Using competitive strategy patterns to determine ideal supply chain management information systems capabilities

Supply chain management information systems (SCM IS) have become vital tools for synchronising information among the customers and suppliers of a supply chain. However, recent advances in inter-enterprise systems and e-business technologies have led to a confusing variety of SCM IS alternatives, each with varying capabilities. This paper demonstrates how a business unit’s competitive strategy patterns can be identified and used to determine the levels of support an SCM IS should provide to enable operational efficiency, flexibility, and planning and analysis capabilities. An exploratory pilot study using the emergent model illustrates its utility and assesses various measures of its operationalisation.