TY - JOUR

T1 - Theoretical perspectives on information sharing in supply chains

T2 - a systematic literature review and conceptual framework

AU - Kembro, Joakim

AU - Selviaridis, Kostas

AU - Naslund, Dag

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - PurposeTo explore what theoretical lenses have been used to analyze and understand information sharing in supply chains. We elaborate on the predominant theories and discuss how they can be integrated to research different aspects of information sharing.Design/methodology/approachWe carried out a structured literature review by using a combination of selected keywords to search for peer-reviewed articles in ten journals.FindingsThe findings suggest that four out of ten reviewed articles explicitly apply one or more theoretical lenses. The predominant theories used include transaction cost economics, contingency theory, resource based view, resource dependency theory and relational governance theories such as the relational view and social exchange theory.Research limitations/implicationsThese theories can be applied to analyze different aspects of information sharing. By using the theories in a complementary way it is possible to increase our understanding of information sharing between companies related to: why and what information to share with whom, how to share and the impact of antecedents, barriers and drivers.Practical implicationsOur results highlight the importance of tailoring information sharing structures and mechanisms to the context of the transaction and the business relationship.Originality/valueThis paper addresses how theoretical perspectives inform empirical research on information sharing in supply chains. It puts forward an integrative conceptual framework based on cross-disciplinary theories and makes specific suggestions for future empirical research in this area.

AB - PurposeTo explore what theoretical lenses have been used to analyze and understand information sharing in supply chains. We elaborate on the predominant theories and discuss how they can be integrated to research different aspects of information sharing.Design/methodology/approachWe carried out a structured literature review by using a combination of selected keywords to search for peer-reviewed articles in ten journals.FindingsThe findings suggest that four out of ten reviewed articles explicitly apply one or more theoretical lenses. The predominant theories used include transaction cost economics, contingency theory, resource based view, resource dependency theory and relational governance theories such as the relational view and social exchange theory.Research limitations/implicationsThese theories can be applied to analyze different aspects of information sharing. By using the theories in a complementary way it is possible to increase our understanding of information sharing between companies related to: why and what information to share with whom, how to share and the impact of antecedents, barriers and drivers.Practical implicationsOur results highlight the importance of tailoring information sharing structures and mechanisms to the context of the transaction and the business relationship.Originality/valueThis paper addresses how theoretical perspectives inform empirical research on information sharing in supply chains. It puts forward an integrative conceptual framework based on cross-disciplinary theories and makes specific suggestions for future empirical research in this area.

U2 - 10.1108/SCM-12-2013-0460

DO - 10.1108/SCM-12-2013-0460

M3 - Journal article

VL - 19

SP - 609

EP - 625

JO - Supply Chain Management

JF - Supply Chain Management

SN - 1359-8546

IS - 5-6

ER -