THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION SHARING AND IT USAGE ON SUPPLY CHAIN VISIBILITY :THE MEDIATIING ROLE OF SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE IN PAKISTAN FOOD DEPARTMENT

Abstract

The food management system in Pakistan still experiences great coordination and visibility issues especially in such important commodities as wheat, rice and sugar. The problem of fragmented data systems and poor institutional connection on both federal and provincial level restrict the government to provide accurate measurement of production, stock levels and market flows. Lack of real-time information results in delays in policy formulation, decision inconsistency on procurement and unstable prices. Lastly, the use of intermediaries and outdated reporting channels creates a distorted view of real supply situations, which leads to inefficiencies and regular shortages. The challenges elicit more fundamental problems with governance, transparency, and Supply Chain Visibility.In order to solve these problems, there is the urgent necessity of the integrated digital monitoring systems with the support of centralized farmer and crop databases. Enhancing data transparency by use of real-time systems to strengthen coordination among institutions can greatly enhance decision-making and stabilize management on food supply.The paper is an analysis of how information sharing and the use of information technology (IT) affect the supply chain visibility where supply chain performance is a mediating factor in the Pakistan Food Department. The research is based on the theory of Resource-Based View (RBV) which assumes that strategic resources like information sharing and IT capabilities contribute to the organisational performance and result into better supply chain performance.Quantitative research design is used with the analysis of data by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) on the basis of structured questionnaires. It is supposed that the findings will prove the value of effective information sharing and IT use as a major contributor to the better performance of the supply chain itself, which will lead to the higher level of supply chain visibility.

The research adds to the literature as it offers a combined framework between information sharing, IT use, and supply chain performance and the visibility results in the public sector. It also provides feasible repercussions to supply chain managers and policymakers to improve on food supply chain transparency, efficiency and resilience via digital transformation.