanting & Wang, Zongjun, 2017. "Values of information sharing: A comparison of supplier-remanufacturing and manufacturer-remanufacturing scenarios," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 20-44.
    7. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Zhang, Xuan & van Donk, Dirk Pieter & Jayaram, Jayanth, 2020. "A multi-theory perspective on enablers of inter-organizational information and communication technology: A comparison of China and the Netherlands," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    9. Choi, Sujeong & Ko, Ilsang, 2012. "Leveraging electronic collaboration to promote interorganizational learning," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 550-559.
    10. Fenwick Jing & Gayle Avery & Harald Bergsteiner, 2014. "Enhancing performance in small professional firms through vision communication and sharing," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 599-620, June.
    11. Son, Jaebong & Lee, Hyung Koo & Jin, Sung & Lee, Jintae, 2019. "Content features of tweets for effective communication during disasters: A media synchronicity theory perspective," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 56-68.
    12. Spralls, Samuel A. & Hunt, Shelby D. & Wilcox, James B., 2011. "Extranet Use and Building Relationship Capital in Interfirm Distribution Networks: The Role of Extranet Capability," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 59-74.
    13. Roh, James & Hong, Paul & Min, Hokey, 2014. "Implementation of a responsive supply chain strategy in global complexity: The case of manufacturing firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(PB), pages 198-210.
    14. Baofeng Huo & Barbara B. Flynn & Xiande Zhao, 2017. "Supply Chain Power Configurations and Their Relationship with Performance," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 53(2), pages 88-111, April.
    15. Mengying Feng & Wantao Yu & Xingyu Wang & Chee Yew Wong & Maozeng Xu & Zhi Xiao, 2018. "Green supply chain management and financial performance: The mediating roles of operational and environmental performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(7), pages 811-824, November.
    16. Kim, Minkyun & Chai, Sangmi, 2017. "The impact of supplier innovativeness, information sharing and strategic sourcing on improving supply chain agility: Global supply chain perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 42-52.
    17. Cheng, Jao-Hong, 2011. "Inter-organizational relationships and information sharing in supply chains," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 374-384.
    18. Huo, Baofeng & Ye, Yuxiao & Zhao, Xiande & Zhu, Kaihang, 2019. "Supply chain quality integration: A taxonomy perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 236-246.
    19. Bendickson, Joshua S. & Chandler, Timothy D., 2019. "Operational performance: The mediator between human capital developmental programs and financial performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 162-171.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bokrantz, Jon & Skoogh, Anders, 2023. "Adoption patterns and performance implications of Smart Maintenance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    2. Hong, Paul & Jagani, Sandeep & Kim, Jinhwan & Youn, Sun Hee, 2019. "Managing sustainability orientation: An empirical investigation of manufacturing firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 71-81.
    3. Wang, Qianwen & Liu, Xu & Hu, Miao & Huo, Baofeng, 2024. "A reductionistic or holistic approach? The impacts of fit patterns of supplier and customer integration on company and supply chain performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    4. Himawan Hatmanto & Agung Yuniarinto & Surachman, 2022. "The influence of resource flexibility and product complexity on operational performance moderated by employee competence in Indonesian defense industry," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(3), pages 33-43, April.
    5. Huo, Baofeng & Liu, Ruolei & Tian, Min, 2022. "The bright side of dependence asymmetry: Mitigating power use and facilitating relational ties," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    6. Ho, Hillbun (Dixon) & Lu, Ruichang, 2015. "Performance implications of marketing exploitation and exploration: Moderating role of supplier collaboration," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(5), pages 1026-1034.
    7. Munir, Manal & Jajja, Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq & Chatha, Kamran Ali & Farooq, Sami, 2020. "Supply chain risk management and operational performance: The enabling role of supply chain integration," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    8. Ting Kong & Taiwen Feng & Baofeng Huo, 2021. "Green supply chain integration and financial performance: A social contagion and information sharing perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2255-2270, July.
    9. Erdinç Koç & Muhammet Burak Delibaş & Yaprak Anadol, 2022. "Environmental Uncertainties and Competitive Advantage: A Sequential Mediation Model of Supply Chain Integration and Supply Chain Agility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    10. Yue Liu & Guang Song, 2023. "Role of Logistics Integration Capability in Enhancing Performance in Omni-Channel Retailing: Supply Chain Integration as Mediator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-22, June.
    11. Gu, Qiannong & Jitpaipoon, Thawatchai & Yang, Jie, 2017. "The impact of information integration on financial performance: A knowledge-based view," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 221-232.
    12. Liu, Junjun & Hu, Houbao & Tong, Xun & Zhu, Qinghua, 2020. "Behavioral and technical perspectives of green supply chain management practices: Empirical evidence from an emerging market," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    13. Wong, Christina W.Y. & Wong, Chee Yew & Boon-itt, Sakun, 2020. "Environmental management systems, practices and outcomes: Differences in resource allocation between small and large firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    14. Nina Shin & Jung-Sang Yoo & Ik-Whan G. Kwon, 2020. "Fostering Trust and Commitment in Complex Project Networks through Dedicated Investment in Partnership Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-21, December.
    15. Yutong Liu & Jian Du & Taewon Kang & Mingu Kang, 2024. "Establishing supply chain transparency and its impact on supply chain risk management and resilience," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1157-1171, September.
    16. Luo, Yadong & Liu, Yi & Yang, Qian & Maksimov, Vladislav & Hou, Jigang, 2015. "Improving performance and reducing cost in buyer–supplier relationships: The role of justice in curtailing opportunism," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 607-615.
    17. Bendul, Julia C. & Skorna, Alexander C.H., 2016. "Exploring impact factors of shippers’ risk prevention activities: A European survey in transportation," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 206-223.
    18. Yanjie Wang & Qinpeng Wang & Jingao Shi, 2024. "Demand Forecast Information Sharing in Low-Carbon Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-15, October.
    19. Ozdemir, Sena & Kandemir, Destan & Eng, Teck-Yong & Gupta, Suraksha, 2020. "Vertical stakeholder collaborations for firm innovativeness in new product development: The moderating roles of legal bonds and operational linkages," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 172-184.
    20. Danso, Albert & Adomako, Samuel & Lartey, Theophilus & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Owusu-Yirenkyi, Diana, 2020. "Stakeholder integration, environmental sustainability orientation and financial performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 652-662.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:257:y:2023:i:c:s0925527322003437. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijpe .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.