The relationship between SCM and business strategy. A Delphi study in Latin America

The aim of this research is to identify the factors that influence the implementation of supply chain management (SCM) strategy in Latin America countries. More specifically, we focus on the study of the degree of SCM strategy involvement into the design of business strategy through the analysis of the following aspects: organization culture, incentive programs for managers, internal alignment, and segmentation. These aspects are evaluated at a firm level of analysis in order to understand how the internal organization gives way to a correct SCM implementation. The authors use a Delphi Methodology on a panel of 13 Latin American experts in SCM and logistics in order to validate a set of SCM constructs that represent different aspects of integration and that should be presented as SCM strategy aspects in the definition of the business strategy of the firm. As a result, the differences in the experts’ opinions regarding the proposed constructs clearly indicate that even the constructs have to be included into the SCM strategy, there is still much to be defined in terms of SCM strategy and how SCM participates in the Business Strategy and, thus clear guidelines must be proposed to enable its proper operationalization. To deepen the phenomenon of SCM as a fundamental part of the strategy of the company and thus analyze in detail the conditions that must be taken within the organization for its further operationalization are a still pending innovative approach in the matter. This study permits to develop a useful framework as a guide to involve SCM strategy into business strategy.