Exploring the impact of orientations on hospital-supplier collaboration: an empirical study

With increasing complexity in healthcare service supply chain operations, there is a dire need to critically examine the enablers of collaboration in a hospital-supplier setting. While studies have stressed the importance of collaboration in service SCs, still the importance of strategic orientations are yet to be explored in the development of hospital-supplier collaboration. We focused on four such strategic orientations relevant for healthcare SCs: technology orientation, supply chain orientation, learning orientation and environmental orientation in developing hospital-supplier collaboration. Furthermore, we also explore the inter-relationships among these orientations. Perceptual responses collected from 92 hospital managers were analysed using SmartPLS 2.0.M3. Results suggested technology, supply chain and learning orientations as prominent enablers for hospital-supplier collaboration. Environmental orientation may inhibit the collaboration process if both parties do not agree on environmental issues. Implications were provided for theory and practice.