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Unearthing the relationship between supply chain social capital and firm performance: the role of supply chain responsiveness

Ishmael Nanaba Acquah (Department of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, University of Education Winneba, Winneba, Ghana) (Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)
Caleb Amankwaa Kumi (Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)
David Asamoah (Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)
Benjamin Agyei-Owusu (Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)
Mavis Agbodza (Department of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, University of Education Winneba, Winneba, Ghana)
Yaw Agyabeng-Mensah (Transportation Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China)

Benchmarking: An International Journal

ISSN: 1463-5771

Article publication date: 5 May 2023

399

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines the nexus between supply chain social capital (relational social capital and structural social capital), supply chain responsiveness (operations system responsiveness and supplier network responsiveness) and firm performance. Additionally, the study examines the mediating role of supply chain responsiveness on the relationship between supply chain social capital and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test their hypotheses on a sample of 120 firms operating in Ghana. The measurement model and hypothesized paths were assessed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings revealed that structural social capital had a significant direct effect on firm performance, but relational social capital did not. It was also revealed that both relational and structural social capital have significant effects on operations system responsiveness and supplier network responsiveness. Additionally, operations system responsiveness fully mediated the effect of relational social capital on firm performance and partially mediated the effect of structural social capital on firm performance. Supplier network responsiveness, on the other hand, partially mediated the effect of both relational and structural social capital on firm performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the limited literature on supply chain social capital by unearthing the mechanisms through which supply chain social capital enhances firm performance. Specifically, the study demonstrates the intervening role of operations system responsiveness and supplier network responsiveness in the supply chain social capital–firm performance link.

Keywords

Citation

Acquah, I.N., Kumi, C.A., Asamoah, D., Agyei-Owusu, B., Agbodza, M. and Agyabeng-Mensah, Y. (2023), "Unearthing the relationship between supply chain social capital and firm performance: the role of supply chain responsiveness", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-01-2022-0002

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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