Abstract
Industry 4.0 mainly focuses on the application of modern technologies
(digitalization) and the changing role of human beings (digital transformation) in
modern production and logistics systems. Besides the basic principles of digitalization,
interconnectivity, and autonomization, the importance of human-centered
decision-making processes, such as the selection of strategic suppliers, is also
increasing, as complex, novel, and unstructured decisions cannot be fully computerized.
In this context, there is still a lack of understanding of which formal
patterns in the strategic supplier selection process will lead to better supplier
performance. Until now, most of the literature emphasizes a minor number of
process-related factors in the strategic supplier selection process leading to limited
support for the individual decision-maker. This study introduces a cause-effect
model that extends prior research by investigating the impact of process formality,
as a comprehensive measurement construct of target-, information-, organization-,
and heuristics-related process factors in the strategic supplier selection process on
supplier performance and purchaser satisfaction. Based on the usage of variancebased
structural equation modeling in a large-scale field study, a significant relationship
between process formality and supplier performance as well as between
process formality and purchaser satisfaction is substantiated.