The influence of business conditions on supply chain information-sharing mechanisms: A study among supply chain links of SMEs

The literature acknowledges that the type and the level of supply chain integration differ in various situations. This paper investigates the influence of business conditions on internal and external information sharing and the role of ICT in order processing, using a multi-case study among SMEs. The study shows that simple business conditions are associated with limited information sharing and some use of standard ICT applications, in particular of ERP systems. Complex business conditions tend to be associated with greater sharing of external information while relying on traditional communication forms. The level and type of information sharing confirm earlier findings, but the limited use of ICT needs further exploration. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.