Supply chain integration and performance paradox: is relational performance the missing link?

The empirical research on supply chain integration (SCI) and performance relationship spans over two decades following the first empirical research by Frohlich and Westbrook (2001) [“Arcs of Integration: An International Study of Supply Chain Strategies.” Journal of Operations Management 19 (2): 185–200]. However, the findings of the research linking SCI and its dimensions to performance remained mixed leading to debate regarding the SCI-performance paradox. To better understand the SCI–performance paradox, this study conducted a systematic review, combined with bibliometric analysis, network analysis and content analysis of literature on SCI performance published in the last twenty years (2001–2022) in the Scopus database. The review shows inconsistency in SCI and performance relationship since SCI dimensions did not consistently result in positive performance. Hence, the relationship between SCI and performance remains inconclusive. We argue that the SCI-performance paradox is grounded in the incongruity between the dimensions of SCI and its respective performance outcomes. The implications and avenues for future research are also discussed.