Journal of General Management

Journal of General Management, Ahead of Print. <br/>Supply chain finance (SCF) stems from supply chain management (SCM), where firms deploy various approaches (e.g., inventory management and working capital management) to maximize firm performance. Firms utilize working capital management (WCM) to optimize their operating cash to create firm value. This study focuses on how firms could deploy the WCM approach through receivables, inventories, and payables to maximize long-term and short-term firm performance. It is worth noting that the components in WCM serve different roles in firm performance where shareholders value shorter receivable periods to avoid customer default risk, but firms could benefit from long receivable periods for short-term operation performance. In addition, governments from various countries implemented different policies to reduce adverse economic impacts of the pandemic. The sample includes publicly listed manufacturing companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia where different levels of government response have been observed. By using Ordinal Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis and adopting government policy as moderator, the results show that the government actions during the pandemic serve as the mitigating effect in the manufacturing supply chain. The analyses also show that the government policies implemented have successfully supported supply chain resilience during pandemic, especially to loss-making firms from decreased firm value.

Journal of General Management, Ahead of Print. <br/>This study investigates the impacts of CEO personal characteristics on the IR4.0 adoption of 954 publicly listed companies in Bursa Malaysia in 2019. Logistic regression analysis is employed to assess the determinants of the IR4.0 adoption. This study contributes to the literature related to the risk preference of CEOs and proxy of IR4.0 adoption from several dimensions, including the profile of key personnel, technology suppliers, Chief Information Officer and Technology Committee. This study found that elder CEOs are unlikely to invest in IR4.0 technologies due to their risk-averse behaviours. Moreover, CEOs are unlikely to pursue more risk-taking activities if they also hold board chairs. The agency theory explains that weak monitoring of the board reduces the performance expectation of CEOs, and hence, CEOs prefer to be prudent to protect their status. However, CEO with foreign tertiary education experience is more likely to adopt IR4.0 technology because they have more global knowledge, broader perspectives, and a more receptive attitude to risks and innovative solutions. Lastly, it is found that female CEO tends to be more prudent in firm with fewer directors due to lower complexity and relatively narrower scope of operations.

Journal of General Management, Ahead of Print. <br/>Digitally enabled supply chains, particularly operating in uncertain environments, have been offering emerging domains for research. The effects of Timely Information Sharing (TIS) on Financial Performance (FP) in the context of Supply Chain Finance (SCF) have been hitherto neglected, especially in the context of environments affected by uncertainty. The study contributes to the related literature by developing an integrated framework interlinked with Information Processing and Contingency theories and it facilitates the understanding of the relationships that exist among SCF, TIS using advanced technology, and FP in the context of the environments affected by uncertainty caused by unpredictable events like terrorist attacks and pandemics. To corroborate the relationships and validate the relative framework, we applied Structural Equation Modelling to the data collected from 261 firms. Our findings show that SCF significantly influences FP and that TIS plays a mediating role in enhancing FP interlinked with modern technology. The study also provides the implications of SCF and TIS in strengthening Supply Chain Management 4.0 operations affected by unprecedented circumstances that hinder FP and its viability within the supply chains’ context.

Journal of General Management, Ahead of Print. <br/>Firms are striving to improve their operational capacities and maintain competitive advantages in light of challenges presented by globalization, evolving consumer preferences, prolonged external disruptions, and advancements in industry 4.0. Given that their suppliers have an impact on their competitive advantages, firms must ensure that the selection process for suppliers includes dynamic capabilities such as sustainability, resilience, and digitalization. This is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and effectively managing external disruptions. The objective of this article was to provide an analysis of recent literature on supplier selection through a descriptive and thematic analysis. By examining dispersed literature, this study has developed a framework for supplier selection rooted in building dynamic capabilities of whole supply chain with three important dimensions—resilience, sustainability, and digitalization. Findings of the study will assist managers to improve their supply chain performances, particularly in their supplier selection and evaluation by highlighting the crucial role of dynamic capabilities.

Journal of General Management, Ahead of Print. <br/>This study theoretically and empirically tests a Publicness Perceptions Scale (PPS). Our goal is to understand the dimensions of publicness as interpreted by individuals working within different types of organizations, and the extent to which these perceptions vary across sectors. A two-study design with independent samples is used. Based on a literature review supported by an expert’s survey and original empirical data, the PPS is constructed and validated. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) indicated the PPS is composed of five reliable factors: (1) perceived ownership, funding, and political control; (2) perceived market control; (3) perceived legality and equity; (4) perceived accountability, and (5) perceived transparency. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggests a second-order single PPS factor. Study 2 also demonstrates the scale’s convergent, discriminant, and incremental validities. The paper concludes with theoretical, empirical, and practical advantages of the new PPS scale.