Background: In order to stay competitive in business and improve performance, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) need to make use of business networking and logistics integration. Strategic networking and logistics integration in business have become critical as they allow supplier partnering, exchange of vital information or access to valuable resources allowing innovation, gaining access to additional resources, sharing risks and costs, which is required for enhancing firm performance. Strategic networks and logistics integration across partnering firms have therefore become paramount to supply chain management as they are critical to firm performance. Most studies in this subject matter have focussed on larger firms. It became imperative for this study to focus on SMEs.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of strategic networks and logistics integration on firm performance in SMEs in the Vaal Triangle.

Method: A quantitative research design was adopted in this study. The owners and managers of 137 SMEs completed the survey questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the measurement scales. Path modelling techniques were used to test the proposed hypotheses.

Results: The results indicate that strategic networks had a positive and significant influence on logistics integration and firm performance. Furthermore, logistics integration had a strong positive and significant influence on firm performance.

Conclusion: This study sheds light on the possibility of enhancing the overall performance of SMEs by establishing and empirically testing the relationships between logistics integration and strategic networks and firm performance. Moreover, the findings of the study provide useful insights into how SMEs should benefit from business networking and logistics integration to improve their performance.

Keywords: strategic networking; logistics integration; company performance; SMEs; enhancing; supplier partnering; South Africa.

Introduction

The recognised relationship between firm performance and strategic relationships and logistics integration has prompted managers, researchers and practitioners alike to seek better understanding of the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Strategic networking is one of the most important aspects of supply chain management (SCM) that contribute to the growth of SMEs (Parker 2008:627), and its different types, definitions and roles have been extensively studied (Mayaka 2015; Tooksoon & Mudor 2012:273). Furthermore, strategic networks, sometimes known as business networks, is defined as a set of two or more connected business relationships in which exchange in one relationship is contingent upon exchange (or non-exchange) in another (Ricciardi 2014:151). It can be said that strategic networks are key to the success of the organisation and supply chains (Jarillo 1988:31; Mbanje & Lunga 2015). However, despite its importance in business, there is little empirical evidence as to how both strategic networks and logistics integration influence firm performance. Some studies have been conducted with only one variable – either strategic network or logistics integration’s influence on firm performance (Li 2014). In addition to this, many studies have also been conducted on the impact of networking on the performance of SMEs (Ricciardi 2014:113; Tooksoon & Mudor 2012:272), but little information is available on the impact of networking on the performance of SMEs in African countries.

Strategic network is regarded as a resource, which can help firms acquire additional knowledge and information regarding their business and contribute to the exchange of various resources, such as financial resources and skills, thereby facilitating the improvement of company performance. Overall, strategic networking plays a vital role in improving the integration of logistics activities from supplier to the final customer and vice-versa (Bowersox & Daugherty 1995:71; Prashantham & Dhanaraj 2010:967).

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of strategic networks and logistics integration on firm performance among SMEs. The study was conducted in the Vaal Triangle, Southern Gauteng, South Africa.

The next section focusses on a literature review, regarding the SMEs in South Africa, strategic networking, logistics integration and firm performance, followed by conceptual framework and hypothesis development; thereafter, research methodology is discussed followed by the results of the study. Finally, the article comes to a conclusion about the implications of the study, together with the recommendations.

Literature review

Small and medium enterprises in South Africa

In South Africa, SMEs play a critical role in the country’s economy. Small and medium enterprises contribute between 52% and 57% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and up to 61% of the overall employment in South Africa (Abhor & Quartey 2010:225). Small and medium enterprises play a crucial role in creating employment in an economy (Statistics South Africa [STATS SA] 2019:279). Moreover, SMEs play a very important role in SCM as they may serve as producers, distributors, retailers, as well as customers (Doern 2009:276; Maiga 2016:2). Therefore, it is not surprising that SMEs are the backbone of most economies in the world, including South Africa, as they are the creators of most jobs in the economy.

The National Small Business Act No. 26 of South Africa 1996, as amended in 2003, defines SME as:

According to the Government Gazette (2003:8), a small retail enterprise in South Africa is one that employees 50 people or less and has a total turnover of up to R19 million, with a total asset value of R3m. A medium retail enterprise employs from 50 up to 200 people and has a total turnover of R39m, with a total asset value of R6m. Hence, this study focussed on SMEs.

Strategic networks

According to Parker (2008:628) and Nogues (2014:342), a business network is a group of entrepreneurs that voluntarily share knowledge and experiences. Jarillo (1988:31) defined strategic networks as ‘long-term, purposeful arrangements among distinct but related for-profit organisations that allow firms in them to gain or sustain competitive advantage vis-à-vis their competitors outside the network’. Therefore, in this study, strategic networking refers to the process through which firms leverage specialisation, effectively allocate transformational resources and optimise support through knowledge and information, thereby minimising company costs and consequently improving the performance of the firm.

Logistics integration

Logistics integration refers to collaborative working and implies joint planning, joint product development, mutual exchange of information and integrated information systems, cross-coordination on several levels in the companies on the network, long-term cooperation, fair sharing of risks and benefits (Lai, Wong & Cheng 2010:273; Taghipour et al. 2015). Logistics integration does not only refer to integration and collaboration within the organisation but also includes the collaboration with the suppliers upstream and distributors, and customers downstream. Thus, within organisations, logistics integration is crucial as it provides a significant competitive advantage, which leads to lower operational costs, as well improvement in value creation (Eckenhofer 2011:128; Lai et al. 2010:274).

Firm performance

Firm performance is defined as the performance of various processes included within the firm’s supply chain function (Srinivasan, Mukherjee & Gaur 2011:268). One of the key aspects to successful company performance is cooperation and mutual decision-making between trading partners. Companies try to improve their performance in terms of cost, delays, adaptability, variety and traceability. Collaboration practices and information exchanges between partners become essential within any supply chain, as they contribute to performance (Sakka & Botta-Genoulaz 2009:1). An effective performance measurement is essential for firm performance because it provides the basis to understand the system, as well as information about the results of system efforts to supply chain partners (Anderson & Reeb 2003:1301; Chen, Yang & Li 2007:524). Overall, firm performance is recognised as an important factor for improving competitive advantage (Chang, Tsai & Hsu 2013:35).

Conceptual framework and hypothesis development

The research model is shown in Figure 1 linking the three hypotheses postulated.

Strategic networks and logistics integration

A strategic network is regarded as a resource that can help firms acquire additional knowledge and information regarding their business and contribute to the exchange of various resources such as financial resources and skills (Sandberg 2007). Logistics integration in this study refers to collaboration, integration of stakeholders, as well as cooperation in the firm’s logistics activities. Thus, confirming our first hypothesis:

Strategic networks and firm performance

Vermeulen, Niemann and Kotzé (2016) and Wheelen and Hungar (2002:125) state that strategic networking is an agreement between firms to do business together in ways that go beyond normal company-to-company dealings but fall short of a merger or a full partnership. The findings of Tooksoon and Mudor (2012) showed that the business network was statistically significant and positively associated with performance.

Ge, Hisrich and Dong (2009:189) studied the impact of networking on the performance of SMEs. This study was conducted by taking a total sample of 227 firms from three cities in China and found that the outcome of the network was positively related to firm performance.

In addition to this, some previous studies have shown that networks with other firms are positively associated with the performance of the firm (Jack, Dodd & Anderson 2008:121; Prashantham & Dhanaraj 2010:231; Watson 2007:23).

It is clear from this that strategic networking not only involves social networks but also involves knowledge networks. Firms that are involved in strategic networking are intended to gain knowledge and impart that knowledge to ensure the success of their business. In light of the foregoing, it is hypothesised that:

Logistics integration and firm performance

Logistics integration is closely linked to firm performance. So it can be postulated that logistics integration can help firms improve linkage between suppliers, which ensures that goods are received on time, leading to improved company performance (Kang & Moon 2016:307; Van der Vaat & Van Donk 2008:121).

Research method and design

This study adopted a quantitative research methodology to help establish the statistical evidence on the strengths of the influence of supply strategic networks and logistics integration on firm performance. The quantitative method also helps the researcher determine causal relationships between variables (Cooper & Schindler 2011:217; Sekaran & Bougie 2009:221). In addition, the data from quantitative methodology can be interpreted using statistical analysis.

Sample and data collection

The data for this study were collected from SME managers and owners in the Vaal Triangle, Southern Gauteng, South Africa. The population for the study comprised 1543 SMEs owners and managers in the Vaal Triangle. The unit of analysis was the SME owners and managers in the Vaal Triangle. A convenience sampling method was used to obtain a sample of 250 SMEs. Student tutors were trained prior to the distribution and collection of 250 questionnaires. Out of the total questionnaires distributed, only 137 were fully completed and were used for final data analysis of this study. This represents a response rate of 54.8%. Regarding ethical considerations, all respondents signed a formal consent form before completing the questionnaire. Furthermore, information provided by participants or respondents was treated with utmost confidentiality, and anonymity was fully guaranteed. The names of respondents did not appear on the questionnaire or data, as anonymity was promised to all respondents.

Measurement instrument and questionnaire design

‘Logistics integration’ was measured using a six-item scale adapted from Chen and Paulraj (2004:148), while ‘strategic networks’ used a five-item scale adapted from Chinomona and Pooe (2013:7).

‘Firm performance’ was measured using a four-item scale, which was adopted from Chinomona and Pooe (2013:7). All were measured on a five-point Likert-type scale that was anchored by 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) to express the degree of agreement. The Likert scale was used because it was easy to analyse data, draw conclusions and graphs, as the study adopted a quantitative study design.

Data analysis

Data were subjected to statistical analysis using the following techniques: Descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model fit and hypothesis testing using structural equation modelling (SEM) with the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) programme version 24.0. The respondents’ biographic information and the composition of the sample were analysed using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and charts. The other constructs were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24.0 for Windows. The descriptive statistics, CFA, model fit and SEM are discussed in the next section of research results. The SEM was used in this study to analyse the relationships between the constructs.

Ethical considerations

This article followed all ethical standards for carrying out research without direct contact with human or animal subjects.

Research results

This section consists of three sub-sections, namely, the demographic profile of respondents, CFA and path modelling.

Profile of respondents

A descriptive analysis incorporating the demographic information regarding the supply chain professionals and SME profile was conducted. A descriptive analysis of Section A (demographics and SME profile) is discussed in the foregoing section, which consists of gender, experience in the industry, number of employees, type of sector and rate of turnover. It was important to first create a descriptive demographic and SME profile to enhance the researcher’s understanding of the important aspects of key personnel and the SME. A summarised frequency table of demographics and SME profile is represented in Table 2.

Table 3 shows the demographics of the respondents. Males constitute 74%, while females represent 26%. The majority of the respondents (29%) have worked in their firms between 5 and 10 years. Those firms that employed between 101 and 150 employees were 41% and those that employed between 151 and 200 were 36%, meaning that the majority of the employees surveyed, work in the medium firms. Though not indicated in the table, only one SME owner or manager had a PhD qualification, 22 had a Master’s degree, while 97 had a diploma and/or degree qualification. A total of 27 owners and/or managers had matric certificates but no further qualifications. The next section discusses the CFA.

Confirmatory factor analysis

Confirmatory factor analysis is ‘a way of testing how well variables measured represents a smaller number of constructs’ (Hair et al. 2014:602). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using the AMOS, version 24.0, to assess psychometric properties of the measurement scales.

In this study, model fit was ascertained by using the following indices: Chi-square/degrees of freedom, Comparative-fit-index (CFI), Incremental fit index (IFI), Normed fit index (NFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) and Random Measure of Standard Error Approximation (RMSEA). The acceptable thresholds should be equal to or higher than 0.90 for CFI, IFI and NFI (Hair et al. 2016:345); for Chi-square/degrees of freedom, a ratio of 3:1 or less is recommended; RMSEA value should be equal to or less than 0.08 (Lysons & Farrington 2012:586). The results of CFA are reported in Table 3.

A CFA model of the three study constructs was assessed to check the model fit (Hove 2015). The results are reported in Table 4.

Table 4 indicates that the measurement model yielded a ratio of chi-square value to degree-of-freedom of 1.49 (Hove 2015). The recommended threshold range is between 1 and 3 (Cooper & Schindler 2011). The current study has a value far below 3. As such, the chi-square to degree-of-freedom value of 1.49 in this study is accepted and reflects a good model fit. Table 5 also shows IFI, TLI and CFI values (0.95, 0.97 and 0.95, respectively) that are above the recommended threshold of 0.9 or above (Berndt & Petzer 2011:348). This further reflects a good model fit. Table 5 further reports an RMSEA value of 0.02 and is less than 0.08; thus, it yields a reasonable model fit. Overall, all these measures confirm a robust and acceptable model fit (Schreiber et al. 2006:330). The next section discusses the path modelling results.

Path modelling results

Berndt and Petzer (2011:348)) suggest that the goal of path analysis is ‘to provide plausible explanations of observed correlations by constructing models of cause-and-effect relations’. Path analysis allows path coefficients (the relationship between variables) to be determined. In addition, path analysis requires recursivity (that the path direction is one way with no feedback loops) (Cooper & Schindler 2011). The advantage of path analysis is that the researcher can see which variables exert effects on others. Table 5 shows the SEM model fit indices results.

As shown in Table 5, this study reports a chi-square/df value of 1.46 as indicative of a good model fit. Table 5 further shows IFI, CFI and TLI values (0.93, 0.91 and 0.92, respectively) that are above the recommended threshold of 0.9 or above. These results further confirm that the estimated model fits well the sample data in this study, which provides a good model fit (Hove 2015). The table also depicts an RMSEA value of 0.03, which provides a very good model fit. Overall, the model fit indices provide a good overall fitness of the SEM model to the specified sample data. The results of hypothesis tests are reported in Table 6 and show that all the three hypotheses were supported as the path coefficient were all significant.

Discussion and conclusion

This study shows that both strategic networks and logistics integration have positive effects on firm performance.

Strategic networks also show a strong positive on logistics integration. Overall, the empirical results confirm the important role of strategic networking and logistics integration in increasing company performance. The results of the study support all three the hyptheses. The findings of this study are consistent with those in previous literature, thus providing additional evidence in this line of research. Examples of similar findings include Bonner, Kim and Cavusgil (2005); Chinomona and Pooe (2013:6); Sawyerr, McGee and Peterson (2003); Sukati et al. (2011), and Watson (2007:870) whose studies found that logistics integration and strategic networking positively influence firm performance. The strong positive relationship on these constructs could be that the firms are sharing important business information and always integrate their logistics function.

Overall, the findings of this study confirm that there are close links between strategic networks, logistics integration and firm performance. Thus, this study argues that a combination of strategic networks and logistics integration can have a greater positive and significant effect on firm performance.

Research contribution and implications of the study

The findings of this study can enhance SME owners’ and managers’ understanding of how company performance can be improved through strategic networking and logistics integration. The Government of South Africa can plan and formulate policies to foster the growth of SMEs with more understanding of the linkage between strategic networking, logistics integration and firm performance.

Strategic networks and logistics integration are important issues that firms in developing countries such as South Africa must address. The findings of this study show that forming strategic networks and promoting the integration of logistics activities are valid strategies to improve firm performance. This study, therefore, reinforces the importance of SMEs managers and owners to build strategic networks with their suppliers and other firms as these have proven to have positive effects on firm performance.

The findings of the study have shown that strategic networking contributes significantly to the performance of the firm. Therefore, SMEs managers and owners are encouraged to engage in active networking with other firms, especially those that are relevant to the business in which the firm operates.

Considering these findings, this study also reinforces the importance of SMEs managers and owners to build strategic relationships with business partners for effective networking as this is likely to enhance the performance of the firm. Managerially, the study demonstrates the need for firms to have strong networking with supplier partners, as well the need to effectively implement a good logistics integration, as these will lead to improvement in firm performance. Over and above, this study sheds light on the possibility of enhancing the overall performance of SMEs by establishing and empirically testing the relationships between logistics integration and strategic networks and firm performance.

Limitations and future research

Like other studies, this research has some limitations. The major limitation for this study was that the sample was drawn from one region of South Africa. Future research can consider other provinces of South Africa, as well as incorporate larger firms for comparison purposes and for the generalisability of results. Also, in this study, the perceptions of only the SMEs owners and managers were incorporated. These people may be biased in evaluating internal and external organisational issues. It would be beneficial to include all stakeholders, including suppliers and customers, concerning issues of strategic networks and logistics integration.

Another limitation of this study was the small sample size which made it difficult to generalise these results. Future research with a large sample size should be conducted in order to contribute to a generalisable understanding of the research issues.

This research examined the influence of strategic networks and logistics integration on firm performance observed at one point in time; future research is suggested to be conducted via longitudinal study. This could provide a clearer insight into the impact of strategic networks and logistics integration on firm performance.

This study focusses on the mediating role of logistics integration in the relationship between strategic networks and firm performance; future research might examine other mediating or moderating factors that may affect this relationship such as trust, information sharing, network structure and firm size, among others.

Another area of research could be on the impact of business networking on organisational innovation and excellence. The other study suggested could be on the effect of the external environment on strategic networking in SMEs. The relationship between strategic networking antecedents/corollaries (such as commitment, trust, reputation, communication and cooperation) and firm performance could also be investigated and might reveal interesting results. Finally, this study could have also used both the quantitative and qualitative methods (mixed method approach) to understand the deeper nuances.

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to the Almighty God and his beloved family. He also thanks Mothusi Samosamo for drawing the diagrams.

The author declares that there are no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced him in writing this article.

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and not an official position of the institution or the funder.

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Original Research

The influence of strategic networks and logistics integration on firm performance among small and medium enterprises

Jeremiah Madzimure

Abstract

Introduction

Literature review

Small and medium enterprises in South Africa

Strategic networks

Logistics integration

Firm performance

Conceptual framework and hypothesis development

Strategic networks and logistics integration

Strategic networks and firm performance

Logistics integration and firm performance

Research method and design

Sample and data collection

Measurement instrument and questionnaire design

Data analysis

Ethical considerations

Research results

Profile of respondents

Confirmatory factor analysis

Path modelling results

Discussion and conclusion

Research contribution and implications of the study

Limitations and future research

Acknowledgements

Competing interests

Author’s contributions

Funding information

Data availability statement

Disclaimer

References