44 International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences, 2(1), 44-65, January-March 2011 Copyright © 2011, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Keywords: Supply Chain Evaluation System, Supply Chain Integration, Supply Chain Performance, Sustainability, Theory Building INTRODUCTION It is generally accepted in the literature that successful manufacturing firms no longer compete head-to-head with other firms, but instead, they compete supply chain to sup- ply chain. This means that firms rely on the Mapping the Critical Links Between Supply Chain Evaluation System and Supply Chain Integration Sustainability: An Empirical Study Abirami Radhakrishnan, Morgan State University, USA Dessa David, Morgan State University, USA Douglas Hales, The University of Rhode Island, USA V. Sri Sridharan, Clemson University, USA ABSTRACT Supply Chain Integration is widely advocated as an important factor to attain superior supply chain performance. While irms are able to achieve integration, they ind it hard to sustain integration. In this paper, the authors argue that to sustain integration partner irms must establish a formal system to evaluate supply chain-wide performance. The authors draw on theories from a number of management disciplines to map the critical links between supply chain evaluation capability and supply chain integration sustainability. The authors develop and test the research model by conducting an empirical study involving 102 irms. The results of the study show that supply chains can sustain integration by establishing a supply chain wide evaluation system. complementation between their own internal competencies and those of their supply chain partners to achieve competitive advantage. To achieve complementary competencies among independently owned firms, a relatively new form of organizational governance, called Sup- ply Chain Integration (SCI), is preferred over more traditional forms such as vertical integra- tion or market-orientation. The advantage of DOI: 10.4018/jsds.2011010103