Investigating information sharing behavior in supply chains: Evidences from an embedded single case study

Significant differences exist in the exchange of information between supply chains members. Various factors such as bargaining power, trust, contracts, and information management capabilities of firms influence firms' information sharing behaviors. Based on an exploratory case study, we analyze and compare supply chains to identify different information sharing patterns, and the factors contributing towards these differences. We found that while information sharing leads to higher benefits for all supply chain members, the fear of losing bargaining power is more important for the stronger firm than achieving mutual performance gains. Further, internal structures and socio-political aspects prevent firms from continuous exchange of information. We propose guidelines outlining different information sharing behaviors in supply chains, and thereby contribute to theory by explaining the association and influence of different factors on firms' information sharing behavior. Practitioners can use the guidelines to improve supply chain performance by formulating appropriate information sharing strategies.