Analyzing Supply Chain Uncertainty to Deliver Sustainable Operational Performance
Read this study, which surveyed supply chain managers to understand how they address supply chain uncertainty. Section 5 identifies the study's solutions to overcoming uncertainty.
Research Methodology
Data Collection Process
Survey data were
collected from firms based in Thailand. The respondents were typically
the supply chain decision makers of their firms. Phillips suggests that
high-ranking informants tend to be more reliable sources of information
than low-ranking ones. Respondents were randomly selected from the
list of registered companies in the Thailand Business Directory
published by Teleinfo Media Public Co. Ltd., Bangkok, Thailand in
2015–2016. The sample firms included businesses of various sizes e.g.,
small, medium, and large. A combination of mail, e-mail, and telephone
survey was used to collect data. In this study, respondents were
requested to evaluate the extent, on a 5-point Likert scale, with which
their firms practice the various aspects of measures. Although the use
of single informants may result in method variance, as well as informant
bias, the logistics or supply chain manager is most likely to be the
most knowledgeable informant on the issue. Consequently, of the 307
surveys sent out, 155 were returned. There were 146 usable responses
included in the subsequent analysis. The overall response rate was
47.56%. The response rate is reasonably acceptable when compared to that
of recent studies in operations management. The survey was conducted over a
period of two-and-a-half-month. Two techniques were used to improve the
response rate, which was: (1) following up with reminder phone calls,
and (2) promising to mail a final summary of the study's results to
responding firms for their reference.
Measurement Scales
The
measurement of the constructs is based on existing validated scales. All
the constructs in this study are operationalized in a
reflective-reflective type 1 model based on theoretical considerations. The scale of SCU draws on eight-item scales from Chen and Paulraj, which many prior studies have also used. Similarly, based on prior
research, the scale of SCS draws on fourteen-item scales.
Finally, based on earlier studies, the scale of OP draws on eight-item
scales from Bayraktar et al.