Despite substantial information technology (IT) investments, many organizations have failed to obtain hoped‐for improvements in supply chain (SC) performance. Therefore, we investigate the mechanisms through which IT influences SC performance. Specifically, we use the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm to ascertain how IT can be exploited to obtain a distinctive SC advantage. We do this via a multimethod (survey and case‐study) approach at two periods of time. We use a nested structural equation model (SEM) to test six hypotheses. Likewise, we content analyze interviews to contextualize the SEM findings. Importantly, we find that investments in IT make their greatest competitive contribution when they enable a dynamic SC collaboration capability. The findings provide valuable insight to guide IT investments designed to improve SC performance.

The resource-based view of the firm argues the essence of decision making is to determine how firm and supply chain resources can be configured to achieve inimitable advantage and superior performance. However, combining resources found among diverse members of a supply chain requires higher levels of coordination than exist at most companies. Manifest cross-functional and interorganizational conflict impedes the relational advantages of collaboration. This research employs a multimethod-survey and interview-approach to evaluate collaboration's influence on operational and firm performance. Our findings show that collaboration, as a dynamic capability, mediates the conflict resulting from functional orientations, and improves performance. Specific structural enablers to enhance an organization's collaborative capability are identified and described, providing insight into how firms can exploit interfirm resources for competitive advantage.

Purpose -To classify internet users into holiday shopper and non-shopper segments, and to profile the demographic, psychographic, and computer use characteristics of each segment. Design/methodology/approach -Self-report data come from a national US sample of online internet users. Segments are customer revealed using traditional cluster analysis. Lifestyle measures are reduced to higher order measures using factor analysis. Profiles are analyzed via descriptive statistics, graphs, and radar charts. Findings -Six important segments are identified in the data. Three of the segments characterize customers who resist online shopping, even though they engage in other online activities. Security fears and technological incompetence typically inhibit these users from engaging in electronic exchange. Some internet users simply choose not to shop online. Three of the segments describe active e-shoppers who are driven by a unique desire to socialize, minimize inconvenience, and maximize value.Research limitations/implications -Data come from self-report questionnaires administered and collected electronically through the internet. Focus is placed on holiday gift buying. Since, holiday shopping is very important to e-retailers, results are managerially interesting, but might not be indicative of other shopping periods. Practical implications -To be successful, e-retailers must understand those things that motivate and inhibit customer online shopping. Marketing activities targeted at reticent e-shoppers should focus on benefits, guarantee safeguards and facilitate technical literacy. Service, value, and online ambiance should be carefully tailored to meet the desires and expectations of each customer type. Originality/value -The study is a replication and extension of earlier online studies which are summarized in the reviewed literature.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine the development and competitive influence of a supply chain (SC) information-sharing capability over time.

Cell transplantation has been well explored for cartilage regeneration. We recently showed that the entire articular surface of a synovial joint can regenerate by endogenous cell homing and without cell transplantation. However, the sources of endogenous cells that regenerate articular cartilage remain elusive. Here, we studied whether cytokines not only chemotactically recruit adipose stem cells (ASCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and synovium stem cells (SSCs) but also induce chondrogenesis of the recruited cells. Recombinant human transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3; 100 ng) and/or recombinant human stromal derived factor-1β (SDF-1β; 100 ng) was control released into an acellular collagen sponge cube with underlying ASCs, MSCs, or SSCs in monolayer culture. Although all cell types randomly migrated into the acellular collagen sponge cube, TGF-β3 and/or SDF-1β recruited significantly more cells than the cytokine-free control group. In 6 wk, TGF-β3 alone recruited substantial numbers of ASCs (558±65) and MSCs (302±52), whereas codelivery of TGF-β3 and SDF-1β was particularly chemotactic to SSCs (400±120). Proliferation of the recruited cells accounted for some, but far from all, of the observed cellularity. TGF-β3 and SDF-1β codelivery induced significantly higher aggrecan gene expression than the cytokine-free group for ASCs, MSCs, and SSCs. Type II collagen gene expression was also significantly higher for ASCs and SSCs by SDF-1 and TGF-β3 codelivery. Remarkably, the expression of aggrecan and type II collagen was detected among all cell types. Thus, homing of multiple stem/progenitor cell populations may potentially serve as an alternative or adjunctive approach to cell transplantation for cartilage regeneration.