Diffusion of Supply Chain Technologies

The goal of this study is to develop a more complete understanding of the diffusion of important supply chain technologies. This study, based on more than 100 pilot interviews, considers the extent to which U.S.-based firms have adopted a wide range of supply chain technologies, including the latest applications and software tools, and integrated them into the major functional areas of the supply chain. All technologies analyzed are concerned primarily with information exchange within and between organizations and/or managing supply-chain-related data and activities. In addition to documenting the extent of supply chain technology diffusion and its integration at a functional level, the pilot survey investigated the impact of the new technology on supply chain performance. This exploratory study is the first extensive investigation of many of these recently developed supply chain technologies. Its results should provide a structure for future investigations of these important technology diffusion issues.