The Alignment Performance Link in Purchasing and Supply Management : Performance Implications of Fit between Business Strategy, Purchasing Strategy, and Purchasing Practices

Foreword In today's markets, companies face ever growing international competition, radical technological change, and increasingly demanding customers. These developments force managers to focus on core competencies and result in decreasing in-house val- add across industries. Adequate supplier selection and competent management of the supply base have thus become key firm success factors. As a consequence, purchasing and supply management (PSM) has developed into a powerful weapon for contributing to a firm's competitive advantage along dimensions such as cost, quality, and inno- tion. Such a