Relationships among Information Technology, Organizational Cooperation and Supply Chain Performance

The purpose of the paper is to discuss the use of information technology and the role of inter-functional and inter-organizational cooperation in supply chain organizations. A brief review of relevant literature is offered on cooperative relationships among supply chain organizations. The study explores the concept of cooperation as an approach to improving relationships and performance outcomes. The paper attempts to answer the question: Does information technology, communications methods, and cooperation contribute to supply chain performance? Based on the literature, a model depicting the relationships between information technology, communications methods, cooperation, and performance is presented along with the research hypotheses. Survey data is analyzed from 225 organizations. The respondents are asked to focus on their relationship with their most important supplier. Structural equation modeling is used to test the hypotheses. The research findings support four of the six hypotheses. The results of the study are provided along with a discussion of the theoretical and managerial implications.