Analysis of Indian retail demand chain using total interpretive modeling
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to present demand chain management (DCM) modeling of Indian apparel retailers. This will result in a structured model presenting contextual interrelationship among DCM variables so that retailers can proactively manage their demand chain.
Design/methodology/approach
The research follows an exploratory research design. It initially involves identification and analysis of influential factors of the implementation of DCM practices through the review of literature. Then, these variables were analyzed using total interpretive structural modeling or TISM followed by a statistical verification and case-based validation of the model.
Findings
The major findings of the paper are: top-management commitment and support, information management and supply chain agility in supply chain are the most significant enablers with the highest driving power. The other apparel retail specific significant variables are assortment planning, category management and marketing orientation. The model also indicates that the firms that implement customer-centric DCM practices do well in terms of organizational performance and thereby achieve differential advantage over their competitors.
Research limitations/implications
Because the literature on DCM is still in nascent stage, the study bases itself on interpretive method; that is, TISM of analysis with a limited number of experts. Future studies may consider larger sample with more advanced statistical tools such as structural equation modeling for further validation of the findings.
Originality/value
The novelty of the paper lies in the study of an emerging supply chain philosophy; that is, DCM and its key practices per se. It has rarely been studied from the theory building perspective hitherto. Moreover, TISM-based approach is applied for the first time to study the DCM practices and its drivers vis-à-vis dependents.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We would like to express gratitude to Dr Zhimin Huang (Editor-in-Chief-Journal of Modeling in Management), Prof Quinlong Gou and anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions and feedback to enrich the value and quality of the paper. We take privilege to convey special thanks to Prof Sushant Mishra form IIM-Indore and Dr Manoj Dash from ABV-IIITM, Gwalior for providing motivation and guidance for this research.
Citation
Deshmukh, A.K. and Mohan, A. (2017), "Analysis of Indian retail demand chain using total interpretive modeling", Journal of Modelling in Management, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 322-348. https://doi.org/10.1108/JM2-12-2015-0101
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited