Supply chain agility and performance: evidence from a meta-analysis

Purpose The link between supply chain agility (SCA) and performance has been tested in previous research with different samples and results. The present paper quantitatively analyses and summarises the impact of SCA on performance found in previous empirical papers and determines the influence of several identified moderators. Design/methodology/approach Using a meta-analysis approach based on a systematic literature review, a total of 63 empirical papers comprising a sample of 14,469 firms were meta-analysed to consider substantive (type of performance and SCA operationalisation) and extrinsic (economic region and industry) moderators. Findings Results confirm a significantly large, positive correlation between SCA and performance. None of the analysed moderators has enabled the identification of any significant differences between the SCA and performance correlations by subgroup. However, high heterogeneity in total variance, both in the full sample and the subgroups by moderator, demands further rigorously reported empirical research on this topic with clearly conceptualised variables and frameworks and the use of validated scales. Research limitations/implications Several research gaps and best practice recommendations have been indicated to improve future empirical research on this topic. Practical implications Practitioners in different economic regions and industries will find consistent evidence of improvements in performance through SCA. Originality/value No meta-analysis has been found in previous research to estimate the value of the correlation between SCA and performance and the influence of moderating variables.