IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/jscmgt/v56y2020i1p54-72.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Imitation of Management Practices in Supply Networks: Relational and Environmental Effects

Author

Listed:
  • Evelien Reusen
  • Kristof Stouthuysen
  • Filip Roodhooft
  • Alexandra Van den Abbeele
  • Hendrik Slabbinck

Abstract

This study investigates the imitative use of management practices across a multitier supply network. Although imitation may take the form of any management practice, operationally, we focus on whether the buyer’s control practices used with first‐tier suppliers results in similar control practices being used by these first‐tier suppliers with the second‐tier suppliers. Drawing on institutional theory, we identify relational context (i.e., affective commitment) and environmental context (i.e., environmental uncertainty) as two important factors influencing the extent to which such imitation takes place. Using unique survey data of vertically linked supply chain triads, we generally find support for the occurrence of imitation and more so in cases of high affective commitment. The results regarding environmental uncertainty further reveal selectivity in imitative behavior, calling attention to the level of deliberateness in imitation decisions in supply networks. Besides contributing to theory on imitative behaviors in the supply chain, this study also generates practical implications on the spread of management practices across multiple tiers.

Suggested Citation

  • Evelien Reusen & Kristof Stouthuysen & Filip Roodhooft & Alexandra Van den Abbeele & Hendrik Slabbinck, 2020. "Imitation of Management Practices in Supply Networks: Relational and Environmental Effects," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 56(1), pages 54-72, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jscmgt:v:56:y:2020:i:1:p:54-72
    DOI: 10.1111/jscm.12216
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12216
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jscm.12216?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
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Paul F. Skilton & Ednilson Bernardes, 2022. "Normal misconduct in the prescription opioid supply chain," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 58(4), pages 6-29, October.
    2. Vlachos, Ilias & Singh, Rajesh Kumar, 2023. "Triad structure impact on the triad resources-firm performance relationship: Theory and empirical evidence," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    3. Hofer, Christian & Barker, Jordan & Eroglu, Cuneyt, 2021. "Interorganizational imitation in supply chain relationships: The case of inventory leanness," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    4. Christian Hofer & Jordan M. Barker & Laura D'Oria & Jonathan L. Johnson, 2022. "Broadening our understanding of interfirm rivalry: A call for research on how supply networks shape competitive behavior and performance," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 58(2), pages 8-25, April.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:bla:jscmgt:v:56:y:2020:i:1:p:54-72. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1523-2409 .

    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.