scholarly journals The institutional logic of the sustainable organisation: the case of a chocolate supply network

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate McLoughlin ◽  
Joanne Meehan
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Network ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analyse Power ◽  
Stakeholder Network ◽  
New Research ◽  
Competitive Activities ◽  
Social Logics

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how, and by whom, institutional logics are determined in the action of sustainable organisation. The authors analyse a supply chain network structure to understand how multiple stakeholders' perceptions of sustainability emerge into a dominant logic and diffuse across an organisational field.Design/methodology/approachStakeholder network theory provides novel insights into emerging logics within a chocolate supply chain network. Semi-structured interviews with 35 decision-makers were analysed alongside 269 company documents to capture variations in emergent logics. The network was mapped to include 63 nodes and 366 edges to analyse power structure and mechanisms.FindingsThe socio-economic organising principles of sustainable organisation, their sources of power and their logics are identified. Economic and social logics are revealed, yet the dominance of economic logics creates risks to their coexistence. Logics are largely shaped in pre-competitive activities, and resource fitness to collaborative clusters limits access for non-commercial actors.Research limitations/implicationsPowerful firms use network structures and collaborative and concurrent inter-organisational relationships to define and diffuse their conceptualisation of sustainability and restrict competing logics.Originality/valueThis novel study contributes to sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) through presenting the socio-economic logic as a new conceptual framework to understand the action of sustainable organisation. The identification of sophisticated mechanisms of power and hegemonic control in the network opens new research agendas.

Applying Industry 4.0 technologies in the COVID–19 sustainable chains

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Acioli ◽  
Annibal Scavarda ◽  
Augusto Reis
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Supply Chain Performance ◽  
Chain Process ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Performance ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Research

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is 1) to investigate the effects on the crucial Industry 4.0 technological innovations that interact between the real and virtual worlds and that are applied in the sustainable supply chain process; 2) to contribute to the identification of the opportunities, the challenges and the gaps that will support the new research study developments and 3) to analyze the impact of the Industry 4.0 technologies as facilitators of the sustainable supply chain performance in the midst of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).Design/methodology/approachThis research is performed through a bibliographic review in the electronic databases of the Emerald Insight, the Scopus and the Web of Science, considering the main scientific publications on the subject.FindingsThe bibliographic search results in 526 articles, followed by two sequential filters for deleting the duplicate articles (resulting in 487 articles) and for selecting the most relevant articles (resulting in 150 articles).Practical implicationsThis article identifies the opportunities and the challenges focused on the emerging Industry 4.0 theme. The opportunities can contribute to the sustainable performance of the supply chains and their territories. The Industry 4.0 can also generate challenges like the social inequalities related to the position of the man in the labor market by replacing the human workforce with the machines. Therefore, the man-machine relationship in the Industry 4.0 era is analyzed as a gap in the literature. Therefore, as a way to fill this gap, the authors of this article suggest the exploration of the research focused on the Society 5.0. Also known as “super-smart society,” this recent theme appeared in Japan in April 2016. According to Fukuda (2020), in addition to the focus on the technological development, the Society 5.0 also aims at the quality of life and the social challenge resolutions.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the analysis of the Industry 4.0 technologies as facilitators in the sustainable supply chain performance. It addresses the impacts of the Industry 4.0 technologies applied to the supply chains in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it analyzes the research gaps and limitations found in the literature. The result of this study can add value and stimulate new research studies related to the application of the Industry 4.0 technologies as facilitators in the supply chain sustainable performance. It can encourage the studies related to the COVID-19 impacts on the sustainable supply chains, and it can promote the research development on the relationship among the man, the machine and the labor in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

A multi-objective optimization model for sustainable supply chain network with using genetic algorithm

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Ehtesham Rasi ◽  
Mehdi Sohanian
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Supplier Selection ◽  
Supply Chain Network ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Multi Objective Optimization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Sustainable Supplier Selection

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to design and optimize economic and environmental dimensions in a sustainable supply chain (SSC) network. This paper developed a mixed-integer linear programing (MILP) model to incorporate economical and environmental data for multi-objective optimization of the SSC network. Design/methodology/approach The overall objective of the present study is to use high-quality raw materials, at the same time the lowest amount of pollution emission and the highest profitability is achieved. The model in the problem is solved using two algorithms, namely, multi-objective genetic and multi-objective particle swarm. In this research, to integrate sustainable supplier selection and optimization of sustainability performance indicators in supply chain network design considering minimization of cost and time and maximization of sustainability indexes of the system. Findings The differences found between the genetic algorithms (GAs) and the MILP approaches can be explained by handling the constraints and their various logics. The solutions are contrasted with the original crisp model based on either MILP or GA, offering more robustness to the proposed approach. Practical implications The model is applied to Mega Motor company to optimize the sustainability performance of the supply chain i.e. economic (cost), social (time) and environmental (pollution of raw material). The research method has two approaches, namely, applied and mathematical modeling. Originality/value There is limited research designing and optimizing the SSC network. This study is among the first to integrate sustainable supplier selection and optimization of sustainability performance indicators in supply chain network design considering minimization of cost and time and maximization of sustainability indexes of the system.

A hub location model in the sustainable supply chain considering customer segmentation

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Heidari ◽  
Din Mohammad Imani ◽  
Mohammad Khalilzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Customer Segmentation ◽  
The Other ◽  
Supply Chain Network ◽  
Meaningful Difference ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Hub Location ◽  
Nsga Ii ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multi Objective

Purpose This paper aims to study the hub transportation system in supply chain networks which would contribute to reducing costs and environmental pollution, as well as to economic development and social responsibility. As not all customers tend to buy green products, several customer groups should be considered in terms of need type. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a multi-objective hub location problem is developed for designing a sustainable supply chain network based on customer segmentation. It deals with the aspects of economic (cost reduction), environment (minimizing greenhouse gas emissions by the transport sector) and social responsibility (creating employment and community development). The epsilon-constraint method and augmented epsilon-constraint (AEC) method are used to solve the small-sized instances of this multi-objective problem. Due to the non-deterministic polynomial-time hardness of this problem, two non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) and multi-objective grey wolf optimizer (MOGWO) metaheuristic algorithms are also applied to tackle the large-sized instances of this problem. Findings As expected, the AEC method is able to provide better Pareto solutions according to the goals of the decision-makers. The Taguchi method was used for setting the parameters of the two metaheuristic algorithms. Considering the meaningful difference, the MOGWO algorithm outperforms the NSGA-II algorithm according to the rate of achievement to two objectives simultaneously and the spread of non-dominance solutions indexes. Regarding the other indexes, there was no meaningful difference between the performance of the two algorithms. Practical implications The model of this research provides a comprehensive solution for supply chain companies that want to achieve a rational balance between the three aspects of sustainability. Originality/value The importance of considering customer diversity on the one hand and saving on hub transportation costs, on the other hand, triggered us to propose a hub location model for designing a sustainable supply chain network based on customer segmentation.

Paradoxical tensions in sustainable supply chain management: insights from the electronics multi-tier supply chain context

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel Georg Zehendner ◽  
Philipp C. Sauer ◽  
Patrick Schöpflin ◽  
Anni-Kaisa Kähkönen ◽  
Stefan Seuring
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Party Organizations ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Conflicting Demands ◽  
Ecological Objectives

PurposeManaging 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/approachA 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.FindingsThe 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 implicationsFraming 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/valueThe 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.

Social sustainability in supply chains: a review

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1125-1148
Author(s):  
Patricio Javier Chiesa ◽  
Wojciech Przychodzen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Social Sustainability ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain Management ◽  
New Research

Purpose The purpose of this study is to review the development of the socially sustainable supply chain management field. Design/methodology/approach The 112 most cited papers in the field until 2017 are analysed using a state-of-the-art structured literature review model borrowed from the accounting field. Findings This study highlights the increasing number of publications across the years, the diversity of journals and the type of authors addressing the topic. It reveals that qualitative studies focused on large companies in the garment, food and electronics sectors and on private regulations capture most of the attention, with Asia, Europe and North America being the most scrutinised locations. Drivers and barriers for socially sustainable supply chain management are summarised, clustered and confronted. This study also evaluates how the sustainability and corporate social responsibility concepts are used in the above field and analyses the existing definitions of social sustainability. Research limitations/implications This study incites researchers to broaden their studies to diverse sectors and locations, addressing different levels of supply chains with quantitative techniques and clearer conceptual foundations. Practical implications This study incites practitioners to further contribute to this scholars-dominated research field, offering their practical insights and perspectives. Originality/value This study offers original insights and critiques of the literature, highlighting its gaps and proposing new research avenues for the future.

Bi-objective optimization for sustainable supply chain network design in omnichannel

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 972-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinay Surendra Yadav ◽  
Sarsij Tripathi ◽  
A.R. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Network Design ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Supply Chain Network ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Channel Distribution ◽  
Multiple Channel ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Flexible Distribution

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to design a sustainable supply chain network (SCN) for omnichannel environment in order to provide better service to customers through flexible distribution. Thus, there is a need to incorporate multiple-channel distribution in the network design of supply chains (SCs). Design/methodology/approach A multiple-channel distribution supply chain network (MCDSCN) has been proposed under omnichannel environment. This proposed model integrates online giants with local retailer’s distribution network in an uncertain environment with sustainability. To incorporate sustainability, an objective function is added to reduce carbon content along with other objectives of minimization of SC cost. The model turns out to be mixed-integer linear programming model which is coded in GAMS and solved using CPLEX solver. Findings The proposed MCDSCN model is compared with conventional SCN. Furthermore, it was found that the proposed MCDSCN model has achieved significant saving in SC cost and is also more sustainable than conventional SCN. The proposed model also enables online giants to integrate their distribution network with local retailer’s distribution network. Practical implications Through proposed model, customers are free to access product and services as per their choice of channels which increases their convenience, reach and satisfaction. Originality/value The proposed MCDSCN model is a novel approach to design flexible distribution systems. This would significantly help organizations to design their distribution network more effectively to meet global competition.

Analogical reasoning guidelines: a review and application to sustainable supply chains

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Gruner ◽  
Damien Power
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Analogical Reasoning ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Target Domain ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Source Domain ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain Management ◽  
New Research

Purpose This paper aims to review analogical reasoning work to distil and apply procedural guidelines that aid theoreticians to develop novel analogies. Design/methodology/approach The authors reviewed 189 studies from 1980 to 2020 to identify analogical reasoning guidelines. Findings Results revealed four procedural steps for the introduction of novel analogies: target and source domain selection; domain image mapping; relevance assessment; and proposition drafting. […] shallow lakes constitute the source domain and sustainable supply chain management represents the target domain. Research limitations/implications The identified procedural guidelines can help future scholars to develop novel analogies with rigor and structure. The paper provides an agenda for new research that addresses gaps in current studies that reason by analogy. Originality/value This paper distils and applies analogical reasoning guidelines for the development of novel analogies, extending and complementing much existing theorizing on reasoning by analogy. Additionally, disjointed and fragmented research findings are synthesized to yield a comprehensive understanding of analogical reasoning, which can serve as a foundation for future theorizing in sustainable supply chain management and beyond.

scholarly journals Operational competencies and relational resources: a multiple case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Nascimento Zatta ◽  
Elmo Tambosi Filho ◽  
Fernando Celso de Campos ◽  
Rodrigo Randow Freitas
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relational Resources ◽  
New Research

Purpose The purpose of this study was to use relational vision as a theoretical support for an investigation of how operational competencies are developed from the interaction of shared relational resources in the supply chain and to verify how these competencies allow the resources to be able to function, unity, integration and direction. Design/methodology/approach This multihull study was based on semi-structured interviews with 13 representatives of four dyads from companies in the steel, automotive and industrial applications, pulp processing and manufacturing and application of flexible tubes. Findings The results indicate that information, knowledge and learning are significant constructs to influence the development of operational skills in the supply chain because they represent the ability of the company to promote skills to efficiently use resources and create a barrier to imitation. Research limitations/implications There are limitations in the use of four companies from different industrial segments because it is possible to generalize the results. However, given the cross-sectional nature of the research, new studies may adopt a longitudinal approach to verify the evolution in the area of operations. Future studies may also expand the unit of analysis to understand the role of the relationship between the focus business and its strategic suppliers from the viewpoint of the suppliers. Thus, new research can be expanded to dyads, triads and business networks by investigating the various stages in the supply chain. Practical implications This study contributes to the literature and adds the dimension of relational operational skills, which is hitherto little explored in previous studies. Social implications This study contributes to the literature in the area of operations management, in collaborative relationships between buyers and sellers, focusing on the relational view of competitiveness. Originality/value The growing importance of organizations and the role of collaboration, based on mutual benefits and grouping of skills, tend to increase the competitive benefits of companies operating in this context. The management of this type of arrangement becomes a challenge for researchers, reinforcing the originality of this study.

scholarly journals Blockchain technology: implications for operations and supply chain management

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosanna Cole ◽  
Mark Stevenson ◽  
James Aitken
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Inventory Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
New Research

PurposeThis paper aims to encourage the study of blockchain technology from an operations and supply chain management (OSCM) perspective, identifying potential areas of application, and to provide an agenda for future research.Design/methodology/approachAn explanation and analysis of blockchain technology is provided to identify implications for the field of OSCM.FindingsThe hype around the opportunities that digital ledger technologies offer is high. For OSCM, a myriad of ways in which blockchain could transform practice are identified, including enhancing product safety and security; improving quality management; reducing illegal counterfeiting; improving sustainable supply chain management; advancing inventory management and replenishment; reducing the need for intermediaries; impacting new product design and development; and reducing the cost of supply chain transactions. The immature state of practice and research surrounding blockchain means there is an opportunity for OSCM researchers to study the technology in its early stages and shape its adoption.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides a platform for new research that addresses gaps in knowledge and advances the field of OSCM. A research agenda is developed around six key themes.Practical implicationsThere are many opportunities for organisations to obtain an advantage by making use of blockchain technology ahead of the competition, enabling them to enhance their market position. But it is important that managers examine the characteristics of their products, services and supply chains to determine whether they need or would benefit sufficiently from the adoption of blockchain. Moreover, it is important that organisations build human capital expertise that allows them to develop, implement and exploit applications of this technology to maximum reward.Originality/valueThis is one of the first papers in a leading international OSCM journal to analyse blockchain technology, thereby complementing a recent article on digital supply chains that omitted blockchain.

Sustainable supply chain management: continuing evolution and future directions

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig R. Carter ◽  
Marc R. Hatton ◽  
Chao Wu ◽  
Xiangjing Chen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain ◽  
Unit Of Analysis ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Empirical Validity ◽  
Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to update the work of Carter and Easton (2011), by conducting a systematic review of the sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) literature in the primary logistics and supply chain management journals, during the 2010–2018 timeframe. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology which follows the methodology employed by Carter and Easton (2011). An evaluation of this methodology, using the Modified AMSTAR criteria, demonstrates a high level of empirical validity. Findings The field of SSCM continues to evolve with changes in substantive focus, theoretical lenses, unit of analysis, methodology and type of analysis. However, there are still abundant future research opportunities, including investigating under-researched topics such as diversity and human rights/working conditions, employing the group as the unit of analysis and better addressing empirical validity and social desirability bias. Research limitations/implications The findings result in prescriptions and a broad agenda to guide future research in the SSCM arena. The final section of the paper provides additional avenues for future research surrounding theory development and decision making. Originality/value This SLR provides a rigorous, methodologically valid review of the continuing evolution of empirical SSCM research over a 28-year time period.

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