Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the extent to which a firm’s customer focus drives several
interlinked facets of supply chain management and their relationships to customer service and
financial performance.
Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on diverse streams of research, the authors develop and
test an integrated model in which customer focus is proposed to foster supply-chain relational
capabilities, leading to beneficial performance outcomes. This study’s empirical validity is enhanced
by collecting data from over 200 US manufacturing firms and testing the model using SEM.
Findings – This empirical investigation documents significant positive relationships between
(a) customer focus and supply-chain relational capabilities, (b) customer focus and customer service,
(c) supply-chain relational capabilities and customer service, and (d) customer service and financial
performance.
Practical implications – This study holds the important implication for managers that, in order to
be effective, supply chain partnersmust reconfigure their supply chains to bemore customer oriented and
continually develop and leverage the relational competencies in order to enhance firm competitiveness.
Originality/value – Interdisciplinary in nature, this study is one of the first to conduct empirical
supply chain management research using multiple and complementary theoretical perspectives,
including strategic management and relationship marketing in order to gain a better understanding of
the nuances involved in fostering strategic collaboration among supply chain partners.
Keywords Supply chain management, Customer focus, Relational capabilities,
Financial performance
Paper type Research paper