Defense Date
Fall 11-8-2023
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Management
Department
Business Administration
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Rajaram Veliyath
Committee Member
Yoon Hee Kim
Reader
Sina Golara
Abstract
Researchers in supply chain management emphasize the importance of identifying nexus suppliers that may be hidden from focal buyers. These suppliers are distinguished from strategic suppliers by their interorganizational relationships and supply network positions. The nexus supplier framework draws on the supply chain characteristics observed in the automotive industry. The goal of this qualitative case study was to determine the existence of nexus suppliers in the rug and textile industries, as well as to acquire a better understanding of their origins and roles. A sampling frame comprised of rug industry companies was chosen based on their supply chain relationships with Target, a major U.S. national retailer. The study’s findings indicate that nexus supplier value in the rug and textile industries may originate from internal capabilities and interorganizational connections. The focal buying firm’s supply network characteristics may influence the nexus supplier’s visibility to the focal buying firm. Based on supply chain structural characteristics, this study proposes the emergence of a new type of nexus supplier that provides interorganizational and strategic value to focal buying firms. This study contributes to the present body of research by examining the role of nexus suppliers in the rug industry, broadening the scope of nexus supplier theory, and examining what form and role it takes in other industries.