The role of information usage in a retail supply chain: A causal data mining and analytical modeling approach

Abstract This study utilizes both a resource-based view and organizational learning theory to present the need to distinguish information sharing from information usage. Our main research aim was to investigate the mediating role of information usage between information sharing, and operational efficiency and effectiveness. We tested the hypotheses in our relational model using empirical data obtained from food retailers in Turkey. The analysis of results from structural equation modeling reveal that the separation of information sharing from information usage is valid, and the mediating role of usage is significant in improving operational effectiveness and efficiency. We further utilized a Bayesian neural networks-based causal analytic model, i.e., universal structure modeling methodology to reveal non-trivial, implicit, previously unknown, and potentially useful relationships among the constructs.