An exploratory and quantitative assessment of the sustainable competitiveness of supply chain: Evidence from Indian sugar industry

The main aim of this paper is to examine the effect of prominent forces on the sustainable competitiveness of the Indian sugar supply chain with the role of government as a moderator. A survey involving managers working in Indian sugar companies was conducted and partial least square (PLS) method was used to test the proposed research model. The findings supported the positive relationshipbetween suppliers' power and competitiveness; suppliers and industry rivalry; buyers' power and industry rivalry; and government dynamics and competitiveness in the discussed industry. Furthermore, entry barriers exerted a hypothesized negative relationship with competitiveness. The government is working as a moderator between the suppliers' (sugarcane growers') power and the competitiveness of the discussed industry as hypothesized. This study discerns the foundational literature from extant research work; lays down basic underpinnings for contextual discussion on competitive forces in the discussed industry and adds empirical facet by surveying the industry professionals. These findings may draw the attention of incumbents, industry practitioners, academicians, and policy-makers to the impact that selected environmental forces have on competitive landscape of the sugar industry.