Micro, small, and medium suppliers' perspectives on supply chain social sustainability: New evidence from India

Abstract

Despite the increase in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) research, the social dimension of sustainability has been explored relatively less than the economic and environmental dimensions. This study investigates supply chain social sustainability (SCSS) in terms of socially sustainable practices (SSPs) implemented by micro, small, and medium suppliers (MSME suppliers) in India, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Furthermore, we aim to identify the drivers of and barriers to SSPs adoption. We conducted a qualitative analysis of SSPs adoption in the manufacturing sector and collected semi-structured data from 28 MSME suppliers. In addition, we employed stakeholder theory to understand the reasons for SSPs implementation. The results reveal that MSME suppliers implement SSPs at multiple levels and that there is a difference in the priorities of MSME suppliers toward SCSS. We find that normative and instrumental drivers promote the adoption of social sustainability and identify two new categories of barriers: red tapism and social and demographic factors. This study contributes to the literature by developing an integrated conceptual framework that links SSPs, drivers, barriers, and outcomes. Finally, this study encapsulates the similarities and differences in social sustainability implementation among micro, small, and medium suppliers. Our findings add to the scholarship on SCSS as they have wide-ranging theoretical and practical implications.