Ila Manuj
Assistant Professor of Logistics
University of North Texas
Email: ila.manuj@unt.edu
Ayman Omar
Assistant Professor
Department of International Business
American University
Atefeh Yazdanparast
Assistant Professor of Marketing
Schroeder Family School of Business
Administration
University of Evansville
Transportation Journal, Vol. 52, No. 4, 2013
Copyright © 2013 The Pennsylvania State
University, University Park, PA
The Quest for Competitive Advantage in Global Supply
Chains: The Role of Interorganizational Learning
Ila Manuj, Ayman Omar, and Atefeh Yazdanparast
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to review literature on interorganizational
learning (IOL) and related constructs systematically to develop a theoretical
model of IOL. An extensive and systematic literature review was undertaken
in major logistics, supply chain, operations, and strategic management
journals to identify theories in which a model of IOL could be grounded
and to document major relationships related to the concepts of organiza-
tional learning and IOL. Using resource-based view, relational view, and
knowledge-based view as the theoretical foundations, a conceptual model
depicting IOL as a source of a competitive advantage was developed. The
proposed theoretical framework suggests IOL can be used to develop capa-
bilities such as innovation and flexibility that, in turn, lead to higher levels
of logistics performance and contribute to a firm’s competitive advantage.
Supply chain orientation is an important antecedent to IOL, and cultural
distance is a significant moderator of IOL. This article contributes to the
body of knowledge on IOL by positioning IOL within the framework of
received theories and constructs. Implications for managers and several
directions for future research are also identified.
Keywords
Interorganizational learning, sustainable competitive advantage, supply
chain performance, logistics efficiency, logistics effectiveness
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