This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
This article analyses one of the most common tools employed by global focal companies in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) across all industries: supplier sustainability self-assessment questionnaires. Extant research has moved beyond the questions of whether and which suppliers should be assessed. Current research is already focussing on how to share and standardise such assessment data. Despite mounting general research on SSCM, we identified that specific tools such as self-assessment questionnaires have not been empirically analysed in SSCM literature. Thus, this paper addresses the research questions of what differences there are among supplier self-assessment questionnaires and how supplier responses to such questionnaires might be influenced. Our research involves an abductive multiple-case study design and an analysis of over 25,000 responses from globally dispersed suppliers to two types of supplier sustainability self-assessment questionnaires administered and requested by a global automotive focal company. Although the two questionnaires covered similar areas of sustainability practices and were administered to suppliers of the same focal company, the suppliers’ responses demonstrated various observable differences in average sustainability scores. Social desirability bias and supplier assessment fatigue were identified as issues confronting such questionnaires. We find that questionnaire design, how the questionnaire is embedded in the focal company’s processes and institutional settings are factors that potentially influence suppliers’ responses and could counteract social desirability bias and supplier assessment fatigue. Based on these findings we make suggestions for improving these SSCM tools and provide recommendations for further research.
Iain J. Fraser; Martin Müller; Julia Schwarzkopf. Dear supplier, how sustainable are you? Sustainability Management Forum | NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum 2020, 28, 127 -149.
AMA StyleIain J. Fraser, Martin Müller, Julia Schwarzkopf. Dear supplier, how sustainable are you? Sustainability Management Forum | NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum. 2020; 28 (3):127-149.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIain J. Fraser; Martin Müller; Julia Schwarzkopf. 2020. "Dear supplier, how sustainable are you?" Sustainability Management Forum | NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum 28, no. 3: 127-149.
Global focal companies are increasingly required and expected to monitor the sustainability risks and activities in their supply chains, which has resulted in increasing supplier sustainability audit activity and growth in the number of sustainability initiatives/associations. While common, shared audit standards were originally conceived to reduce audit fatigue; with overlapping and converging supply chains there could be a need for cross-recognition or standardisation of supplier audit standards. This research aims to provide empirically grounded insight into sustainability audit activity, audit processes and standards for suppliers and the extent to which they overlap. Audit standards employed by eight multi-brand, voluntary sustainability initiatives/associations, focusing on supply chain sustainability (SMETA, PSCI, ICTI, FWF, ASI, JAC, amforiBSCI and RBA) were inductively analysed. This research compares the audit processes and standards, detecting common audit categories, analysing points of overlap and difference. We find empirical evidence of significant growth in supplier sustainability audit activity. We also find overlap among the standards in terms of audit process and steps, as well as at the level of audit focus categories. Deeper analysis reveals large differences at the granular level in terms of questions asked to assess specific topics. We conclude that there is potential for standardisation and cross-recognition but that significant barriers to agreement at the level of audit questions and how topics are evaluated remain. This research provides a first empirical overview of this important tool and its application in various industries for sustainable supply chain management.
Iain Fraser; Julia Schwarzkopf; Martin Müller. Exploring Supplier Sustainability Audit Standards: Potential for and Barriers to Standardization. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8223 .
AMA StyleIain Fraser, Julia Schwarzkopf, Martin Müller. Exploring Supplier Sustainability Audit Standards: Potential for and Barriers to Standardization. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (19):8223.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIain Fraser; Julia Schwarzkopf; Martin Müller. 2020. "Exploring Supplier Sustainability Audit Standards: Potential for and Barriers to Standardization." Sustainability 12, no. 19: 8223.
Against the backdrop of current sustainability problems, various social innovations for sustainable consumption are emerging across the globe. In order to explore the sustainability potentials of such initiatives, it is vital to understand (1) why consumers are accepting and joining these initiatives and (2) how they perceive the sustainability potentials of initiatives’ offers. In order to correctly estimate the sustainability potential of the initiatives, one should consider possible negative sustainability impacts as well as rebound effects alongside all the positive sustainability effects. Moreover, studies on social innovations for sustainable consumption have mostly been conducted in the context of the Global North. This paper focuses on studying and understanding the current situation of social innovations for sustainable consumption and its sustainability potentials in Tehran, Iran. A qualitative explorative study was conducted using desk research as well as semi-structured in-depth interviews with Iranian consumers. The results of this study confirm the existence of growing supply and demand trends for such initiatives in Iran. Among the different initiatives, those that are copies of international companies or offering alternative mobility solutions seem to have more chances for diffusion, as consumers are more motivated to use their offers. The sample of this study believed that by joining these initiatives, they could contribute to achieving greater sustainability. However, the results of the interviews also show that the possible negative sustainability and rebound effects of their engagement in such initiatives were often neglected. Therefore, there is still a need not only for educating consumers about the overall sustainability potentials of these initiatives but also for exhibiting the sustainability impacts that their consumption behaviors regarding the use of initiatives’ offers can have. This way, these initiatives can be more successful in terms of contributing to sustainability.
Samira Iran; Martin Müller. Social Innovations for Sustainable Consumption and Their Perceived Sustainability Effects in Tehran. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7679 .
AMA StyleSamira Iran, Martin Müller. Social Innovations for Sustainable Consumption and Their Perceived Sustainability Effects in Tehran. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (18):7679.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSamira Iran; Martin Müller. 2020. "Social Innovations for Sustainable Consumption and Their Perceived Sustainability Effects in Tehran." Sustainability 12, no. 18: 7679.
Personalized medicine in treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still in its infancy, albeit PDAC-related deaths are projected to rise over the next decade. Only recently, maintenance therapy with the PARP inhibitor olaparib showed improved progression-free survival in germline BRCA1/2-mutated PDAC patients after platinum-based induction for the first time. Transferability of such a concept to other DNA damage response (DDR) genes remains unclear. Here, we conducted a placebo-controlled, three-armed preclinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of multi-DDR interference (mDDRi) as maintenance therapy vs. continuous FOLFIRINOX treatment, implemented with orthotopically transplanted ATM-deficient PDAC cell lines. Kaplan–Meier analysis, cross-sectional imaging, histology, and in vitro analysis served as analytical readouts. Median overall survival was significantly longer in the mDDRi maintenance arm compared to the maintained FOLFIRINOX treatment. This survival benefit was mirrored in the highest DNA-damage load, accompanied by superior disease control and reduced metastatic burden. In vitro analysis suggests FOLFIRINOX-driven selection of invasive subclones, erased by subsequent mDDRi treatment. Collectively, this preclinical trial substantiates mDDRi in a maintenance setting as a novel therapeutic option and extends the concept to non-germline BRCA1/2-mutant PDAC.
Elodie Roger; Johann Gout; Frank Arnold; Alica K. Beutel; Martin Müller; Alireza Abaei; Thomas F. E. Barth; Volker Rasche; Thomas Seufferlein; Lukas Perkhofer; Alexander Kleger. Maintenance Therapy for ATM-Deficient Pancreatic Cancer by Multiple DNA Damage Response Interferences after Platinum-Based Chemotherapy. Cells 2020, 9, 2110 .
AMA StyleElodie Roger, Johann Gout, Frank Arnold, Alica K. Beutel, Martin Müller, Alireza Abaei, Thomas F. E. Barth, Volker Rasche, Thomas Seufferlein, Lukas Perkhofer, Alexander Kleger. Maintenance Therapy for ATM-Deficient Pancreatic Cancer by Multiple DNA Damage Response Interferences after Platinum-Based Chemotherapy. Cells. 2020; 9 (9):2110.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElodie Roger; Johann Gout; Frank Arnold; Alica K. Beutel; Martin Müller; Alireza Abaei; Thomas F. E. Barth; Volker Rasche; Thomas Seufferlein; Lukas Perkhofer; Alexander Kleger. 2020. "Maintenance Therapy for ATM-Deficient Pancreatic Cancer by Multiple DNA Damage Response Interferences after Platinum-Based Chemotherapy." Cells 9, no. 9: 2110.
This paper analyses the question whether, and if so, under what conditions, a supply chain law could have a positive impact on the existing social and ecological conditions. Since supply chains represent one of the most important levers for business to create positive impact in the world, a supply chain law generally has great potential to make a positive contribution. Compared to voluntary commitments it can be assumed that a law would increase the willingness of companies to implement sustainable supply chain measures. Furthermore, it can be assumed that a regulation or at least a directive at the EU level would mitigate the risk of a competitive disadvantage of companies that are investing in sustainable supply chain measures compared to those companies that are not taking comparable steps. The real potential of a supply chain law, however, depends on the specific regulation, influenced essentially by the concrete provisions, the responsibility scope, the implementation flexibility and the penalty mechanisms.
Sara Siakala; Martin Müller. Das Potenzial eines Lieferkettengesetzes einen Beitrag zur Optimierung bestehender sozial-ökologischer Konditionen zu leisten. Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik 2020, 69, 34 -43.
AMA StyleSara Siakala, Martin Müller. Das Potenzial eines Lieferkettengesetzes einen Beitrag zur Optimierung bestehender sozial-ökologischer Konditionen zu leisten. Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik. 2020; 69 (1):34-43.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Siakala; Martin Müller. 2020. "Das Potenzial eines Lieferkettengesetzes einen Beitrag zur Optimierung bestehender sozial-ökologischer Konditionen zu leisten." Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftspolitik 69, no. 1: 34-43.
Sustainability in supply chain management (SSCM) has become established in both academia and increasingly in practice. As stakeholders continue to require focal companies (FCs) to take more responsibility for their entire supply chains (SCs), this has led to the development of multi-tier SSCM (MT-SSCM). Much extant research has focused on simple supply chains from certain industries. Recently, a comprehensive traceability for sustainability (TfS) framework has been proposed, which outlines how companies could achieve MT-SSCM through traceability. Our research builds on this and responds to calls for cases from the automotive industry by abductively analysing a multi-tier supply chain (MT-SC) transparency case study. This research analyses a raw material SC that is particularly renowned for sustainability problems—the cobalt supply chain for electric vehicles—and finds that the extant literature has oversimplified the operationalisation of transparency in MT-SSCM. We compare the supply chain maps of the MT-SC before and after an auditing and mapping project to demonstrate the transparency achieved. Our findings identify challenges to the operationalisation of SC transparency and we outline how FCs might set to increase MT-SC transparency for sustainability.
Iain J. Fraser; Martin Müller; Julia Schwarzkopf. Transparency for Multi-Tier Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Case Study of a Multi-tier Transparency Approach for SSCM in the Automotive Industry. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1814 .
AMA StyleIain J. Fraser, Martin Müller, Julia Schwarzkopf. Transparency for Multi-Tier Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Case Study of a Multi-tier Transparency Approach for SSCM in the Automotive Industry. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (5):1814.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIain J. Fraser; Martin Müller; Julia Schwarzkopf. 2020. "Transparency for Multi-Tier Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Case Study of a Multi-tier Transparency Approach for SSCM in the Automotive Industry." Sustainability 12, no. 5: 1814.
After considering significant literature on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), it is evident that research has neglected the social dimension and still lacks in highlighting the role of sourcing intermediaries in supply chains. The apparel supply chain has increased enormously in length and complexity, driving apparel retailers to employ sourcing intermediaries who manage their sourcing activities with suppliers from developing countries overseas. Thus, the purpose of this study is to enrich existing findings on SSCM by exploring the management of social sustainability when sourcing intermediaries are in between the focal company and the respective developing country factories. More specifically, this study aims to understand the role of apparel sourcing intermediaries for the implementation of social management strategies based on the perception of multiple supply chain actors. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted in Vietnam and Europe. Ultimately ten propositions are presented, all explicitly concentrating on the apparel intermediary’s role as a significant enabler for social sustainability in apparel supply chains. The roles are social sustainability, supplier developer and coordinator, gatekeeper and safeguard, cultural broker, and social risk manager. The social sustainability roles assumed by the apparel sourcing intermediary offer great opportunities to both apparel retailers and developing country factories.
Deniz Köksal; Jochen Strähle; Martin Müller. Social Sustainability in Apparel Supply Chains—The Role of the Sourcing Intermediary in a Developing Country. Sustainability 2018, 10, 1039 .
AMA StyleDeniz Köksal, Jochen Strähle, Martin Müller. Social Sustainability in Apparel Supply Chains—The Role of the Sourcing Intermediary in a Developing Country. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (4):1039.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDeniz Köksal; Jochen Strähle; Martin Müller. 2018. "Social Sustainability in Apparel Supply Chains—The Role of the Sourcing Intermediary in a Developing Country." Sustainability 10, no. 4: 1039.
As part of a broader project, which should answer the research question whether renting casual clothes provides ecological benefits compared to conventional consumption, two literature reviews have been conducted. The first one addresses the field of Life Cycle Assessment in the textile sector. The second study considers the literature regarding the Life Cycle Assessment of Product-Service Systems. We present findings on the dependence of LCA studies, lack of available data of chemicals, benefits from technological development in the field, the importance of the use phase of clothes and suggest further routes of research regarding user behavior and methodological development.
Felix M. Piontek; Martin Müller. Literature Reviews: Life Cycle Assessment in the Context of Product-Service Systems and the Textile Industry. Procedia CIRP 2018, 69, 758 -763.
AMA StyleFelix M. Piontek, Martin Müller. Literature Reviews: Life Cycle Assessment in the Context of Product-Service Systems and the Textile Industry. Procedia CIRP. 2018; 69 ():758-763.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFelix M. Piontek; Martin Müller. 2018. "Literature Reviews: Life Cycle Assessment in the Context of Product-Service Systems and the Textile Industry." Procedia CIRP 69, no. : 758-763.
So far, a vast amount of studies on sustainability in supply chain management have been conducted by academics over the last decade. Nevertheless, socially related aspects are still neglected in the related discussion. The primary motivation of the present literature review has arisen from this shortcoming, thus the key purpose of this study is to enrich the discussion by providing a state-of-the-art, focusing exclusively on social issues in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) by considering the textile/apparel sector as the field of application. The authors conduct a literature review, including content analysis which covers 45 articles published in English peer-reviewed journals, and proposes a comprehensive map which integrates the latest findings on socially related practices in the textile/apparel industry with the dominant conceptualization in order to reveal potential research areas in the field. The results show an ongoing lack of investigation regarding the social dimension of the triple bottom line in SSCM. Findings indicate that a company’s internal orientation is the main assisting factor in sustainable supply chain management practices. Further, supplier collaboration and assessment can be interpreted as an offer for suppliers deriving from stakeholders and a focal company’s management of social risk. Nevertheless, suppliers do also face or even create huge barriers in improving their social performance. This calls for more empirical research and qualitative or quantitative survey methods, especially at the supplier level located in developing countries.
Deniz Köksal; Jochen Strähle; Martin Müller; Matthias Freise. Social Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Textile and Apparel Industry—A Literature Review. Sustainability 2017, 9, 100 .
AMA StyleDeniz Köksal, Jochen Strähle, Martin Müller, Matthias Freise. Social Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Textile and Apparel Industry—A Literature Review. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (1):100.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDeniz Köksal; Jochen Strähle; Martin Müller; Matthias Freise. 2017. "Social Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Textile and Apparel Industry—A Literature Review." Sustainability 9, no. 1: 100.
Sourcing activities in developing countries are faced with various challenges as, besides economic issues, social and environmental problems play a vital role. Based on data from 137 German firms, this paper investigates which measures of supplier management could improve supplier performance and buyer satisfaction. The proposed structural equation model was analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS). The conceptual model captures supplier selection and evaluation, supplier monitoring, supplier development, and supplier integration as independent variables and supplier performance and buyer satisfaction as dependent variables. The results indicate that mainly cooperative activities such as supplier development and supplier integration are effective while, surprisingly, supplier monitoring does not seem to have a positive influence on supplier performance.
Marion Akamp; Martin Müller. Supplier management in developing countries. Journal of Cleaner Production 2013, 56, 54 -62.
AMA StyleMarion Akamp, Martin Müller. Supplier management in developing countries. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2013; 56 ():54-62.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarion Akamp; Martin Müller. 2013. "Supplier management in developing countries." Journal of Cleaner Production 56, no. : 54-62.
The purpose of this paper is the discussion of the environmental effects of a free-floating car-sharing system operating in Ulm, Germany. The system, called car2go, allows users to take and leave vehicles at any point within the city limits. Thus opposed to traditional car-sharing, there are no fixed stations and in particular one-way trips of any length are possible without a booking requirement. Since this is the first free-floating system in operation, there is as yet no associated empirical research. Based on primary data from a survey, a model was developed to forecast the environmental impact of car2go. The prognosis considers the period of five years after the launch of car2go in 2009 and indicates a CO2-reduction per average car2go-user. In addition, more than a quarter of the survey respondents stated that they may forgo a car purchase if car2go was offered permanently. By reaching a greater share of citizens than traditional systems, the results indicate that free-floating car-sharing systems could contribute to reducing private vehicle ownership in cities.
Jörg Firnkorn; Martin Müller. What will be the environmental effects of new free-floating car-sharing systems? The case of car2go in Ulm. Ecological Economics 2011, 70, 1519 -1528.
AMA StyleJörg Firnkorn, Martin Müller. What will be the environmental effects of new free-floating car-sharing systems? The case of car2go in Ulm. Ecological Economics. 2011; 70 (8):1519-1528.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJörg Firnkorn; Martin Müller. 2011. "What will be the environmental effects of new free-floating car-sharing systems? The case of car2go in Ulm." Ecological Economics 70, no. 8: 1519-1528.
In this investigation, following the principal-agent theory, possibilities to reduce existing information asymmetries are derived and their effects on the information exchange are examined. Results of an empirical investigation based on a structural equation model confirm that monitoring measures and frequent meetings positively influence the exchange of information while explicit contracts have rather negative effects. Premiums and specific investments, however, seem to play insignificant roles. Measures, such as building a reputation mechanism, will probably prove to be effective only in the long run.
Martin Müller; Sonja Gaudig. An empirical investigation of antecedents to information exchange in supply chains. International Journal of Production Research 2011, 49, 1531 -1555.
AMA StyleMartin Müller, Sonja Gaudig. An empirical investigation of antecedents to information exchange in supply chains. International Journal of Production Research. 2011; 49 (6):1531-1555.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMartin Müller; Sonja Gaudig. 2011. "An empirical investigation of antecedents to information exchange in supply chains." International Journal of Production Research 49, no. 6: 1531-1555.
Increasingly, companies implement social and environmental standards as instruments towards corporate social responsibility (CSR) in supply chains. This is based on the assumption that such standards increase legitimacy among stakeholders. Yet, a wide variety of standards with different requirement levels exist and companies might tend to introduce the ones with low exigencies, using them as a legitimacy front. This strategy jeopardizes the reputation of social and environmental standards among stakeholders and their long-term trust in these instruments of CSR, meaning that all expenses for their implementation are of no avail for the companies. Therefore, this paper highlights which criteria are important for the selection, implementation and improvement in order to achieve a company's aim, but also to strengthen the legitimacy of social and environmental standards. This research is based on conceptual thought and some existing empirical research, comparing four different social and environmental standards, revealing weaknesses and strengths. It exposes the basic conditions for the success of such standards among stakeholders and identifies the need for more empirical data.
Martin Mueller; Virginia Gomes Dos Santos; Stefan Seuring. The Contribution of Environmental and Social Standards Towards Ensuring Legitimacy in Supply Chain Governance. Journal of Business Ethics 2009, 89, 509 -523.
AMA StyleMartin Mueller, Virginia Gomes Dos Santos, Stefan Seuring. The Contribution of Environmental and Social Standards Towards Ensuring Legitimacy in Supply Chain Governance. Journal of Business Ethics. 2009; 89 (4):509-523.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMartin Mueller; Virginia Gomes Dos Santos; Stefan Seuring. 2009. "The Contribution of Environmental and Social Standards Towards Ensuring Legitimacy in Supply Chain Governance." Journal of Business Ethics 89, no. 4: 509-523.