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PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the issue of information technology (IT) adoption and implementation in Indian manufacturing small‐ and medium‐scale enterprise (SMEs) towards enhancing the capabilities of their supply chain.Design/methodology/approachExtracts of recently completed case‐based research for ten SME units are utilized for the identification of IT‐enablers. To support the logical deduction of the factors, diagnostic techniques like force‐field analysis, situation‐actor‐process and learning‐action‐performance are used. Further, key managerial insights were obtained by developing an interpretive structural modeling (ISM) model for the set of factors, specific to Indian context.FindingsISM delivers interrelationships among the factors which were utilized for deriving managerial insights. Further, these factors are classified into four categories, namely, autonomous, driver, dependent, and linkage to understand their relative impact on the implementation of IT in Indian SMEs.Practical implicationsThe advancement in IT presents opportunities for SMEs to harness the benefits of information and communication technologies in an affordable, simple way and to reach new customers and suppliers in global competition and at large to improve their supply chain competencies without a need for any major changes in business practices, manufacturing operations or production facilities. The findings of the present research will help Indian SME managers to enable IT implementation with a strategic orientation.Originality/valueKey issues related to IT implementation in SMEs are discussed and interconnectedness of critical factors for the case of Indian SMEs is understood.

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated supply chain performance measurement framework for the case of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) using set of qualitative and quantitative insights gained during the case study research.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops the supply chain performance measurement framework using the facts revealed through case study analysis, secondary data specific to various SME clusters in India and detailed contemporary studies reported on supply chain management in SMEs. It integrates the salient features of balanced scorecard (BSC) and supply chain operation reference (SCOR) model to deliver a comprehensive performance measurement framework for SMEs.FindingsThis paper reports set of performance indicators for the supply chain processes like “source,” “make,” and “deliver” in SMEs. It also relates the measures with various supply chain cycles like “procurement,” “manufacturing,” “replenishment,” and “customer order.” As a result, paper delivers an integrated performance measurement framework for supply chain evaluation and planning in SMEs. It also outlines the detailed guideline for the implementation and use of the framework.Practical implicationsThis paper is expected that the developed framework: will help SME managers to improve the visibility of their supply chain amongst interacting partners; and will help SME firms to explain the basis of their decisions to the other supply chain partners and specifically, origingal equipment manufacturer organizations where less bargaining power exist.Originality/valueThis paper integrates the spirit of two well‐known contributions in the field of performance measurement namely BSC and SCOR. The proposed framework is deduced using the findings of real life case study research and hence establishes an adequate platform for its application. It would help the managers or decision makers in SMEs to gain a systematic insight into their supply chain problems and hence undertake the necessary improvements.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the literature on supply chain management (SCM) practices in small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and outlines the key insights.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes a literature‐based research that has sought understand the issues of SCM for SMEs. The methodology is based on critical review of 77 research papers from high‐quality, international refereed journals. Mainly, issues are explored under three categories – supply chain integration, strategy and planning and implementation. This has supported the development of key constructs and propositions.FindingsThe research outcomes are three fold. Firstly, paper summarizes the reported literature and classifies it based on their nature of work and contributions. Second, paper demonstrates the overall approach towards the development of constructs, research questions, and investigative questions leading to key proposition for the further research. Lastly, paper outlines the key findings and insights gained.Practical implicationsSurvival of SMEs will be determined first and foremost by their ability to provide/produce more, at less cost, in less time, with few “defects”. The key to this is effective SCM. The issue is much explored in the context of large enterprises but less attention is paid to SMEs. Paper aims to surface out some facts for the same. Originality/value The paper reports‐classifies the literature and development of construct and propositions.