Enhancing Supply Chain Operational Performance through Management Practices and Capabilities: The Mediating Role of Technology Adoption

Abstract

The increasing operational complexity of cold chain logistics and the rapid digital transformation within China’s logistics industry have intensified the need for cold storage firms to improve supply chain operational performance (SCOP). Despite continuous investments in digital technologies, many cold storage organizations continue to encounter operational inefficiencies associated with fragmented managerial coordination, inconsistent technology implementation, and varying organizational capabilities, thereby creating an important research gap regarding the mediating role of Supply Chain Technology Adoption (SCTA) within operational supply chain environments. Grounded in the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, this study examined the relationships among Supply Chain Management Practices (SCMP), Supply Chain Capabilities (SCC), SCTA, and SCOP among cold storage firms in Beijing, China. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected from 300 supply chain managers and logistics personnel using purposive sampling. The collected data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) through SmartPLS software. The measurement model assessment demonstrated strong indicator reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity, with factor loading values ranging from 0.908 to 0.973, AVE values ranging from 0.872 to 0.914, and HTMT values below 0.90. The structural model findings revealed that SCMP significantly influenced SCTA (H1: β = -0.541, t = 10.824, p = 0.000) and SCOP (H3: β = -0.238, t = 4.220, p = 0.000). Additionally, SCC significantly influenced SCOP (H4: β = 0.707, t = 17.743, p = 0.000), while SCTA significantly influenced SCOP (H5: β = -0.380, t = 6.726, p = 0.000). The mediation analysis further demonstrated that SCTA significantly mediated the relationship between SCMP and SCOP through complementary partial mediation (H6: β = 0.205, t = 5.108, p = 0.000). These findings indicate that managerial coordination and supply chain integration significantly influence operational performance through technology-enabled operational systems, while organizational capabilities independently strengthen operational effectiveness within cold storage operations. The study contributes theoretically by extending the TOE framework within the cold storage logistics context and practically by providing strategic implications for improving digital transformation readiness, operational coordination, and technological integration within China’s cold chain logistics industry.