ISSN (Online): 2321-3418
server-injected
Economics and Management
Open Access

The Importance of Supply Chain Management Practices in Increasing Customer Satisfaction and Customer Retention: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

DOI: 10.18535/ijsrm/v9i03.em04· Pages: 2136-2151· Vol. 9, No. 03, (2021)· Published: March 25, 2021
PDF
Views: 1,052 PDF downloads: 458

Abstract

This study sought to determine the effects of supply chain management practices on customer satisfaction and retention in major retails food companies located in Southern Region of Saudi Arabia. Data collection was done by survey using questionnaire. The number of samples is 208 employees, with the method of convenient sampling. The method of analysis in this study is the multiple linear regression analysis, with SSPS testing reliability and normality, correlation, hypothesis testing, simultaneous effect and the coefficient of determination.  The results find a statistically significant and positive relationship between strategic supplier partnership (SSP), customer relationship (CR), Level of information sharing (LIS), level of information quality (LIQ) postponement practice (PP) and customer satisfaction (CS). However, the relationship between Customer Relationship (CR) and customer satisfaction (CS) is considered statistically non-significant and negative. Furthermore, customer satisfaction (CS) is a good predictors of customer retention (CRe).  This finding can be used implementatively for management to improve the elements supporting the strengthening of supply chain management practices and increasing customer satisfaction and retention in the retail food companies. Nonetheless, the findings of the study help companies to improve the quality of their services, products, and treat customers as their first priority in order to be retained them. Therefore, theses guide customers to recommend the firms to others. The results identify the influence of supply chain management practices on the customer satisfaction and retention according to the food retail sector in Saudi Arabia.

Keywords

Supply Chain Management PracticesCustomer SatisfactionCustomer RetentionSaudi Arabia

References

  1. Abunar, S. M., Ali1, M., Faze rabbi, M. & Ismail, H. (2016). A Study of State of Food Retail Supply Chain in Saudi Arabia: A Conceptual Framework, Engineering Management Research; Vol. 5, No. 2.Google Scholar ↗
  2. Aliaga, M. & Gunderson, B. (2002) Interactive Statistics, (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks: SageGoogle Scholar ↗
  3. Allmendinger, G. (2005), “Four strategies for the age of smart services”, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 83 No.10, pp. 131-45.Google Scholar ↗
  4. Al-Saa'da, R., Abu Taleb, Y., Abdallat, M., Al-Mahasneh, R., Awni Nimer, N., & Al-Weshah, G. (2013). Supply Chain Management and Its Effect on Health Care Service Quality: Quantitative Evidence from Jordanian Private Hospitals. Journal of Management and Strategy, 4(2), 1-10.Google Scholar ↗
  5. Anderson, E. and Sullivan, M. (1993). “The Antecedents and Consequences of Customer Satisfaction for Firms,” Marketing Science, 12 (2), pp. 125-145.Google Scholar ↗
  6. Arabmazar, A. & Schmidt, P., 1982. "An Investigation of the Robustness of the Tobit Estimator to Non-Normality," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(4), pages 1055-1063.Google Scholar ↗
  7. Argaam. (2020, September). Saudi Marketing Co.farm superstores TASI, retrieved from: https://www.argaam.com/en/tadawul/tasi/farm-superstoresGoogle Scholar ↗
  8. Argaam. (2020, September). Supermarket in Sadia Arabia, Retrieved from A look at market share of major Saudi retailers in 2019, Retrieved from: https://www.argaam.com/en/article/articledetail/id/1404513Google Scholar ↗
  9. Basnet, C., Corner, J., Wisner, J. D., Tan, K. (2003). Benchmarking Supply Chain Management Practice in New Zealand. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 8(1), 57-64. Supply Chain Management: An International JournalGoogle Scholar ↗
  10. Beamon, B.M. (1998), “Supply chain design and analysis: models and methods”, International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 55 No. 3, pp. 281-294.Google Scholar ↗
  11. Berry D, Towill DR, Wadsley N. (1994). Supply chain management in the electronics products industry. International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management; 24(10):20–32.Google Scholar ↗
  12. Braunscheidel, M.J. (2005). Antecedents of supply chain agility: An empirical investigation. Published Dissertation, Faculty of the Graduate School of The State University of New York at Buffalo.Google Scholar ↗
  13. Burns, R & Burns, R. (2013). Business Research Methods and Statistics Using SPSS. (1st ed.). United Kingdom: Sage Publications.Google Scholar ↗
  14. Capra, F. (1996). The Web of Life. New York: Anchor/Doubleday.Google Scholar ↗
  15. Childhouse P, Towill DR (2003). Simplified material flow holds the key to supply chain integration. Omega-Int. J. Manage. S. 31(1): 17-27.Google Scholar ↗
  16. Chizzo SA. (1998). Supply chain strategies: solutions for the customer-driven enterprise. Software magazine. Supply chain management directions supplement January4–9, 1998.Google Scholar ↗
  17. Christopher, M. and Towill, D. (2001), "An integrated model for the design of agile supply chains", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 31 No. 4, pp. 235-246.Google Scholar ↗
  18. Claycomb C, Droge C, Germain R. (1999).The effect of just in- time with customers on organizational design and performance. International Journal of Logistics Management: 10 (1):37–58.Google Scholar ↗
  19. Cooper, M. C. and Ellram, L. M., (1993). “Characteristics of supply chain management and the implications for purchasing and logistics strategy”. International Journal of Logistics Management, 4, 13–24.Google Scholar ↗
  20. Copacino, William C., (1996). “A Seven Supply-Chain Principles”, Traffic Management, 60.Google Scholar ↗
  21. Cronbach, L. J., & Shavelson, R. J. (2004). My current thoughts on coefficient alpha and successor procedures. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 64 (3), 391–418.Google Scholar ↗
  22. Cronin, J. J. and Taylor, S. A. (1992). “Measuring Service Quality: A Reexamination and Extension,” Journal of Marketing, (56), pp. 55-68.Google Scholar ↗
  23. Davenport, T. H., Harris, J. G., De Long, D. W., & Jacobson, A. L. (2001). “Data to Knowledge to Results: Building an Analytic Capability”, California Management Review, 43, 117-139.Google Scholar ↗
  24. Day, E., Denton, L. L., and Hickner, J. A. (1988). “Clients' Selection and Retention Criteria: Some Marketing Implications for the Small CPA Firm,” Journal of Professional Services Marketing, 3, (4), pp. 85-91.Google Scholar ↗
  25. Ellram, L. M., (1991). “Supply Chain Management: The Industrial Organization Perspective”, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 21(1), 13-22.Google Scholar ↗
  26. Etikan, I., Musa, S., & Alkassim, R. (2015). Comparison of Convenient Sampling and Purposive Sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1-4.Google Scholar ↗
  27. Euromonitor International. (2020). Supermarket in Sadia Arabia, Retrieved from: www.portal.euromonitor.comGoogle Scholar ↗
  28. Feldmann M, (2003). Müller S. An incentive scheme for true information providing in supply chains. OMEGA, 31(2):63–73.Google Scholar ↗
  29. Fisher, M. (1997), “What is the right supply chain for your product? A simple framework – can you figure out the answer?” Harvard Business Review, Vol. 75 No. 2, pp. 105-116.Google Scholar ↗
  30. Francis, G. H. & Waiganjo, E. (2014). "Role of Supply Chain Practices on Customer Satisfaction in the Printing Industry in Kenya: A Case Study of Morven Kester East Africa Limited," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 4(10), pages 128-143, October.Google Scholar ↗
  31. Forker LB, Ruch WA, Hershauer JC. (1999). Examining supplier improvement efforts from both sides. Journal of Supply Chain Management; 35(3):40–50.Google Scholar ↗
  32. Fornell, C. (1992). “A National Customer Satisfaction Barometer: The Swedish Experience,” Journal of Marketing, (56), pp. 1-18.Google Scholar ↗
  33. Golroudbary, R. S., & Zahraee, S. M. (2015). System dynamics model for optimizing the recycling and collection of waste material in a closed-loop supply chain, Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, 53, 88-102.Google Scholar ↗
  34. Gustafsson, A., Johnson, M.D. and Roos, I. (2005) The Effects of Customer Satisfaction, Relationship Commitment Dimensions, and Triggers on Customer Retention. Journal of Marketing, 69, 210-218.Google Scholar ↗
  35. Hague, M & Islam, R. (2013). Effects of Supply Chain Management Practices on Customer Satisfaction: Evidence from Pharmaceutical Industry of Bangladesh. Global Business & Management Research: An International Journal, 5(2), 120-136.Google Scholar ↗
  36. Holmberg S. (2000). A systems perspective on supply chain measurements. International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management; 30(10):847–68.Google Scholar ↗
  37. Ibojo, B. (2015), Impact of customer satisfaction on customer retention: A case study of a reputable bank in Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria, International Journal of Managerial Studies and Research (IJMSR) 3 (2), 42-53Google Scholar ↗
  38. Ismail. S. T., (2009). The Effects of Relationship Marketing on Organizational Outcomes "An Applied Study in Jordanian Insurance Companies, European Journal of Social Sciences, Volume 12, Number 2.Google Scholar ↗
  39. Jessica, Mascareigne, (2009). Customer retention: case studies of agencies in the professional service sector (English) Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits Student thesis.Google Scholar ↗
  40. Johns, G. (2010) Presenteeism in the Workplace: A Review and Research Agenda. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31, 519-542.Google Scholar ↗
  41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/job.630DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  42. Johnson M E, Davis T., (1998). “Improving supply chain performance by using order fulfillment metrics”. National Productivity Review, 17(3)3–16.Google Scholar ↗
  43. Jones, T. and Sasser, W. (1995), “Why Satisfied Customers Defect,” Harvard Business Review, (11-12), pp. 88-99.Google Scholar ↗
  44. Keiningham, T.LL. Aksoy, L., Andreassen, T.W.W., Cooil , B. & Wahren, B.J.J. (2006). Call Center Satisfaction and Customer Retention in a Cobranded Service Context. Managing Service Quality, 16(3), 269 – 289.Google Scholar ↗
  45. Kelley, K., Clark, B., Brown, V & Sitzia, J. (2003). Good Practice in the Conduct and Reporting Of Survey Research. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 15(3), 261–266.Google Scholar ↗
  46. Khristianto, W., Kertahadi, I., and Suyadi, I. (2012). The influence of information, system and service on customer satisfaction and loyalty in online shopping. International Journal of Academic Research, 4(2), 28-32.Google Scholar ↗
  47. Kline, R. B. (2011). Methodology in the Social Sciences.Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.Google Scholar ↗
  48. Koh, S. C. L., M. Demirbag, E. Bayraktar, E. Tatoglu, and S. Zaim. 2007. “The Impact of Supply Chain Management Practices on Performance of SMEs.” Industrial Management & Data Systems, 107 (1): 103–124.Google Scholar ↗
  49. Kotler, P. (1994). Marketing Management. Analysis, Planning, Implementation, and Control, Eighth Edition, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ,Google Scholar ↗
  50. Lagat, C., Koech, J., & Kemboi, A. (2016). Supply Chain Management Practices, Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty, European Journal of Business and Management, Vol.8, No.21, pp.1-11.Google Scholar ↗
  51. Lambert, D. M. and Cooper, M. C. (2000), “Issues in Supply Chain Management,” Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 65-84.Google Scholar ↗
  52. Lamming, R., Johnsen, T., Zheng, J. & Harland, C., (2000). “An initial classification of supply networks". International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 20 (6), 675-691.Google Scholar ↗
  53. Landeros, R., Monczka, R.M., (1989). Cooperative buyer-seller relationships and a firm’s competitive posture. Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management, 9–18.Google Scholar ↗
  54. Lee J, KimY. (1999) Effect of partnership quality on IS outsourcing conceptual framework and empirical validation. Journal of Management Information Systems, 1999; 15(4):26–61.Google Scholar ↗
  55. Lee, H. L. So, K. C., & Tang C. S. (2000). The Value of Information Sharing in a Two-Level Supply Chai, Management Science, 46(5), 626.Google Scholar ↗
  56. Lee, H.L. and Whang, S. (2001), “Winning the last mile of e-commerce”, Sloan Management Review, p. 54-62Google Scholar ↗
  57. Lee, Hau L. & Seungjin Whang., (2000)”creating value through supply chain integration, supply chain integration”. Supply chain management Review, 4 (4), 30-36.Google Scholar ↗
  58. Lee, J., Lee, J., and Feick, L. (2001), “The Impact of Switching Costs on the Customer Satisfaction-loyalty Link: Mobile Phone Service in France,” Journal of Services Marketing, 15(1), pp. 35-48.Google Scholar ↗
  59. Li, G., Lin, Y., Wang, S., & Yan, H. (2006), Enhancing Agility By Timely Sharing Of Supply Information, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 11(5), and 425-35.Google Scholar ↗
  60. Li, S., Ragu-Nathanb, B., Ragu-Nathanb, T. S., & Rao, S. S., (2006). The impact of supply chain management practices on competitive advantage and organizational performance, Omega, 34, (2), pp.107-124.Google Scholar ↗
  61. Li, S., Subba Rao, S., Ragu-Nathan, T. S., & Ragu-Nathan, B. (2005). Development and Validation of a Measurement Instrument for Studying Supply Chain Management Practices. Journal of Operations Management, 23(6), 618–641.Google Scholar ↗
  62. Makau, S., Lagat, C. & Bonuke, R., 2017. Information Quality, Information Systems Support Capability and Performance of Hotels in Nairobi, Kenya. European Scientific Journal, 13(23).Google Scholar ↗
  63. Mason-Jones R, Towill DR. (1997). Information enrichment: designing the supply chain for competitive advantage. Supply Chain Management; 2(4):137–48.Google Scholar ↗
  64. Mazursky, D., & Geva, A. (1989). Temporal decay in satisfaction – Purchase intention relationship.Google Scholar ↗
  65. Metters, R. (1997), “Quantifying the bullwhip effect in supply chains”, Journal of Operations Management, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 89‐100Google Scholar ↗
  66. Mittal, V & Kamakura, WA. (2001). Satisfaction, repurchase intent, and repurchase behaviour: Investigating the moderating effect of customer characteristics. Journal of Marketing Research, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 131-142.Google Scholar ↗
  67. Mittal, V., Kumar, P. and Tsiros, M. (1999), “Attribute-level performance, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions over time: a consumption-system approach”, Journal of Marketing, Vol. 63, April, pp. 88-101Google Scholar ↗
  68. Moberg, C. R., Cutler, B. D, Gross, A, & Speh, T. W., (2002). Identifying antecedents of information exchange within supply chains, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 32 (9), pp. 755–70.Google Scholar ↗
  69. Monczka RM, Petersen KJ, Handfield RB, Ragatz GL. (1998). Success factors in strategic supplier alliances: the buying company perspective. Decision Science; 29(3): 5553–77.Google Scholar ↗
  70. Narasimhan, R. & Nair, A., (2005), “The antecedent role of quality, information sharing and supply chain proximity on strategic alliance formation and performance”, International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 96, No. 3, pp.301-313.Google Scholar ↗
  71. Naylor, J.B., Naim, M.M. and Berry, D. (1999), “Legality: integrating the lean and agile manufacturing paradigms in the total supply chain”, International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 62, No. 1, pp. 107-118.Google Scholar ↗
  72. Naylor, T.H., Willimon, W.W. and Osterberg, R.V. (1996), The Search for Meaning in the Workplace, Abigon Press.Google Scholar ↗
  73. Non-Normality. Econometrica: Journal of the Econometric Society, 50(4), 1055-1063.Google Scholar ↗
  74. Oliver, R. L. (1980). A Cognitive Model of the Antecedents and Consequences of Satisfaction Decisions, Journal of Marketing Research, 17(4), pp. 460-469.Google Scholar ↗
  75. Oliver, R. L. “Whence Consumer Loyalty,” (1999). Journal of Marketing (63), pp. 33-44.Google Scholar ↗
  76. Pagh, J. D., & Cooper, M. (1998). Supply Chain Postponement and Speculation Strategies: How to Choose the Right Strategy. Journal of Business Logistics, 19(2), 13-33.Google Scholar ↗
  77. Patterson, P. G., Johnson, L. W., and Spreng, R. A. (1997). “Modeling the Determinants of Customer Satisfaction for Business-to-Business Professional Services,” Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Volume 25, Issue 1, pp. 4-17.Google Scholar ↗
  78. Pereira, J. V. (2009). The new supply chain's frontier: Information management. International Journal of Information Management, 29(5), 372–379.Google Scholar ↗
  79. Power, D.J., Sohal, A.S. and Rahman, S.U. (2001) Critical Success Factors in Agile Supply Chain Management—An Empirical Study. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 31, 247-265.Google Scholar ↗
  80. Qu, M., Jiao, H., Zhao, J., Ren, Z.P., Smits, A., Kere, J., and Nister, M. (2010). Molecular genetics and epigenetic analysis of NCX2/SLC8A2 at 19q13.3 in human gliomas. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 36, 198-210Google Scholar ↗
  81. Ranaweera, C. and Prabhu, J. (2003), “The Influence of Satisfaction, Trust and Switching Barriers on Customer Retention in a Continuous Purchasing Setting,” International Journal of Service Industry Management (14:4), , pp.374-395.Google Scholar ↗
  82. Saghiri, Soroosh S. & Barnes, Stuart J., (2016). "Supplier flexibility and postponement implementation: An empirical analysis," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 170-183.Google Scholar ↗
  83. Santander Trade. September (2020). "Saudi Arabia: Distributing A Product.", [Accessed May 2020], retrieved from: https://apps.fas.usda.govGoogle Scholar ↗
  84. Senge, P. M., (1990). The Fifth Discipline, Doubleday Currency, New York, NY.Google Scholar ↗
  85. Shin H, Collier DA, Wilson DD. (2000). Supply management orientation and supplier/buyer performance. Journal of Operations Management; 18(3):317–33.Google Scholar ↗
  86. Simatupang, T. M. & Sridharan, R. (2002). The Collaborative Supply Chain”, International Journal of Logistics Management, 13(1), pp. 15-30.Google Scholar ↗
  87. Stein T, & Sweat J. Killer. (1998).Supply chains. Information week, 708 (9), 36–46.Google Scholar ↗
  88. Stock, J. Stefanie L., Boyer, S. & Harmon, T., (2010). Research opportunities in supply chain management. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 38 (1), 32–41.Google Scholar ↗
  89. Stuart FI. (1997). Supply-chain strategy: organizational influence through supplier alliances. British Academy of Management 8(3):223–36.Google Scholar ↗
  90. Sukati, Inda and Abdul Hamid, Abu Bakar and Baharun, Rohaizat and Huam, Hon Tat and Said, Fazila (2011) A study of supply chain management practices: an empirical investigation on consumer goods industry in Malaysia. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2 (17). pp. 166-176. ISSN 2219-1933Google Scholar ↗
  91. Szymanski, D.M. and Hise, R.T. (2000) E-Satisfaction: An Initial Examination. Journal of Retailing, 76, 309-322.Google Scholar ↗
  92. Tan, K. C., Kannan, V. R., Handfield, RB. (1998). Supply chain management: supplier performance and firm performance. International Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management; 34(3):2–9.Google Scholar ↗
  93. Tan, K. C., Lyman, S. B., V., & Wisner, J. D. (2002). Supply chain management: a strategic perspective, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 22 (6), pp. 614–31.Google Scholar ↗
  94. Tan, K.C., Kannan, V.R. and Handfield, R.B. (1999), “Supply chain management: an empirical study of its impact on performance”, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, Vol. 19 No. 10, pp. 1034-1052.Google Scholar ↗
  95. Thatte A.A., (2007). “Competitive advantage of a Firm through Supply Chain Responsiveness and Supply Chain Management Practices”, Published PhD Dissertation. University of Toledo.Google Scholar ↗
  96. Van Hoek, R. I., & Voss, R. I. (1999). Commandeur HR. “Restructuring European supply chains by implementing postponement strategies, long Range planning”, 32(5), 505-518.Google Scholar ↗
  97. Van Hoek, R.I. (1998), “Measuring the unmeasurable, measuring and improving performance in the supply chain”, Supply Chain Management, An International Journal, Vol. 3 No. 4, pp. 187-192. Vol. 42 No. 4, pp. 54-62.Google Scholar ↗
  98. Vonderembse, M. & Tracey, M. (1999). The Impact of Supplier Selection Criteria and Supplier Involvement on Manufacturing Performance. The Journal of Supply Chain Management, 35(3), 33-39.Google Scholar ↗
  99. Wallin, C., Johnny Rungtusanatham, M., & Rabinovich, E. (2006). What is the “right” inventory management approach for a purchased item? International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 26(1), 50–68. doi:10.1108/01443570610637012DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  100. Walton LW. (1996). Partnership satisfaction: using the underlying dimensions of supply chain partnership to measure current and expected levels of satisfaction. Journal of Business Logistics; 17(2):57–75.Google Scholar ↗
  101. Wang, Y. (2013). Exploring possible reasons behind low student retention rates of massive online open courses: A comparative case study from a social cognitive perspective, AIED (Workshops Proceedings), Volume, 58Google Scholar ↗
  102. Wilson, C., Vanvoorhis, & Morgan, B. (2007). Understanding Power and Rules of Thumb for Determining Sample Sizes. Tutorials in quantitative methods, Tutorials in Quantitative Methods for Psychology, 3(2), 43-50.Google Scholar ↗
  103. Wisner, J. and Tan, K.C. (2003), “Supply chain management and its impact on purchasing”, Journal of Supply Chain Management, 36(4)33-42.Google Scholar ↗
  104. Yi, Y. (1990), A Critical Review of Customer Satisfaction, American Marketing Association, Chicago, IL,Google Scholar ↗
  105. Yu, W., Jacobs, M.A., Salisbury, W.D., Enns, H. (2013). The effects of supply chain integration on customer satisfaction and financial performance: An organizational learning perspective. International Journal of Production Economics, 146 (1). pp. 346-358.Google Scholar ↗
  106. Yusuf, Y.Y., Gunasekaran, A., Musa, A., Dauda, M.M., El-Berishy, N. and Cang, S. (2014) A Relational Study of Supply Chain Agility, Competitiveness, and Business Performance in the Oil and Gas Industry. International Journal of Production Economics, 147, 531-544.Google Scholar ↗
  107. Zhang, Q., Vonderembse, M.A., Su Lim, J. (2003). Manufacturing flexibility: Defining and analyzing relationships among competence, capability, and customer satisfaction, Journal of Operational Management, 21, 173-191.Google Scholar ↗
  108. Zeithaml, V., Berry, L., & Parasuraman, A. (1996). The Behavioral Consequences of Service Quality. Journal of Marketing, 60(2), 31-46. doi:10.2307/1251929.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
Author details
Abdullah Ahmed
Management department, Deanship of Community Service and Continuing Education, Najran University, Shrourah, Najran Region, Saudi Arabia
✉ Corresponding Author
👤 View Profile →