An efficiency comparison of supply chain management and information systems practices: A study of Turkish and Bulgarian small- and medium-sized enterprises in food products and beverages

Using data envelopment analysis (DEA) this study attempts to compare the relative efficiencies of supply chain management (SCM) and information system (IS) practices of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in food products and beverages in two neighbouring South East European countries, Turkey and Bulgaria. While there exist some significant differences between the efficiency level of SCM practices and the country of origin of the sample firms, no significant differences were found between the efficiency levels of both IS practices and the composite variable of SCMIS practices, and the country of origin of the SMEs. Turkish SMEs tend to achieve higher efficiency level with respect to the implementation of SCM practices. There are also significant differences in returns to scale for each group of input variables with respect to the country of origin of the SMEs. The analysis of the improvement potential of inputs indicates that Bulgarian SMEs place more emphasis on managing most of the SCM practices to enhance their SCM efficiency. However, no statistically significant differences in general were noted between both groups of firms with regard to the level of resources and efforts exerted on IS and SCM and IS practices. In terms of the overall average of output deficits, Turkish SMEs were found to have significantly higher output deficits than Bulgarian SMEs with respect to all three groups of input variables.