Realizing Supply Chain Benefits Through Technological-Development-Oriented Supply Chain Innovation: The Mediating Role of Supply Chain Transparency and Supply Chain Embeddedness

Technological-development-oriented supply chain innovation (TDOSCI) is crucial for supply chain (SC) results, but its empirical benefits are not well-explored. Based on the capability lifecycle, our study explains the relationships among the three dimensions of TDOSCI and their impact on supply chain performance (SCP) through developing mature capabilities, emphasizing the mediating roles of SC transparency (SCT) and SC embeddedness (SCE). A total of 452 questionnaires were distributed to manufacturing firms. Firms were contacted by phone to confirm their participation in SC technology innovation, and eligible respondents were required to have at least three years of tenure and a solid understanding of relevant practices and impacts. Following two rounds of email reminders, we received 294 responses. After excluding 42 incomplete or duplicate responses, 252 valid questionnaires were retained, yielding a response rate of 55.75%. Using structural equation modeling and interaction analysis, our study finds that innovation orientation positively influences information management, and SCT and SCE mediate information management and SCP. IT infrastructure flexibility, moderate innovation orientation and information management, information management and SCT, and information management and SCE. Our study enriches the literature on SC technology innovation and guides firms to achieve technological development through capability evolution to improve SC benefits.