From integration to performance: exploring the mediating roles of digital logistics and supply chain networks in oil and gas project firms

Abstract

Integration in project-based supply chains is widely studied, yet evidence of its effectiveness remains inconsistent, especially in volatile and emerging economies. This study investigates how administrative and sequential integration mechanisms influence project operational performance (POP) in Nigerian oil and gas projects and compare the mediating strengths of collaborative supply chain networks (CSCN) and the logistics Internet of Things (L-IoT) on POP. Grounded in contingency, dynamic capabilities and sociotechnical systems theories, we tested a mediation model using survey data from 148 valid responses drawn from professionals across 33 oil and gas projects in the area. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied, with reliability, validity and predictive relevance established. The administrative integration (ADI) directly improved performance, while sequential integration (SQI) affected performance only through mediation. Both CSCN and L-IoT were significant mediators, with L-IoT exerting the strongest overall influence, emphasizing the importance of digital visibility and predictive logistics in emerging project management contexts. The study contributes by demonstrating that integration alone is insufficient; its performance effects are realized primarily through executional enablers, with L-IoT providing the strongest pathway by enabling real-time visibility and adaptive coordination in volatile project environments. For practitioners, identifying specific L-IoT investments including RFID-enabled material tracking, GPS fleet monitoring and predictive dashboards are essential, not optional tools for improving project outcomes.