Mobile Devices and Applications for Supply Chain Management: Process, Contingency, and Performance Effects

While the adoption, use, and impact of mobile devices and applications (MDA) in downstream (B2C) settings have received considerable attention, studies on these issues in the upstream (B2B) context have been largely absent. The present work fills this gap and investigates the use of MDA for supply chain management (SCM). In doing so, we address several shortcomings noted in extant technology acceptance research and merge this framework with the resource-based view. First, arguments are developed for the central role played by behavioral intention in the relationship from perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness to usage behavior, positioning behavioral intention as an important process element. Second, competitive pressure is theorized to represent an influential contingency, moderating the impact of behavioral intention on usage behavior. Third, the impact of usage behavior on five important strategic performance measures necessary for competitive success (delivery, flexibility, quality, cost, and innovation performance) is assessed, pinpointing the value of MDA for SCM across these crucial measures of performance. And fourth, information uncertainty is positioned as a contextual force that can enhance the value of using MDA for competitive performance. Survey data from 217 adopters of MDA for SCM are used to test our expectations.