ENHANCING SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE THROUGH INTEGRATION: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF SUPPLY CHAIN RISK MANAGEMENT AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Supply chain integration has been widely recognized as a critical driver of supply chain performance in increasingly complex and uncertain business environments. However, the mechanisms through which integration translates into performance outcomes remain under-theorized in the literature. This conceptual paper proposes an integrated framework that examines the mediating role of supply chain risk management and the moderating role of knowledge management in the relationship between supply chain integration and supply chain performance. Drawing upon Transaction Cost Theory and the Knowledge-Based View, the paper argues that supply chain integration improves performance indirectly through enhancing risk management practices, while knowledge management capabilities further strengthens this indirect relationship by improving organizational learning and decision-making processes. The proposed framework advances the supply chain management literature by providing an integrated explanation of how integration-driven performance can be sustained under conditions of uncertainty. Practical implications underscore the necessity of aligning integration strategies with knowledge-driven risk management capabilities to achieve resilient and high-performing supply chains.