What is External Integrity

Collaboration is one of the key themes defining the competitive advantage of supply chains (SCs). In the web-based global business arena witnessing Industry 4.0, collaboration across SC partners has to be smart, innovative, and socially responsible to form value-creating networks. After exploring various concepts related with SC collaboration, this chapter proposes a conceptual maturity model for SC collaboration in increasing levels of integrity and collaboration scope. The model is unique in establishing a standardized conceptual base; providing a systematic, process-oriented, and holistic view for multi-partner SC maturity; offering precise mapping of SC processes onto stages with full process coverage; extending CPFR model; defining maturity stages for advanced, strategic collaboration types (like collaborative performance and risk management, collaborative systems assurance and development, collaborative innovation); explicitly incorporating smartness, innovation, and social responsibility concepts; and treating relatively recent terminology such as “virtual networks” and “coalescence.”