This study reports on the results of an exploratory study surveying how German companies have implemented supply chain management. The data is used to test hypotheses developed from supply chain management theory in order to determine whether the phenomena detailed in the theory can be observed in practice. Few significant influences between a strategic orientation and actual supply chain implementation were found. Most notably, a company's commitment to supply chain management impacts its strategic orientation, which in turn significantly influences the supply chain's stability and the firm's independence from partners. However, at least for the sample observed, companies appear to be far removed from the strategic and systemic perspective of supply chain management proposed by researchers when evaluating current supply chain management implementation.