The Effect of Supply Chain Responsiveness on Competitive Advantage: A Field Study of Manufacturing Companies in Jordan

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of supply chain responsiveness on competitive advantage in Jordanian Manufacturing Companies. It surveyed 269 responses by means of a questionnaire. Statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics, correlation, multiple regressions, were employed. To confirm the suitability of data collection instrument, a Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test, Cronbach’s Alpha and factor analysis were used. The research findings supported the hypotheses that (SCR) positively impacts (CA) of companies.. The current study results showed that the main hypothesis was rejected and the alternative was accepted which states that the supply chain responsiveness variables (Operations System Responsiveness (OSR), Logistics Process Responsiveness (LPR) and Supplier Network Responsiveness (SNR) affect competitive advantage. The results also indicated that higher level of operations system responsiveness creates higher level of competitive advantage for companies, collectively based on low price, high delivery dependability, high product innovation, and low time to market. Also, it was uncovered that higher level of supplier network responsiveness creates higher level of competitive advantage for a company, collectively based low price and high delivery dependability. This study has some important implications for practitioners. This study provides suitable recommendations on the scope for improvement based on current levels of various specific impact supply chain responsiveness and its dimensions. Also the study provides suitable recommendations on the scope for improvement based on current levels of various predominant supply chain responsiveness criteria that directly impact competitive advantage of a company, so as to make the organizations more competitive.

Keywords: Supply Chain Responsiveness (SCR), Competitive Advantage (CA), Jordanian Manufacturing Companies (JMC).