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Purpose Managing supply chains (SCs) for sustainability often results in conflicting demands, which can be conceptualized as sustainability tensions. This paper studies sustainability tensions in electronics SC contexts and the related management responses by applying a paradox perspective. Design/methodology/approach A single case study on the electronics SC is conducted with companies and third-party organizations as embedded units of analysis, using semi-structured interviews that are triangulated with publicly available data. Findings The study identifies tension elements (learning, belonging, organizing and economic performing) conflicting with general social–ecological objectives in the electronics SC. The results indicate a hierarchal structure among the sustainability tensions in SC contexts. The management responses of contextualization and resolution are assigned to the identified tensions. Practical implications Framing social–ecological objectives with their conflicting elements as paradoxical tensions enables organizations and SCs to develop better strategies for responding to complex sustainability issues in SC contexts. Originality/value The study contributes toward filling the gap on paradoxical sustainability tensions in SCs. Empirical insights are gained from different actors in the electronics SC. The level of emergence and interconnectedness of sustainability tensions in a larger SC context is explored through an outside-in perspective.
Axel Georg Zehendner; Philipp C. Sauer; Patrick Schöpflin; Anni-Kaisa Kähkönen; Stefan Seuring. Paradoxical tensions in sustainable supply chain management: insights from the electronics multi-tier supply chain context. International Journal of Operations & Production Management 2021, ahead-of-p, 1 .
AMA StyleAxel Georg Zehendner, Philipp C. Sauer, Patrick Schöpflin, Anni-Kaisa Kähkönen, Stefan Seuring. Paradoxical tensions in sustainable supply chain management: insights from the electronics multi-tier supply chain context. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. 2021; ahead-of-p (ahead-of-p):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAxel Georg Zehendner; Philipp C. Sauer; Patrick Schöpflin; Anni-Kaisa Kähkönen; Stefan Seuring. 2021. "Paradoxical tensions in sustainable supply chain management: insights from the electronics multi-tier supply chain context." International Journal of Operations & Production Management ahead-of-p, no. ahead-of-p: 1.
Purpose The relationship between sustainability, traceability and transparency in the fashion-apparel industry, characterised by complex, labour-intensive and geographically dispersed supply chains (SCs), needs further clarification. The first goal of this study is to revise, refine and adapt to the scope of this industry, the conceptualisation of traceability and transparency and their interrelations with sustainability. The second goal is to uncover the key elements responsible for fostering and hindering their relationship in the fashion-apparel practice. Design/methodology/approach A Delphi study with fourteen experts representing key stakeholders in the entire fashion-apparel SC was carried out. Findings Operational definitions for and clear boundaries amongst sustainability, traceability and transparency are identified, and a relational model including stakeholder groups and roles, drivers and barriers is developed. Traceability, defined as an ability, together with transparency, conceptualised as an internal decision and assisted (inter alia) by cross-sector collaboration are found to be necessary but not sufficient conditions to achieve SC sustainability, which is conceived as an outcome. Originality/value The work adapts concepts from the sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) literature to the particular fashion-apparel context, incorporating the practical vision and nuances of all the key stakeholder groups and highlighting the mutually reinforcing relationship among traceability, transparency and cross-sector collaboration for effective SSCM in the fashion-apparel industry.
Sofia Garcia-Torres; Marta Rey-Garcia; Josune Sáenz; Stefan Seuring-Stella. Traceability and transparency for sustainable fashion-apparel supply chains. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal 2021, ahead-of-p, 1 .
AMA StyleSofia Garcia-Torres, Marta Rey-Garcia, Josune Sáenz, Stefan Seuring-Stella. Traceability and transparency for sustainable fashion-apparel supply chains. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal. 2021; ahead-of-p (ahead-of-p):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSofia Garcia-Torres; Marta Rey-Garcia; Josune Sáenz; Stefan Seuring-Stella. 2021. "Traceability and transparency for sustainable fashion-apparel supply chains." Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal ahead-of-p, no. ahead-of-p: 1.
Resulting from divergent business environments between actors, the integration of the base of the pyramid (BoP) into formal supply chain (SC) structures is often hampered by institutional voids, which can result in the emergence of paradoxical situations. This paper analyzes the potential of supplier development (SD) for addressing the BoP inclusion paradox. The study develops a framework based on the assumption that SD enables the development of capabilities and supplier performance, which is especially relevant when operating in BoP contexts. Seventy‐two semi‐structured interviews stemming from two case studies of (a) a local dairy and (b) an international certified pineapple SCs with BoP involvement provide empirical insights into the theoretical framework. Paradox resolution strategies (temporal separation, spatial separation, and synthesis) are related to (direct and indirect) SD practices. The proposed framework and results show that indirect SD can be used as temporal and spatial separation, but not as synthesis strategy. Contrastingly, direct SD can be used as temporal separation and synthesis. The BoP context needs direct SD to address two sustainability goals simultaneously: the social dimension of BoP inclusion and the economic dimension of formal and efficient SCs. This research extends the discussion on paradoxes in sustainability management to SCs, especially to BoP SCs. It is relevant to show that BoP inclusion is neither a sole win‐win nor trade‐off scenario. Resulting paradoxical situations can be addressed by SD, thereby moving to sustainable supply chain management (SSCM).
Carolin Brix‐Asala; Stefan Seuring; Philipp C. Sauer; Axel Zehendner; Lara Schilling. Resolving the base of the pyramid inclusion paradox through supplier development. Business Strategy and the Environment 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleCarolin Brix‐Asala, Stefan Seuring, Philipp C. Sauer, Axel Zehendner, Lara Schilling. Resolving the base of the pyramid inclusion paradox through supplier development. Business Strategy and the Environment. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarolin Brix‐Asala; Stefan Seuring; Philipp C. Sauer; Axel Zehendner; Lara Schilling. 2021. "Resolving the base of the pyramid inclusion paradox through supplier development." Business Strategy and the Environment , no. : 1.
Engaging with stakeholders and managing their issues when striving for a sustainable supply chain (SC) is a significant challenge. Although most studies on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) consider stakeholder management necessary, little is known about related stakeholder management practices in SSCM. Thus, this paper seeks to enrich the theoretical debate on stakeholder management practices in SSCM through a case study approach to bioenergy SCs in Chile. Based on 28 interviews with SC actors and representatives from the surrounding stakeholder environment, the deductive–inductive analysis reveals that stakeholder management combines different practices to discuss stakeholder concerns, address them, and evaluate the process at the SC's external and internal levels. We propose structuring these practices based on two dimensions: “practices to address stakeholder requirements” and “practices whereby stakeholders are integrated.” The analysis' results indicate that although two‐way communication with stakeholders can be seen as the core of stakeholder management, a certain willingness to learn and transform SC design is a prerequisite for true orientation toward stakeholder management in SSCM. Additionally, linkage development and local anchoring are practices used to obtain further legitimacy at the external level. Building on these findings, this study can guide practitioners in engaging with stakeholders and managing their issues across the SC.
Erik Siems; Stefan Seuring. Stakeholder management in sustainable supply chains: A case study of the bioenergy industry. Business Strategy and the Environment 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleErik Siems, Stefan Seuring. Stakeholder management in sustainable supply chains: A case study of the bioenergy industry. Business Strategy and the Environment. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleErik Siems; Stefan Seuring. 2021. "Stakeholder management in sustainable supply chains: A case study of the bioenergy industry." Business Strategy and the Environment , no. : 1.
This paper seeks to enrich the theoretical debate on dynamic capabilities (DCs) in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). By extending Beske et al.’s (2014) study, a systematic literature review was conducted, and articles matching our inclusion criteria were analyzed from 2002 to 2018. Yet, two major additions are made. For the first time, two distinctive sectors, i.e., the food and automotive industry, are compared. Furthermore, a temporal perspective is provided by comparing two time periods (2002–2013 and 2014–2018) based on content as well as quantitative contingency analyses. The results for the food sector indicate a shift from “standards and certifications,” a central construct within the 2002–2013 sample, to proactive strategies aiming for the integration of stakeholders in the 2014–2018 sample. Similarly, the findings of the automotive industry indicate a shift from monitoring to joint development and knowledge management. Based on our comparison, the SSCM debate in the food industry appears more diverse in terms of practices and capabilities employed. In contrast, the analysis for the automotive industry indicates a focus on SCM elements instead of a comprehensive SSCM view. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to apply an intra- and inter-sectoral analysis combined with a temporal analysis within the SSCM domain. This provides evidence that the methodological approach taken allows distinguishing among both time periods and industries.
Erik Siems; Anna Land; Stefan Seuring. Dynamic capabilities in sustainable supply chain management: An inter-temporal comparison of the food and automotive industries. International Journal of Production Economics 2021, 236, 108128 .
AMA StyleErik Siems, Anna Land, Stefan Seuring. Dynamic capabilities in sustainable supply chain management: An inter-temporal comparison of the food and automotive industries. International Journal of Production Economics. 2021; 236 ():108128.
Chicago/Turabian StyleErik Siems; Anna Land; Stefan Seuring. 2021. "Dynamic capabilities in sustainable supply chain management: An inter-temporal comparison of the food and automotive industries." International Journal of Production Economics 236, no. : 108128.
The coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented event, putting global supply chains (SCs) into the focus of a wider public. Yet it is unclear what is communicated about this and how and what consequences SC management (SCM) would take away. This research aims at analyzing how text mining can provide insights on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on SCs, focusing on the implications of the pandemic for the SC constructs related to risk, resilience, and sustainability. A method applies text mining of general newspapers as well as SC and logistic newspaper articles employing the open-source software R. This paper shows that certain SC topics like risk, resilience, disruption, and sustainability vary in their news coverage on the type of newspaper and the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. It reassures trends and observations from individual experiences on a broader and global picture and discusses the limitations and possibilities of using text mining in this field. The time period was split into three phases regarding the course of the number of infections and differences in the news coverage of the phases that can be distinguished already: (1) the onset of the crisis, (2) the peak and lockdown, and (3) managing SCs during the crisis. As this pandemic is highly dynamic, is new, and has not yet ended, research implications are too early to make. This research rather serves as a base for further, more detailed research into certain topics and identifies limitations and improvements of the applied method. Due to the method chosen and the timeliness of data, this empirical research is unique and can be of great help to see trends and patterns to further deep dive into specific areas.
Amelie Meyer; Wiebke Walter; Stefan Seuring. The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Supply Chains and Their Sustainability: A Text Mining Approach. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 2021, 2, 1 .
AMA StyleAmelie Meyer, Wiebke Walter, Stefan Seuring. The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Supply Chains and Their Sustainability: A Text Mining Approach. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2021; 2 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAmelie Meyer; Wiebke Walter; Stefan Seuring. 2021. "The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Supply Chains and Their Sustainability: A Text Mining Approach." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 2, no. : 1.
Students starting their research into sustainability management are often driven by a normative assumption of wanting “to do something good” or “save the world” from this or that problem. This also holds for many researchers, where the pressure to do research that has an immediate impact on the local business or natural environment is paramount. This often gets into the way of developing sound research that might pass the review process in strong academic journals. Good (empirical) research builds on the interplay of the theoretical foundation, appropriate research method, and a well-justified selection of the empirical field. The discussion paper offers some guidelines and reflections on how to do this. The core point is that academic papers get cited for their theoretical contribution, so this has to be in the foreground of research question and design. If implemented in the wrong manner upfront, this can usually not be corrected later on, preventing the research to be published in top journals. This has to do with the interplay of theory, method, and empirical field. While we would see theory as the winning factor, methods and empirical field-related choices often constitute what might be called qualifying for hygiene factors. Methods and empirical field would hardly sell the paper on their own, but if done wrongly, they will prevent it from having a chance of being accepted. The paper explores some core ideas around theory, methods, and empirical field and offers some related guidelines on how to link them. This is illustrated at some points borrowed from debates in sustainability management.
Stefan Seuring; Tara Stella; Mareike Stella. Developing and Publishing Strong Empirical Research in Sustainability Management—Addressing the Intersection of Theory, Method, and Empirical Field. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 2021, 1, 1 .
AMA StyleStefan Seuring, Tara Stella, Mareike Stella. Developing and Publishing Strong Empirical Research in Sustainability Management—Addressing the Intersection of Theory, Method, and Empirical Field. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2021; 1 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefan Seuring; Tara Stella; Mareike Stella. 2021. "Developing and Publishing Strong Empirical Research in Sustainability Management—Addressing the Intersection of Theory, Method, and Empirical Field." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 1, no. : 1.
PurposeLiterature review articles have become a frequently applied research approach in operations and supply chain management (SCM). The purpose of this paper aims to elaborate on four approaches for developing or employing theory in systematic literature reviews (SLRs).Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses conceptual arguments and illustrates them by pointing to recent examples. In SLRs, the material collection is usually based on keywords and searching databases, which is comparatively well documented. Data analysis, however, often falls short in documentation and, consequently, is neither well explained nor replicable. Therefore, the focus of this paper is the elaboration of the data analysis and sense-making stage in the research process of SLRs.FindingsThe paper presents four different approaches, which are characterized as theory (1) building, (2) modification, (3) refinement and (4) extension, based on whether new concepts are formed or extant concepts within SCM or other fields of management theory are adopted.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of this research is that literature reviews could be conducted and presented in many ways. Since the focus of this research is on systematic literature reviews, only a limited number of approaches can be discussed and presented here.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to explaining the process and expected outcomes of a literature review and, therefore, aids in further developing the related methodological approaches. This is relevant as literature review publications now often replace conceptual or theoretical pieces but still have to deliver concerning demands of theory building.
Stefan Seuring; Sadaat Ali Yawar; Anna Land; Raja Usman Khalid; Philipp C. Sauer. The application of theory in literature reviews – illustrated with examples from supply chain management. International Journal of Operations & Production Management 2020, 41, 1 -20.
AMA StyleStefan Seuring, Sadaat Ali Yawar, Anna Land, Raja Usman Khalid, Philipp C. Sauer. The application of theory in literature reviews – illustrated with examples from supply chain management. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. 2020; 41 (1):1-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefan Seuring; Sadaat Ali Yawar; Anna Land; Raja Usman Khalid; Philipp C. Sauer. 2020. "The application of theory in literature reviews – illustrated with examples from supply chain management." International Journal of Operations & Production Management 41, no. 1: 1-20.
With the overlap of the interfirm relationship quality and supply chain management research in mind, this paper reviewed 100 recent, scientific, English-language papers on interfirm relationship quality based on a categorisation schema derived from a conceptual framework of supply chain management. We aim to contribute to the existing supply chain management literature by providing an insight into the connections of supply chain performance with buyer–supplier relationship quality from the relationship quality scholars’ perspective. Through content analysis, frequency and contingency analysis, we evaluated how the three relationship quality dimensions—information, operational, and relational dimensions—and the three types of supply chain performance—financial and market, operational, and relational performance have been reflected in the current interfirm relationship quality papers and how the scholars have tended to link them to each other. The results reveal that relational dimension plays a key role in SC relationship management and influences performance significantly. Information dimension will affect performance indirectly through relational dimension. However, the impact of the operational dimension on performance varies. In addition, buyers’ and suppliers’ perspectives on the relational drivers of their financial performance may differ. Based on the findings, we suggest promising avenues for future investigation of supply chain relationship and performance.
Chen Qian; Stefan Seuring; Ralf Wagner. Reviewing interfirm relationship quality from a supply chain management perspective. Management Review Quarterly 2020, 1 -26.
AMA StyleChen Qian, Stefan Seuring, Ralf Wagner. Reviewing interfirm relationship quality from a supply chain management perspective. Management Review Quarterly. 2020; ():1-26.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChen Qian; Stefan Seuring; Ralf Wagner. 2020. "Reviewing interfirm relationship quality from a supply chain management perspective." Management Review Quarterly , no. : 1-26.
In this editorial piece, we first introduce the theme and objectives of the special issue on new technologies in operations and supply chains as well as their implications for sustainability. The papers comprising the special issue are then summarized, and major findings are briefly presented. Based on our observations on the submissions and the research gaps yet to be addressed, we attempt to offer our views on the directions for future research in the same research agenda, including discussion around research scope, research theory, research methodology, and research findings as well as in-depth studies concerning contemporary and imperative issues confronting operations and supply chain managers.
Yang Liu; Qinghua Zhu; Stefan Seuring. New technologies in operations and supply chains: Implications for sustainability. International Journal of Production Economics 2020, 229, 107889 -107889.
AMA StyleYang Liu, Qinghua Zhu, Stefan Seuring. New technologies in operations and supply chains: Implications for sustainability. International Journal of Production Economics. 2020; 229 ():107889-107889.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYang Liu; Qinghua Zhu; Stefan Seuring. 2020. "New technologies in operations and supply chains: Implications for sustainability." International Journal of Production Economics 229, no. : 107889-107889.
PurposeThe literature on supplier development (SD) is mostly fragmented, and very little research offers insights on the interrelations of the critical elements of SD. This research aims to evaluate the significance of SD and reconceptualise it by identifying and linking the key constructs and items of SD.Design/methodology/approachA structured literature review of SD literature was performed, and it was followed by conducting a contingency analysis of defined constructs and the items of SD. Applying a literature review and contingency analysis allows assessing the degree to which core constructs and their operational items are addressed in the SD literature.FindingsOur findings show that a high degree of interrelations exists among enablers, relationships and supplier development strategies (SDS), of which, only indirect SDS drives the performance outcomes. However, interrelations between the individual items of the main categories of SD remain unexplored.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed revised framework reveals significant research gaps in SD and calls for a thorough examination of the topic.Originality/valueThe key contribution of the paper is reconceptualising SD and contributing to the theoretical development of SD.
Sadaat Ali Yawar; Stefan Seuring. Reviewing and conceptualizing supplier development. Benchmarking: An International Journal 2020, 27, 2565 -2598.
AMA StyleSadaat Ali Yawar, Stefan Seuring. Reviewing and conceptualizing supplier development. Benchmarking: An International Journal. 2020; 27 (9):2565-2598.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSadaat Ali Yawar; Stefan Seuring. 2020. "Reviewing and conceptualizing supplier development." Benchmarking: An International Journal 27, no. 9: 2565-2598.
Fostering business activities has been advocated as a more appropriate strategy, replacing aid-based initiatives for achieving sustainable economic development of underprivileged societies. However, the little familiarity with the working of supply chains serving the respective markets is obstructing our efforts to devise suitable strategies to promote corporate activity in underdeveloped areas. The paper aims to critically evaluate applicability of established supply chain management related constructs in base of the pyramid market setting. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data in 60 face-to-face interviews, with buyer–supplier dyads, focusing micro-entrepreneurs in Pakistan. We used partial least squares algorithm (SmartPLS 3) to fit a structural equation model to the data. Communication emerged as prime driver construct linked to tactical purchasing, technological integration with customers, technological integration with suppliers and supply chain partner development. The paper, while extending largely formal market–focused supply chain literature to informal settings, enriches our understanding of related phenomena in base of the pyramid markets. Findings of the paper will not only assist practitioners in grasping dynamics of business-to-business markets at the base of the pyramid but will also aid in understanding causality of certain supply chain management practices. The paper is among first contributions to evaluate business-to-business interactions among micro-entrepreneurs in the base of the pyramid markets employing a survey methodology.
Raja Usman Khalid; Stefan Seuring; Ralf Wagner. Evaluating supply chain constructs in the base of the pyramid environment. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 270, 122415 .
AMA StyleRaja Usman Khalid, Stefan Seuring, Ralf Wagner. Evaluating supply chain constructs in the base of the pyramid environment. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 270 ():122415.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRaja Usman Khalid; Stefan Seuring; Ralf Wagner. 2020. "Evaluating supply chain constructs in the base of the pyramid environment." Journal of Cleaner Production 270, no. : 122415.
Global sourcing largely occurs from so-called emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). In these contexts, substantial leverage effects for sustainability in supply chains (SCs) can be expected by reducing adverse impacts on society and minimising related risks. For this ethical end, an adequate understanding of the respective sourcing contexts is fundamental. This case study of South Africa’s (SA) mining sector uses institutional theory and the notion of institutional uncertainty to empirically analyse the challenges associated with establishing social sustainability. The case study research is informed by 39 semi-structured interviews with top management representatives and various state and non-state decision makers in SA. Our findings suggest that (social) sustainability in the institutional field is mainly shaped by the Social and Labour Plan institution, induced by state actors and mining companies’ practices. However, four weakening factors were identified that adversely affect this regulative institution, drive institutional uncertainty and allow for mining companies’ gradual decoupling. Contrastingly, complementing pressures of non-state actors limit institutional uncertainty and push toward mainstreaming the stipulations of the institution. This study contributes to the business ethics literature by providing an in-depth exploration of institutional uncertainty’s drivers and barriers within an upstream SC setting and shedding light on multiple actors’ interplay and relevance in sector-wide sustainability. The findings are condensed into three main propositions as well as an analytical framework as a basis for follow-up research. This case study helps practitioners understand and manage complexity that results from actor plurality and institutional uncertainty in EMDEs.
Nikolas K. Kelling; Philipp Sauer; Stefan Gold; Stefan Seuring. The Role of Institutional Uncertainty for Social Sustainability of Companies and Supply Chains. Journal of Business Ethics 2020, 1 -21.
AMA StyleNikolas K. Kelling, Philipp Sauer, Stefan Gold, Stefan Seuring. The Role of Institutional Uncertainty for Social Sustainability of Companies and Supply Chains. Journal of Business Ethics. 2020; ():1-21.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNikolas K. Kelling; Philipp Sauer; Stefan Gold; Stefan Seuring. 2020. "The Role of Institutional Uncertainty for Social Sustainability of Companies and Supply Chains." Journal of Business Ethics , no. : 1-21.
The literature on the diffusion of the circular economy (CE) rarely provides empirical evidence from emerging economies that face institutional voids and sustainability paradoxes. In contrast, drawing on stakeholder theory, in this paper we test a research framework capable of capturing the imbricated and complex relations among stakeholder pressure, barriers to and motivators of the CE, circular business models, and firms’ sustainable performance. Survey-based primary data was gathered from Brazilian industrial companies which lack regulatory clarity regarding the implementation of a CE. Our research results comprise both expected and unexpected outcomes: (i) differing from other countries, the relevance of regulatory stakeholders in Brazil could not be fully confirmed, adding complexity to the topic; (ii) unexpectedly, in this research, company owners/shareholders were the most salient stakeholders; (iii) stakeholders do indeed exert influence on how firms deal with barriers to and motivators of a CE; (iv) we found that internal barriers and internal motivators were perceived as more intense than external ones, which may create organizational tensions; (v) the adoption of a CE by firms tends to improve their sustainable performance; (vi) the previous possession of ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications may control the way companies perceive the benefits of a CE.
Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour; Stefan Seuring; Ana Beatriz Lopes De Sousa Jabbour; Daniel Jugend; Paula De Camargo Fiorini; Hengky Latan; Wagner Colucci Izeppi. Stakeholders, innovative business models for the circular economy and sustainable performance of firms in an emerging economy facing institutional voids. Journal of Environmental Management 2020, 264, 110416 .
AMA StyleCharbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour, Stefan Seuring, Ana Beatriz Lopes De Sousa Jabbour, Daniel Jugend, Paula De Camargo Fiorini, Hengky Latan, Wagner Colucci Izeppi. Stakeholders, innovative business models for the circular economy and sustainable performance of firms in an emerging economy facing institutional voids. Journal of Environmental Management. 2020; 264 ():110416.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCharbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour; Stefan Seuring; Ana Beatriz Lopes De Sousa Jabbour; Daniel Jugend; Paula De Camargo Fiorini; Hengky Latan; Wagner Colucci Izeppi. 2020. "Stakeholders, innovative business models for the circular economy and sustainable performance of firms in an emerging economy facing institutional voids." Journal of Environmental Management 264, no. : 110416.
Scholarly discussion on the amalgamation of sustainability and supply chain management has been growing in the last decade. However, an integrated social and economic sustainability performance measurement in supply chains is an emerging avenue in the Sustainable Supply Chain Management discourse. Hence, the purpose of this study is to understand how socially sustainable practices affect economic sustainability performances in supply chains. A survey questionnaire and a conceptual framework were developed to explore this relationship. Survey data collected based on responses from 119 managers in the Sri Lankan apparel-manufacturing sector was analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling. We observed that the practices conducted by apparel manufacturers ensuring the social sustainability of the human factor inside the company (Internally influencing Social Sustainability Practices-ISSP) and in society (Externally Influencing Social Sustainability Practices-ESSP) create a positive impact on the economic performance. However, the effect produced by ISSP was higher compared to the ESSP. This study is based on a single developing country and, thus, should be extended to other countries considering the different institution environments when studying this interrelation between the social and economic sustainability dimensions.
Jayani Ishara Sudusinghe; Stefan Seuring. Social Sustainability Empowering the Economic Sustainability in the Global Apparel Supply Chain. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2595 .
AMA StyleJayani Ishara Sudusinghe, Stefan Seuring. Social Sustainability Empowering the Economic Sustainability in the Global Apparel Supply Chain. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (7):2595.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJayani Ishara Sudusinghe; Stefan Seuring. 2020. "Social Sustainability Empowering the Economic Sustainability in the Global Apparel Supply Chain." Sustainability 12, no. 7: 2595.
Carolin Brix-Asala; Stefan Seuring. Bridging institutional voids via supplier development in base of the pyramid supply chains. Production Planning & Control 2019, 31, 903 -919.
AMA StyleCarolin Brix-Asala, Stefan Seuring. Bridging institutional voids via supplier development in base of the pyramid supply chains. Production Planning & Control. 2019; 31 (11-12):903-919.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarolin Brix-Asala; Stefan Seuring. 2019. "Bridging institutional voids via supplier development in base of the pyramid supply chains." Production Planning & Control 31, no. 11-12: 903-919.
Despite a wealth of expertise involving leading institutions over at least 15 years, a base of the pyramid (BoP) model resulting in scalability has yet to emerge. We posit that institutional gaps between BoP goals of developing human and social capital on one hand and a short‐term profit focus of business on the other contribute to the lack of scalability. We address this gap by proposing a social intermediary to link the BoP with firms involved in the BoP. The social intermediary will coordinate and interpret the informal market requirements of the BoP to the firm in a “bottoms up” approach. We illustrate the bottoms up approach through a case involving Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, a German government agency, with the garment manufacturing industry in Pakistan. The case study involves implementation of labor standards and productivity in the Pakistan garment industry, resulting in improved productivity and labor standards enabling garment manufacturers to access global supply chains.
Mark Alan Heuer; Usman Khalid; Stefan Seuring. Bottoms up: Delivering sustainable value in the base of the pyramid. Business Strategy and the Environment 2019, 29, 1605 -1616.
AMA StyleMark Alan Heuer, Usman Khalid, Stefan Seuring. Bottoms up: Delivering sustainable value in the base of the pyramid. Business Strategy and the Environment. 2019; 29 (3):1605-1616.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark Alan Heuer; Usman Khalid; Stefan Seuring. 2019. "Bottoms up: Delivering sustainable value in the base of the pyramid." Business Strategy and the Environment 29, no. 3: 1605-1616.
Triadic or tetradic multi-tier sustainable supply chain management (MT-SSCM) research emerged recently to reach out towards raw material suppliers and to address their often severe sustainability impacts. This is especially relevant in mineral supply chains (SCs) which consist of a commodity chain upstream and an end-product chain downstream. To comprehensively investigate the reach of MT-SSCM in mineral SCs, the extant Delphi study brought together 44 global authors on sustainability in mineral SCs. They contributed their professional knowledge in three questionnaire rounds, which systematically identify, evaluate and contrast the sustainability challenges in mineral SCs. As a result, a generic mineral SC structure is derived and 17 major sustainability issues are identified. Moreover, the findings reveal that all but two sustainability issues need to be addressed in the upstream SC. As mineral SCs might comprise up to nine tiers, the most impactful tiers lie outside the reach of current MT-SSCM concepts, which are limited to triads or tetrads by the visible horizon or lacking power of the focal firm. We thus propose a cascaded MT-SSCM approach which links the up- and downstream SC parts. Moreover, individual focal firms for each SC part are defined, which build a direct strategic link. This link enables that tailored managerial responses can be cascaded into the respective SC parts, where the individual sustainability issues can best be addressed. This cascaded design represents a novel approach in MT-SSCM which multiplies existing concepts. Moreover, the challenges and opportunities, which the cascaded approach raises for MT-SSCM research are discussed and outlined.
Philipp C. Sauer; Stefan Seuring. Extending the reach of multi-tier sustainable supply chain management – Insights from mineral supply chains. International Journal of Production Economics 2019, 217, 31 -43.
AMA StylePhilipp C. Sauer, Stefan Seuring. Extending the reach of multi-tier sustainable supply chain management – Insights from mineral supply chains. International Journal of Production Economics. 2019; 217 ():31-43.
Chicago/Turabian StylePhilipp C. Sauer; Stefan Seuring. 2019. "Extending the reach of multi-tier sustainable supply chain management – Insights from mineral supply chains." International Journal of Production Economics 217, no. : 31-43.
Mehrdokht Pournader; YangYan Shi; Stefan Seuring; S.C. Lenny Koh. Blockchain applications in supply chains, transport and logistics: a systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Production Research 2019, 58, 2063 -2081.
AMA StyleMehrdokht Pournader, YangYan Shi, Stefan Seuring, S.C. Lenny Koh. Blockchain applications in supply chains, transport and logistics: a systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Production Research. 2019; 58 (7):2063-2081.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMehrdokht Pournader; YangYan Shi; Stefan Seuring; S.C. Lenny Koh. 2019. "Blockchain applications in supply chains, transport and logistics: a systematic review of the literature." International Journal of Production Research 58, no. 7: 2063-2081.
Dynamic capabilities (DCs) are crucial for companies to attain competitive advantage in dynamic business environments and supply chains, where environmental and social aspects are considered by sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). However, the effects of stakeholder influences on SSCM performance, which results from the interplay of DCs and SSCM practices, need to be analyzed. Therefore, a system dynamics (SD) model is proposed to include the influences of governmental, shareholder, and other external stakeholder pressure. The system behavior, i.e., the company’s SSCM performance, can thus be analyzed in face of varying time delays of stakeholder influences. Findings indicate that different intensities of stakeholder influences affect the development of SSCM practices and DCs of a focal company, and thus, overall SSCM performance. Consequently, intensities of stakeholder influences should be managed accordingly, while the impact of time delays has to be understood to control SSCM performance. The insights gained from the model support the decision- and policy-making, which can be considered from the perspective of the focal company, the regulatory authorities, the shareholders, and other external stakeholders that ultimately translate into customer pressure.
Tobias Rebs; Daniel Thiel; Marcus Brandenburg; Stefan Seuring. Impacts of stakeholder influences and dynamic capabilities on the sustainability performance of supply chains: a system dynamics model. Journal of Business Economics 2019, 89, 893 -926.
AMA StyleTobias Rebs, Daniel Thiel, Marcus Brandenburg, Stefan Seuring. Impacts of stakeholder influences and dynamic capabilities on the sustainability performance of supply chains: a system dynamics model. Journal of Business Economics. 2019; 89 (7):893-926.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTobias Rebs; Daniel Thiel; Marcus Brandenburg; Stefan Seuring. 2019. "Impacts of stakeholder influences and dynamic capabilities on the sustainability performance of supply chains: a system dynamics model." Journal of Business Economics 89, no. 7: 893-926.