Leveraging supply chain cost reduction for resilience and sustainability in Ghanaian manufacturing: Transaction uncertainty and gender roles

This study examines the relationships among supply chain cost reduction (SCR), resilience (SCRes), transaction uncertainty (TU), and sustainable performance (SP) in Ghana's manufacturing sector, with a specific focus on the moderating role of gender. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed. Data was collected via structured questionnaires from 350 operational and functional managers across 418 manufacturing firms. Analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS 4 to test the hypothesized relationships and moderation effects. The results reveal that SCR has a significant positive effect on SCRes, TU, and SP. Notably, TU partially mediates the relationship between SCR and SP (VAF = 49.7%), while SCRes does not. Furthermore, gender significantly moderates the SCR-TU relationship; increased female leadership representation weakens the positive effect of SCR on TU. Asset specificity was found to be an insignificant predictor of SCR. Managers should implement SCR strategies alongside robust uncertainty management systems and actively promote gender-diverse leadership in supply chain roles to mitigate relational risks and enhance sustainable outcomes. The findings provide an empirical business case for gender equity policies, linking inclusive leadership to more stable, socially responsible supply chain governance and aligning with broader sustainable development goals. This study contributes by integrating Transaction Cost Economics and the Resource-Based View to analyze these dynamics in an under-researched African context. It uniquely establishes gender as a significant moderator of transactional relationships, moving beyond treating it as a mere demographic variable and offering novel insights for inclusive supply chain strategy.