International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences, 4(4), 85-105, October-December 2013 85
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ABSTRACT
One of the critical success factors in supply chain management is Internal Integration within the frms. In this
study the authors have examined this construct in greater depth and have developed an improved measurement
model grounded in systems and contingency theories. The authors have validated the model by conducting a
large scale empirical study and by collecting data from 154 buyer-supplier dyads. The authors have established
the construct validity by using refned Confrmatory Factor Analysis Multi-Trait Multi-Method Approach.
The authors have used multiple perspectives from felds such as operations management, information systems
management, and inter-organizational relationship management to present a richer construct.
An Improved Measurement
Model for Internal Integration:
A Systems and Contingency Approach
Abirami Radhakrishnan, Department of Information Science & Systems, Morgan State
University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Sheela Thiruvadi, Department of Accounting & Finance, Morgan State University, Baltimore
MD, USA
Dessa David, Department of Information Science & Systems, Morgan State University,
Baltimore, MD, USA
Keywords: Confrmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) Multi-Trait Multi-Method Approach, Construct Validity,
Empirical Research, Internal Integration, Supply Chain Management
INTRODUCTION
Supply Chain Integration (SCI) has received
increasing attention among academicians and
practitioners alike in recent years (Frohlich &
Westbrook, 2001; Vickery et al., 2003; Rozen-
weig et al., 2003; Droge et al., 2004; Swink et
al., 2007; Flynn et al., 2010; Lin et al., 2010;
Zhao et al., 2011; Schoenherr & Swink, 2012).
The literature broadly defines SCI as the extent
to which a firm is strategically interconnected
and aligned to its supply chain partners (Jayaram
et al., 2010; Schoenherr & Swink, 2012). SCI
consists of the integration of internal functions,
as well as the integration with customers and
suppliers (Zhao et al., 2011). Despite the increas-
ing research interests in SCI, our understanding
of the individual dimensions is very limited.
While some studies focuses on dimensions such
as customer and supplier integration (Cousins
& Menguc, 2006; Homburg & Stock, 2004;
Koufteros et al., 2007), others use omnibus
DOI: 10.4018/ijsds.2013100106