The influence of institutional norms and environmental uncertainty on supply chain integration in the Thai automotive industry

Supply chain integration has been recognised as one of the today's competitive advantages in a global marketplace; therefore it is essential to research factors that contribute to integration. In this paper, we review the literature of supply chain integration and then by means of multiple case studies in the Thai automotive industry explore the roles of environmental uncertainty and institutional norms in affecting supply chain integration. Results indicate that the implementation of supply chain integration is found to be associated with environmental uncertainty and institutional norms. This finding provides a new perspective of the implementation of supply chain integration under different levels of environmental uncertainty; and offers a framework for further empirical investigation of supply chain integration. Theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed, along with future research issues. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.