Textile and Apparel Industries

Measuring User Experiences of E-sourcing Platforms in the Apparel Industry: Development of the Apparel E-sourcing Experience Index

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Abstract

With innovations in technology, numerous companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), have integrated e-commerce as a primary sourcing platform for international trade and for the settlement of outsourcing deals with buyers (Lu & Hirschheim, 2011). Grounded in three primary theories such as (a) the triangular alignment model, (b) the technology-organization-environment framework, and (c) the 5Rs of apparel supplier selection, this paper aims to develop appropriate scales to measure the Apparel E-sourcing Experience Index (AEEI). Developing an index that measures the experiences and/or benefits of e-sourcing can lead to a greater potential for adopting and continuing to implement e-sourcing platforms. The specific target sample frame was set as either manufacturers or suppliers of fashion businesses which have already adopted or utilized e-commerce platforms in the U.S. and India, and a total of 315 observations were collected. Item Response Theory (IRT) was employed in conjunction with factor analysis.

Keywords: item response theory, measurement development, supplier experience, E-sourcing

How to Cite:

Li, X., Zhao, L. & Lee, S., (2019) “Measuring User Experiences of E-sourcing Platforms in the Apparel Industry: Development of the Apparel E-sourcing Experience Index”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 76(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.8359