Examining the influence of the cultural aspect of uncertainty avoidance on supply chain coordination

Examining the influence of the cultural aspect of uncertainty avoidance on supply chain coordination

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of national culture on supply chain coordination. It investigates whether uncertainty avoidance (UA) influences information sharing (IS) trust and personal interest (PI), which are the main elements that influence supply chain coordination (SCC). This research adopts a survey methodology, followed by expert interviews used as a justification method for survey results. Survey data was collected from 138 international supply chain members, mainly from Middle East and Far East. A total of 11 people were selected as potential interviewees. These people worked in various departments in different companies and were of various nationalities. The findings revealed that the cultural aspect of uncertainty avoidance influences information sharing and trust. This study adds a new contribution to the literature on supply chain management (SCM), as noted in Burgees et al.'s (2006) review of supply chain literature, studies that examine the social aspect of supply chains, including culture, have been neglected.