This thesis examines the impact of e-Business in the B2B segment of the Supply Chain between UK retailers and Sri Lankan manufacturers in the apparel sector. The literature review explored four interrelated themes, two of them informed by an exploratory study. Research collating these four themes is scarce, especially in the apparel sector although there is considerable research on supply chain management and information sharing, which adopts a quantitative approach. However, there is a relative lack of qualitative research into behavioural issues. Based on the literature review, 12 main research questions were formulated. Following a qualitative, approach respondents in five Sri Lankan apparel manufacturers were interviewed in an explanatory study comprised of 35 interviews. An innate analytical framework consisting of themes, attributes and categories (TAC) was developed for data analysis. A conceptual model incorporating three category combinations was developed, disclosing internal, external and holistic reasons for ICT implementation. Analysis of the findings suggests that, more than speed of delivery, visibility of information is the main benefit facilitated by new ICT, compared with traditional methods. The findings indicate that security is the main concern and the main barrier is remote plant location for conducting e-Business. The data indicate that 80 per cent of investigated companies do not have an appropriate level of ICT capability. Moreover, a manufacturer’s communication capability and information sharing are mainly decided by the dependency on the lead firm. Manufacturers that deal with multiple lead firms experience compatibility problems due to the lack of a hybrid system. Manufacturers also need to set realistic expectations for a communication system and employee motivation should be included in the evaluation criteria. In conclusion, building a few longer-term relationships, including an information sharing policy is considered crucial for achieving the true potential of e-Business.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:440318 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Gamage, Asanka Hiroshana Horadugoda |
| Publisher | Bucks New University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://bucks.collections.crest.ac.uk/9916/ |
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