A Multilevel configurational analysis of resource integration in net-enabled retail organizations

Abstract

This dissertation provides a multilevel configurational analysis of retail channel resource integration in net-enabled retail organizations (NERO). Survey data was collected from 125 NEROs in Singapore. The first essay provides a strategic groups analysis of NEROs. The second essay applies the profile deviation approach to assess the coaligment between hybrid organizational structure and generic business strategies. The third essay examines how the integration of resources within a firm can nurture innovation competences and impact business performance. Finally, hierarchical level modeling was used to simultaneously estimate the explanatory power of firm-level and strategic group-level influences on measures of performance. Collectively, the results contribute to our understanding in terms of the current state of retail channel integration, strategic alignment between organizational structure and strategy, the antecedents and performance implications of resource integration, and the nature of performance variations at the firm and intra-industry levels.