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The following series of papers addresses the need for a sequence stratigraphic model specifically designed for cratonic mixed carbonate-siliciclastic successions. Case studies are provided primarily from the mixed carbonate-siliciclastic strata of the Lexington Limestone of Kentucky. These studies explore the sub-regional and regional distribution of decameter-scale couplets composed of clean skeletal grainstone and argillaceous limestones interbedded with shales. Analysis of six couplets that make up the Lexington Limestone along a basin profile reveals that both parts of decameter-scale couplets are widely traceable, though each undergoes a gradual lateral facies change. Subsequent investigation reveals that these six couplets are regionally traceable along strike, showing particularly good similarity to age equivalent strata in New York. More detailed studies are also provided that focus on different aspects of the couplets to help reinforce their sequence stratigraphic significance. The uppermost skeletal grainstone unit of the Lexington Limestone and basal portion of the overlying Kope Formation are analyzed in great detail, incorporating stratigraphic correlation of individual beds between closely spaced exposures, sedimentology of condensed beds and discontinuity surfaces, and faunal and taphonomic gradient analysis of limestones within this interval. The data generated suggest that this grainstone-rich succession represents a deepening-upward succession formed during sea level rise, though with slightly varying degrees of influx of argillaceous sediments (lowstand, early transgression, and late transgression, respectively). Additional case-studies focus on the contact at the base of the grainstone-dominated half of the couplet. This contact, contrary to previous studies, is almost always sharp and erosional. In fact, detailed analysis reveals two closely spaced erosion surfaces, one at the contact of the two halves of the couplet (forced regression surface), typically overlain by argillaceous calcarenite (falling stage systems tract), and one slightly higher (sequence boundary) overlain by more massive grainstones (lowstand, etc.). Combination of the case-study data with the literature of discontinuity surfaces and condensed beds allows for the formation of a general sequence stratigraphic framework for foreland basins. Finally, a unified model for foreland basin sequence stratigraphy is presented by integrating knowledge of the carbonate margin of middle Paleozoic foreland basins with well-established models concerned with the siliciclastic margin.

We explore the question of how IT could enhance firm performance and value, drawing on the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, by proposing and testing an integrated structural framework in which IT serves as an antecedent to customer-service performance. Recognizing that IT is most likely to affect a firms performance through its impact on intermediate processes, hypotheses regarding the differential and complementary role of various IT resources and capabilities, and non-IT (Human and Business) resources were developed. These hypotheses are empirically tested in the context of the third party logistics (3PL) industry, in which customer service is widely perceived as strategically important, with IT playing a significant, if not pivotal role. Achieving the fundamentals of customer-centrism has long been regarded as the true nexus for successfully gaining and retaining market share, a prerequisite for achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. Our level of analysis is the firm as a configuration of cross-functional business processes and customer service, in this instance, refers neither to any distinctive department of the firm, nor IT-deployment strategy, but to the overall orientation of the firms business-processes configuration. This perspective is an established supply chain management (SCM) paradigm, believed to better focus the firm towards anticipating and attempting to surpass customers expectations. Two underlying research objectives are pursued: first, we examine one possible transformation process by which IT can contribute to enhancing the value of the firm via its strategic role as an antecedent to the customer-relating dimension of the firm performance. Second, factorial regression hypotheses were tested that suggest positive interaction between IT resources and the other firm-specific resources namely its human, and business process-related resources, and IT managerial capability. Evidence suggests that the customer-centric perspective is a valid proposition to be included in the discussion regarding IT and its contribution to performance. Also, there is evidence that IT does, in fact, contribute to firm (financial) performance by way of the customer-service performance construct as developed in the research, mainly through its complementary interaction with other firm-specific resources. This dimension of potential IT contribution to firm performance has remained virtually unexplored prior to this research.

We explore the question of how IT could enhance firm performance and value, drawing on the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, by proposing and testing an integrated structural framework in which IT serves as an antecedent to customer-service performance. Recognizing that IT is most likely to affect a firm’s performance through its impact on intermediate processes, hypotheses regarding the differential and complementary role of various IT resources and capabilities, and non-IT (Human and Business) resources were developed. These hypotheses are empirically tested in the context of the third party logistics (3PL) industry, in which customer service is widely perceived as strategically important, with IT playing a significant, if not pivotal role. Achieving the fundamentals of customer-centrism has long been regarded as the true nexus for successfully gaining and retaining market share, a prerequisite for achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. Our level of analysis is the firm as a configuration of cross-functional business processes and “customer service,” in this instance, refers neither to any distinctive department of the firm, nor IT-deployment strategy, but to the overall orientation of the firm’s business-processes configuration. This perspective is an established supply chain management (SCM) paradigm, believed to better focus the firm towards anticipating and attempting to surpass customers’ expectations. Two underlying research objectives are pursued: first, we examine one possible transformation process by which IT can contribute to enhancing the value of the firm via its strategic role as an antecedent to the “customer-relating” dimension of the firm performance. Second, factorial regression hypotheses were tested that suggest positive interaction between IT resources and the other firm-specific resources – namely its human, and business process-related resources, and IT managerial capability. Evidence suggests that the customer-centric perspective is a valid proposition to be included in the discussion regarding IT and its contribution to performance. Also, there is evidence that IT does, in fact, contribute to firm (financial) performance by way of the “customer-service performance” construct as developed in the research, mainly through its complementary interaction with other firm-specific resources. This dimension of potential IT contribution to firm performance has remained virtually unexplored prior to this research.