Towards a unified theory of supply chain value creation and capture

Abstract

The value provided to market by competing supply chains determines success. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of how supply chains create and distribute this value is paramount. The purpose of this research is to synthesis the value creation and value capture concepts in a supply chain context. A case study of an extended agribusiness supply chain is used to empirically explore how value is created and captured with a specific focus on the interplay of the two concepts. The results identify the core value creation drivers and enablers, and value appropriation mediators that determine the net value capture of a supply chain. Insights from the exploratory case study are synthesised into an overarching model. Identification of the symbiotic relationship of value creation and value capture advances our knowledge beyond current discrete conceptualizations. By drawing upon value theory and the empirical insights, the proposed unified theory provides novel implications for theoreticians and managerial decision makers.