A grounded theory approach focused on a holistic supply chain integration management approach

Abstract

This research sustains the current dialogue and latest literature on supply chain management (SCM), triple bottom line sustainability, and technology deployment, by highlighting the importance for SMEs to undertake supply chain integration (SCI) initiatives to achieve competitive advantage. Nowadays, it is pivotal for all actors within the manufacturing sector, to deploy a SC strategic approach, together with its business and manufacturing strategies, to compete effectively across the globe instead of working alone. The inductively generated theory, based on a grounded theory methodology, highlights that an integrated management and leadership approach, based on a set of strategic measures and a set of best practices, as referred by the conceptual framework, is the way forward, since such a stance is needed to serve as a driver and as a binding force of all SC actors to form up a SCI holistic approach to achieve outstanding competitive performance.