Sourcing Decisions, Knowledge Transfer and Organizational peformance in World Food Progamme: An emprical Evidence From South Sudan

Abstract

This study employs the Resource-Based View (RBV) and transaction cost theories as its theoretical frameworks to analyze how sourcing decisions and knowledge transfer influence organizational performance at the World Food Programme in South Sudan. Specifically, the study aims to: (a) determine the impact of sourcing decisions on organizational performance; (b) investigate how sourcing decisions affect knowledge transfer; (c) assess the influence of knowledge transfer on organizational performance; and (d) explore the mediating role of knowledge transfer in the relationship between sourcing decisions and organizational performance. A quantitative approach was used, involving a cross-sectional survey of 124 staff members from the World Food Programme in South Sudan. Data analysis was conducted using Smart PLS-SEM and SPSS. The results indicate that insourcing significantly impacts organizational performance (β = 0.479, p < 0.001), whereas outsourcing does not show a direct significant effect. Additionally, sourcing decisions strongly influence knowledge transfer (β = 0.652, p < 0.001). The findings further reveal that knowledge transfer has a significant effect on organizational performance (β = 0.767, p < 0.001), highlighting its essential role in enhancing efficiency, innovation, and client satisfaction. A mediation analysis was performed to examine how knowledge transfer mediates the relationship between sourcing decisions and organizational performance, revealing partial mediation with a VAF of 67.6%, suggesting that sourcing decisions mostly affect performance through knowledge transfer. The research contributes to strategic management, resource-based view, and transaction cost economics theories by offering practical recommendations to improve internal sourcing and knowledge transfer in humanitarian contexts. The study also suggests future research directions, including longitudinal studies and cross-sector comparative analyses.