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The Impact of Digital Technology Characteristics on Operational Decision Optimization: The Mediating Role of Information System Agility in Healthcare Supply Chains

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  • Jing-Yan Ma

    (School of Business, Nantong Institute of Technology, Nantong 226002, China
    Department of Global Business and Finance, College of Humanities Contents Convergence, Kunsan National University, Gunsan 54150, Republic of Korea)

  • Tae-Won Kang

    (Department of Supply Chain and Logistics, College of Social Sciences, Kunsan National University, Gunsan 54150, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Healthcare supply chains operate in highly dynamic environments characterized by fluctuating demand. Digitalization, by enhancing the agility of information systems, can shorten information processing cycles, strengthen environmental sensing, and improve rapid response capabilities, thereby becoming a critical pathway and urgent requirement for achieving decision optimization in supply chains. The objective of this study is to analyze the mediating role of information system agility between digital technology characteristics and the optimization of operational decisions in healthcare supply chains in China. A questionnaire survey was conducted, yielding 360 valid responses from managers in Chinese healthcare supply chain enterprises, representing a response rate of 94.48%. The hypothesized paths were analyzed through the application of structural equation modeling. The results reveal that compatibility and visibility significantly promote operational decision optimization both directly and indirectly through improved information system agility, whereas reliability influences decision optimization only indirectly through the full mediating role of agility. This study provides a robust theoretical model that extends organizational information processing theory to the healthcare supply chain while offering practical insights into digital transformation and decision optimization.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing-Yan Ma & Tae-Won Kang, 2025. "The Impact of Digital Technology Characteristics on Operational Decision Optimization: The Mediating Role of Information System Agility in Healthcare Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8471-:d:1754495
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