Research Structure

Given the research objective, which entails further investigation of current supply chains in Egypt, a numbers of issues have to be explored. These issues are related to supply chain activities, supply chain structure; IT role in supply chain management, managerial expertise, the role of country’s supporting infrastructure on supply chain activities and the impact of cultural issues.

The research deploys several approaches to collect data and validate the study outcome. Table 11 offers further details regarding the research structure. The problem is defined based on a literature survey. This stage ends with the proposed research question. A case study approach is used to collect the qualitative data while interpretive modelling is used to model this data. Supply chain deficiency issues and their leading factors are defined based on case studies analysis. ISM software has been used to indicate dependencies and the driving power of these issues. A Stage-based model has been derived followed by a proposed framework that indicates the extracted issues and their leading factors. The framework that demonstrates the study outcome was developed based on case studies analysis. A survey was used to validate the result of case studies. The framework is re-structured to tune the survey results. A textile supply chain with current deficiencies is simulated using a real dataset. Possible alternatives that might improve supply chain performance have been considered and tested to figure out the different impacts. An iterative process was employed to reach the optimal solution and

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achieve better supply chain performance. Following section includes a summary of each adopted methodology.

Table 11: Structure Adopted in this research 3.6.1. Case studies

Table 11: The Structure Adopted in the Research

3.6.1. Case studies

A pilot study was conducted to test the proposed case study design and refine its structure. The pilot study was conducted across major industries in Egypt. Nine cases were included in the pilot study. Based on the pilot outcome, the industry that suffers the most supply deficiency and has obvious profit reduction was chosen to be the study focus. The textile industry was investigated, so six case studies were explored to define supply chain deficiency issues and provide the interpretation of deficiency issues. The outcome from case studies was modelled using ISM methodology. A problematic structure was developed to define the relationship

Problem Definition

1. Literature Review (supply chain strategies, technical and non-technical issues related to supply chain, and supply chain models).

2. Define study theoretical proposition, question and relevant data to study focus.

Case Study Methodology

3. Develop a case study protocol that indicates a number of case studies; evidence used and the applied analytical strategy and conduct a pilot study.

4. Conduct interviews and analyse the qualitative data.

5. Define supply chain deficiencies issues at Egyptian industries and their leading factors. 6. Use SPSS to define issue weight based on participant's perspective.

Interpretive Structural Modelling

7. Build a problematic structure to represent the relationship between these issues. 8. Interpret the reachability matrix, define dependencies and driving factors.

9. Generate an ISM-based model for supply chain deficiencies stages in Egyptian industries.

Framework Structuring

10. Build a framework that indicates supply chain deficiencies and their leading factors.

Validation using Survey

11. Conduct a survey at textile industry in two major industrial zones. 12. Analyse quantitative data (survey result).

13. Validate the framework developed based on case study analysis 14. Restructure the supply chain deficiencies framework.

Proposing solutions using system dynamic approach

15. Simulate current supply chain deficiency using a system dynamic approach. 16. Define the proposed solutions to enhance supply chain performance.

17. Run different simulation experiments to demonstrate the effect of each proposed solutions on supply chain performance.

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between factors and its driving power. A model that indicates supply chain deficiency stages was built based on a cause and effect structure. The framework that represents deficiency issues and their leading factors was proposed. The hypotheses proposed by the case studies outcome were tested by survey for the purpose of validation.

3.6.2. Survey

The survey is conducted in the form of a self-administered procedure to help the respondent to understand the survey structure and by email. Over 150 questionnaires were distributed at two different industrial zones; 32 firms agreed to participate. The outcome of the survey analysis is used for validating case studies outcome. The proposed framework has been re-structured based on the validation outcome. Possible actions that might be taken by managers are proposed to be simulated in the following stage.

3.6.3. Simulation

A current supply chain with deficiencies is simulated. The possible actions that might be taken are adopted to reflect their impact on supply chain performance. Reduced inventory, increased production capacity, reduced delivery time and smooth information flow are adopted. Cost and lead time performance measures are used as indicators for supply chain improvement with each experiment. The most effective actions are defined based on various simulation experiments. Recommendation for improved supply chain performance will be concluded from this research programme.