Digital Coordination, Cross-Functional Collaboration, and Sustainable Performance in Global Supply Chains: An Integrated Theoretical and Empirical Inquiry

Abstract

The accelerating digitization of global supply chains has fundamentally altered how organizations coordinate activities, share information, and align incentives across functional and organizational boundaries. At the same time, firms are under increasing pressure to achieve not only operational efficiency but also long-term sustainability in economic, environmental, and social dimensions. This study develops and elaborates an integrated research framework that examines how digital transformation, e-supply chain coordination mechanisms, and cross-functional collaboration collectively influence supply chain performance and sustainability outcomes. Drawing strictly on established theoretical and empirical insights from the provided literature, this article synthesizes perspectives from e-supply chain coordination theory, sustainable supply chain management, information economics, quick response systems, and business model innovation. A qualitative–theoretical methodology is employed to construct a comprehensive explanatory model, supported by descriptive interpretation of empirical patterns reported in prior studies. The analysis reveals that digital technologies act as coordination enablers that reduce information asymmetry, enhance responsiveness, and facilitate collaboration between sales, engineering, finance, and supply chain functions. However, the effectiveness of these technologies depends heavily on organizational alignment, governance structures, and shared strategic intent. The findings further suggest that sustainability-oriented performance improvements emerge when digital coordination mechanisms are embedded within coherent business models and cross-functional decision-making processes. The article contributes to theory by bridging traditionally fragmented research streams and to practice by offering nuanced insights into how firms can strategically design digitally enabled, collaborative, and sustainable supply chains in complex global environments.