Int. J Sup. Chain. Mgt Vol. 13, No. 4, August 2024
34
Integrating Forecasting & Planning
Management for Sustainable Hospital Supply
Chains and Societal Advancement
Shaiful Islam
1
, Md. Mamun Habib
2
1,2,3
Graduate School of Business, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNIRAZAK), Malaysia
1
i.shaiful203@ur.unirazak.edu.my
2
mamunhabib@unirazak.edu.my
Received Jul 28, 2024, Revised: Aug 10, 2024, Accepted: Aug 20, 2024, Published Online: Aug 28, 2024
Reviewers: Anonymous Peer Review
Citation: Islam, S., Habib, M. M. (2024). Integrating Forecasting & Planning Management for Sustainable
Hospital Supply Chains and Societal Advancement. International Journal of Supply Chain
Management, 12(4), 34-41, https://doi.org/10.59160/ijscm.v13i4.6263
Abstract— This research investigates the critical
interplay between Forecasting & Planning
Management (FPM) and Sustainable Hospital Supply
Chain Management (SHSCM), exploring their
collective impact on Sustainable Societal Advancement
(SSA). Anchored on a sample size of 401, the study
employs IBM SPSS for factor analysis and IBM
AMOS for structural equation modeling, ensuring the
reliability and validity of the results. Two hypotheses
form the backbone of this research: Firstly, the study
hypothesizes a significant relationship between FPM
and SHSCM. Secondly, it posits a consequential link
between SHSCM, invigorated by Collaborative
Information Flow (CIF), and SSA. Both hypotheses are
substantiated with robust empirical evidence,
indicating positive impacts. The research unravels the
pivotal role of FPM in enhancing hospital supply chain
sustainability, highlighting its significant influence on
SHSCM. This relationship is vital for efficient resource
allocation, cost efficiency, and overall sustainability in
hospital operations. The study further delves into the
transformative effect of SHSCM on broader societal
well-being, emphasizing its substantial positive
influence on SSA. The findings suggest that sustainable
practices within hospital supply chains extend beyond
immediate healthcare benefits to broader societal and
environmental impacts, contributing to economic
stability, environmental conservation, and enhanced
public health. Methodologically, the study adopts a
comprehensive approach, utilizing factor analysis to
validate the reliability of survey responses and
structural equation modeling to assess the
interrelations among FPM, SHSCM, and SSA. The
research's adherence to established validity and
reliability criteria is evident in the satisfactory factor
loading scores, the KMO measure, and Cronbach's
alpha coefficients.
While affirming the proposed hypotheses, the study
also acknowledges its limitations, particularly its focus
on the hospital sector in Bangladesh, which may affect
the generalizability of the findings. Furthermore, the
cross-sectional nature of data collection points to the
potential for longitudinal studies to better comprehend
the temporal dynamics of these relationships. The
study concludes with a call for future research to
broaden the geographic scope and incorporate diverse
healthcare settings, thus enriching the global
understanding of these dynamics. Additionally, it
suggests exploring the integration of digital
innovations in FPM and SHSCM to further optimize
supply chain processes and enhance sustainability.
Overall, this research contributes significantly to the
field of sustainable healthcare management, offering
empirical evidence on the importance of forecasting
and planning in healthcare supply chains and their
broader societal implications. It paves the way for
healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and
researchers to foster sustainable practices in hospital
supply chains, ultimately aiming for societal well-being
and global health advancements.
Keywords— Forecasting & Planning Management,
Sustainable Hospital Supply Chain Management,
Sustainable Societal Advancement, Structural Equation
Modeling, Healthcare Sustainability
1. Introduction
The modern healthcare landscape, particularly in the
wake of global health crises, has emphasized the
critical importance of efficient and sustainable
hospital supply chain management. At the heart of
this evolution lies the integration of Forecasting &
Planning Management (FPM) strategies, which have
______________________________________________________________
International Journal of Supply Chain Management
IJSCM, ISSN: 2050-7399 (Online), 2051-3771 (Print)
Copyright © ExcelingTech Pub, UK (http://excelingtech.co.uk/)