Responsible Supply Chain Management Research Articles

Responsible supply chain implementation - Are multinational companies gods and small and medium sized enterprises oxen?

Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore how the implementation of Responsible Supply Chain Management (RSCM) of SMEs as buyers in the international markets differs from the approach of MNCs. The study is based on a cross-sectional qualitative case-study research of ten German companies. We find compelling evidence to identify important size-related differences in key dimensions like competitive pressure, compliance, company ethos and personal motivation. Based on these findings a genuine company typology approach to RSCM is designed. Our research has significant implications as it compares strategic approaches and highlights through which practitioners from companies of different sizes apply to implementing RSCM.

Evaluation of Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Media as Key Source of Strategic Communication

Abstract Given that the success of any corporation depends on improving positive relationships with customers, corporations need to have strategic mindset leading to long-term engagement. When customers are at the center of corporation strategies, it is likely to gain acceptance by customers with the help of some communication-oriented activities. This conceptual study searches for how corporation social responsibility and social media usage could become significant components considering strategic communication management by in-depth literature review. Accordingly, in the proposed model, major constructs of strategic communication management were investigated and these constructs are linked to the strategic communication management. As the antecedents of strategic communication management, corporation social responsibility and social media usage are considered. Corporation social responsibility indicators are considered as environmental responsibility, employee talent development program, stakeholder dialogue process and socially responsible supply chain management. Social media usage indicators are considered as providing online communities, timely updates, personalized communication and tracking large scale of data.

Emerging Practice in Responsible Supply Chain Management: Closed‐Pipe Supply Chain of Conflict‐Free Minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo

AbstractMinerals originated from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are blamed for financing violent conflict in the area over the past decade and have been called conflict minerals. They vividly demonstrate a key human rights issue facing responsible supply chain management. The conflict minerals issue has led to a significant shift in responsible supply chain management in two ways: extending producer responsibility to respect human rights in the total supply chain through establishing traceability and transparency; and developing legally binding supply chain responsibility.This article examines an emerging effort to source conflict‐free minerals using closed‐pipe supply chain in the DRC as a new strategy to respond to the above paradigm shift. By exploring whether this new strategy can contribute to conflict prevention in the DRC, this article argues that the closed‐pipe supply chain allows building long‐term relationship with various stakeholders and has the potential to transform socio‐economic structures in the producing communities, thereby leading to peacebuilding in the long run.

The Impact of Responsible Practices on Operations Outcomes: a Study of US companies.

Our study investigates the benefits of adopting responsible practices across the supply chain. In particular, here we examine the relationship between responsible supply chain practices, operational outcomes and the factors that impact that relationship by examining the influence of a strategic sustainability orientation in the execution and outcome of responsible supply chain management (RSCM) practices and policies. This paper builds on earlier discussions of the development of a measurement instrument for RSCM (Marshall, McCarthy, Heavey, & McGrath, 2014). Here we focus on analysis of data from US-based respondents and address the research question “what are the moderating and mediating effects of a sustainability orientation of supply chain practices upon operational performance?” We found that the impact of innovation, strategic, and long-term orientations towards RSCM has a significant impact on operational outcomes. Our study is an empirical survey-based analysis and contributes to the literature o...

“We have always been responsible”

PurposeThe aim of this study is to discuss what implications referencing to the past can have on how firms manage their supply chains and communicate about them, drawing on the social memory literature.Design/methodology/approachIn a conceptual manner, the authors connect the field of responsible supply chain management to the growing literature on corporate heritage and social memory in organizations.FindingsThe authors develop seven propositions related to the communication of the past and its connection to responsible supply chain management.Research limitations/implicationsA social memory perspective can inform supply chain management research, by helping to better understand how and with what consequences the past can be used in communication about supply chains. This paper is conceptual in nature and empirical investigations would be needed to support and/or modify the literature-based findings.Practical implicationsManagers should be aware that both opportunities and risks are associated with communicating the past in connection to responsible supply chain management. Deployed in the right way, such communication can be valuable both in marketing and in internal management processes.Originality/valueThis article introduces the social memory perspective to the supply chain management field and shows what implications it can have for research on responsibility in supply chains.

Socially Responsible Supply Chain Management: An Essence of Value Creation

Strategic supply chains are becoming integral part of a firms competitive strength. It not only gives financial advantages, but also well-managed and extremely synchronized supply chain offers certain social obligation. Many businesses are now moving into course of unfolding codes of conduct as one of the ways of overseeing number of suppliers behavior inside the supply chain network. This research paper addresses the issues related with the degree to which customers must be accountable for moral behavior of their partners, like suppliers in buying process. Corporate social responsibility is a very important issue for any firm but it is very depressing that extremely minute material is on hand on this issue. This paper conceptualizes structure for recognizing the responsibilities of the more commanding supply chain member to the other members of the supply chain. It mainly focuses on the degree to which one supply chain member should apply ascendancy as it relates to social responsibility on the members of complete supply chain.

Increasing Sustainability Engagement Using Experiential Pedagogies in Socially Responsible Supply Chain Management Education

Increasing Sustainability Engagement Using Experiential Pedagogies in Socially Responsible Supply Chain Management Education

Responsible supply chain management – an analysis of Taiwanese gutter oil scandal using the theory of constraint

ABSTRACTFood safety is one of the main concerns in many countries throughout the world. Failure to ensure food safety would result in significant health concerns to the general public. Despite much effort to improve food safety, many cases of food safety issues or even crises have happened around the world from time to time; it results in undesirable health problems. One of the recent food safety scandals that happened in Taiwan in 2014 was related to the usage of gutter/tainted oil by several oil suppliers. The series of food safety incidents affected 1256 businesses. In order to ensure a responsible supply chain, we analysed the problem using the theory of constraint. Some issues towards the root cause of the problem are suggested. The objective of our study emphasises on building a responsible supply chain and food safety regulation in order to improve food safety in Taiwan.

Responsible supply chain management in the Asian context: the effects on relationship commitment and supplier performance

Responsible supply chain management (SCM) in the era of expanding global sourcing can play a critical role in diffusing corporate responsible practices throughout the emerging Asian economies. Thus, this paper aims to examine how responsible SCM can contribute to supplier performance, including environmental, social and operational performances through the improvement of relationship commitment in the Asian context. The hypotheses of this study were tested with the data from 187 South Korean suppliers and 193 Vietnamese suppliers. The paper finds that responsible SCM enhances relationship commitment as well as improves the sustainability performance of suppliers in Asian countries. Relationship commitment plays a critical and mediating role in the relationships between responsible SCM and environmental, social and operational performances. This study also finds that there is a contextual difference between South Korea and Vietnam. The findings of this paper provide implications for supply chain members to integrate environmental and social issues into their SCM practices so as to foster stronger sustainability performance in the global supply chain.

Knowledge challenges for responsible supply chain management of chemicals in textiles – as experienced by procuring organisations

A great number of chemicals – many of which are hazardous to human health and the environment – are used along the complex supply chains of textiles. These complexities and hazards make knowledge for understanding chemical properties and management practices at multiple nodes central to the responsible management of textile supply chains. This study investigates the knowledge requirements of, and the knowledge strategies used by, textile procuring organisations in response to both external stakeholders and internal pressure. Based on a qualitative study of small and medium-sized Swedish textile procuring organisations, the paper describes these knowledge challenges and analyses how efforts to meet them relate to expressed commitments and capabilities for responsible supply chain management (RSCM), as well as to organisational characteristics (i.e. whether the organisation is private or public, small or large, and whether textiles is a core or peripheral activity). It was found that several textile procuring organisations expressed commitment towards achieving RSCM. However, most organisations felt that they lacked capacity to rise to the challenge. There was a poor state of knowledge regarding many chemical substances and inherent difficulties in gaining knowledge of chemical risks and how to manage these. Moreover, the input of knowledge was limited and based on only a few key sources. Such factors proved to be obstacles for procuring organisations when attempting to facilitate responsible management upstream in complex supply chains.

Implementation of Supply Chain Management (SCM) in pharmaceutical company, general principles and case study

Supply Chain Management (SCM) in pharmaceutical industry is defined as a “responsible SCM” and its implementation is according to the principles of: business ethics, rights of labor and principles of healthy and safe working environment. Pharmaceutical companies with implemented “responsible SCM” have to use management systems to facilitate continuous improvement in accordance with their working principles. The main purpose of this management system is to ensure the consistency, reliability and continuous improvement of all workflows within an organization.The analyzed case describes the project of European generic pharmaceutical company, which intends to implement best practice SCM operations for five European manufacturing sites and European logistics organizations (active ingredients supply, distribution centers, affiliate customers and third party manufacturers). The main objectives of the project were the creation of the future improved To-Be situation through implementation of new SCM models to the existing To-Day situation.

Is doing more doing better? The relationship between responsible supply chain management and corporate reputation

Responsible supply chain management (RSCM) can help protect a firm's corporate reputation by shielding it from negative media attention and consumer boycotts. RSCM can also enhance a firm's corporate reputation, which allows firms to secure business contracts and penetrate new market segments successfully. This study empirically examines: (i) the extent to which responsible supply chain management practices is driven by a desire to protect corporate reputation; and (ii) whether responsible supply chain management can enhance corporate reputation and thereby generate competitive advantage to the firm. We draw on primary and secondary datasets across seven firms, spanning the publishing, technology, beverage, tobacco, finance and home improvement sectors. We find compelling evidence to suggest that firms often engage in RSCM due to a desire to protect corporate reputation. Similarly, we find empirical evidence to suggest that responsible supply chain practices can enhance reputation and thereby create competitive benefits, although this link is not as profound as the relationship between RSCM and reputation protection and there are significant variations across industries. These findings have significant implications for marketing theory and, in particular, industrial marketers, who are increasingly expected to implement responsible supply chain practices.

Socially responsible supply chains: power asymmetries and joint dependence

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyse the role of relational power/dependent asymmetries and symmetries in shaping socially responsible supply chain management, whilst also examining how these issues are moderated by geographical distance between buyer and supplier.Design/methodology/approachThe study draws on data from 339 buyer‐supplier relationships, and the authors use a set of regression models to test their hypotheses.FindingsJoint dependency positively influences socially responsible supply chain management, whilst supplier power constrains it. Both joint dependency and buyer power become increasingly important determinants of socially responsible supply chain management as geographic distance increases.Research limitations/implicationsFurther work is needed to examine the conditions under which organisations will exercise their power advantage or their joint dependence position to improve socially responsible processes in the supply chain, as there may be situations where the buyer chooses not to exercise their power positions.Practical implicationsThe authors' results indicate that jointly dependent relationships create the best conditions for socially responsible supply chain management, but they also find that supplier power advantage can constrain such initiatives.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to systematically analyse the implementation of socially responsible supply chain management, within a model that considers power a/symmetric positions of the buyer‐supplier relationship, and the role of geographical distance as a moderating influence on these power positions.

An empirical examination of the relationship between business strategy and socially responsible supply chain management

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the effect of business strategy on socially responsible supply chain management (SR‐SCM).Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on data from 178 UK‐based companies, and 340 buyer‐supplier relationships. A novel data collection approach is used, which minimizes social desirability and common methods bias, to capture socially responsible supply chain management. The data are analysed through a set of OLS regressions.FindingsBusiness strategies significantly influence socially responsible supply chain management. Low‐cost producers largely neglect their social responsibilities in the supply chain. In contrast, firms pursuing differentiation strategies are considerably more engaged with these issues, partly because they have better supply chain processes.Practical implicationsPractitioners should carefully consider the fit between strategic position and level of engagement with SR‐SCM, since our results emphasise the relationship between SR‐SCM and business strategy. Proactive engagement with SR‐SCM, however, also implies sound supply chain processes, which must also be aligned with business strategy. Policy‐makers should consider the low engagement with SR‐SCM of low‐cost producers and the implications for SR‐SCM in cost sensitive and competitive global markets.Originality/valueThis is the first systematic cross‐sectional study of the relationship between business strategy and socially responsible supply chain management (SR‐SCM). These results suggest that there is a clear relationship between the strategic position of the firm and their SR‐SCM practices. These results contribute to the on‐going debate on relationships between strategy and supply chain management, and the emerging debate on the relationships between strategy and SR‐SCM.

Reputational Risk & Responsible Supply Chain Management: Decision Making under Bounded Rationality

This paper applies the logic of bounded rationality and explores the extent to which companies implement responsible supply chain management (RSCM) as a result of their reputational risk exposure, and how bounded rationality impacts on the decision to implement RSCM. This study draws on primary and secondary data from twelve UK-based companies. We conducted 19 semi- structured interviews and analysed our data through an inductive methodology. We find that reputational risk exposure is a central driver in a company’s decision to implement RSCM practices. However, managers face bounded rationality, in particular: (i) conflicting priorities; (ii) capabilities and resources; (iii) commitment; and iv) contextual environment, which in turn, means that companies do what they can to safeguard their reputation, but balance the extent to which they implement RSCM and the cost of doing so against the likelihood of exposure. By engaging in collaborative relationships with their supply chain partners, focal firms who ...

Stakeholder Forces of Socially Responsible Supply Chain Management Orientation

This project investigates salient stakeholder forces of socially responsible supply chain orientation (SRSCO) in the apparel and footwear sector focusing on fair labor management issues. SRSCO was conceptualized as a composite of internal organizational direction and external partnership for a creation and continuation of fair labor conditions throughout the supply chain. Primary stakeholders identified were consumers, regulation, industry, and media. A total of 209 mail survey responses from sourcing managers of U.S. apparel and footwear companies were analyzed. Two dimensions of SRSCO were confirmed: internal direction and external partnership. Consumer and industry peer pressures were found significantly related to internal direction, while industry peers and media were significantly related to the external partnership. Regulation was not significantly related to either internal direction or external partnerships. Lack of regulation forces to govern labor issues and roles of consumers, industry peers, and media in promoting fair labor management are discussed in this article.

Ethical Purchasing and Workers' Rights in China: The Case of the Brotherhood of St Laurence

As China continues its economic development and integration with the global economy, pressure is building to ensure international enterprises embrace responsible supply chain management and contribute to improved labour and environmental conditions. Despite China's reputation for having a poor regulatory framework, China's labour law is more comprehensive than that of many Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. What is lacking is an adequate system of enforcement. This article draws on the experiences of an Australian non-governmental organization (NGO) in dealing with the Chinese optical industry to consider the important question of corporate social responsibility in China.1 It begins with an overview of the Brotherhood of St Laurence experience and observations in China, examines the challenges and opportunities of responsible supply chain management and ethical purchasing and the impact on workers' rights, and finally looks at implications for an Australia—China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).

The Questionable Effectiveness of Science Spending by International Conservation Organizations in the Tropics

The general context of conservation in the tropics--in the Amazon basin and elsewhere--is stagnant or declining funding and rapidly growing threat levels. For conservation programs this makes strategic deployment of limited conservation resources all the more important. International conservation organizations active in the tropics increasingly define themselves as science driven and expend considerable resources on science-based activities such as ecoregional analysis, field research, and monitoring of ecological variables. l argue that an overemphasis on science has generated a series of unintended but serious problems for conservation in the tropics. Spending on monitoring and ecoregional analysis has effectively starved protection and threat analysis of resources. A decoupling of biology from serious cost-benefit analysis has led to the privileging of small-scale and local analyses, rather than the systemic analyses essential for the strategic allocation of scarce conservation resources. Successful conservation in the tropics depends on the crossing of biogeography with sophisticated threat analysis to identify priority geographies for protection. This should be combined with much more systematic engagement with the principal drivers of tropical deforestation, especially agribusiness. Caution and a sense of proportion are required when balancing the financial demands of science and those of protection. I suggest that conservation organizations should cooperate far more in assembling and analyzing information on conservation spending and on threat levels and biogeography at the continental, national, and regional levels. Site selection should follow rather than precede this kind of strategic analysis, and sites should be considered elements of a network rather than stand-alone projects. More attention should be paid to market-driven conservation through techniques such as certification and responsible supply-chain management.