Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SCM)

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We are bringing in Anthony who has practical business experience in this area to undertake a three year piece of work to investigate sustainable supply chain management (Sustainable SCM). Organisations often buy and supply goods and services to one another. They do this along a supply chain that stretches upstream from the extraction of raw materials all the way downstream to the end consumer, who uses and disposes of the product. Sustainable SCM entails organizations utilising their purchasing and supply activities to promote sustainable development. This involves trying to minimize negative environmental impacts, whilst ensuring that supply chain partners employ good social practices, and that supply chain partners can make a fair profit. Looking along the supply chain This programme aims to explore sustainable supply chain management through case studies with organisations and their suppliers. It will investigate how organisations approach sustainability, and how they engage in sustainable SCM with one of their key suppliers. In turn, we will investigate how the key supplier engages in sustainable SCM with one of it's key suppliers. In this way, we hope to develop a better understanding of how sustainability is perceived and implemented along supply chains. The three aspects of sustainability A lot of research has previously focused on the environmental aspects of sustainable SCM. In this research, we aim to explore the 3 elements of sustainable SCM, including social, environmental and economic issues. We aim to understand how the different aspects might be balanced. For example, does a supply chain manager put efforts into reducing carbon emissions and packaging in the supply chain, or should they focus on ensuring the acceptable labour practices of their suppliers? Trying to understand the trade-offs and how they might be balanced will be an important aspect of the research. Sustainable SCM and performance The research will also look at whether sustainable SCM influences organisational performance. Do organisations that support sustainability in their supply chains perform better? And in what ways can that be measured? Is the improvement distributed evenly across the supply chain, or do some supply chain partners benefit more than others?Proposed Research MethodsLiterature ReviewThe nominated candidate will conduct a comprehensive literature review to assess the latest research in sustainable SCM, and to determine the theoretical underpinnings of the research.SamplingThe research on sustainable SCM is likely to be conducted in several sectors, and the approach to sampling across sectors will be determined by the literature review. Sectors may include construction, food and retail as the candidate and mentor already have contacts in these sectors. The research will entail five in depth intensive case-studies. Data collectionData are to be primarily collected via semi-structured, open-ended interviews, and participant observation of supplier meetings. Secondary data (e.g. annual reports, supplier contracts, internal documents) will also be collected to increase the study's reliability. The data will be subject to thematic coding utilising NVivo software.WorkshopParticipating case organisations and practitioners will be invited to a workshop to disseminate the findings. The case studies will encompass five focal firms and their first and second tier supply chain partner organisations. The informants for each organisation should be supply chain managers, senior buyers and CSR managers well conversant with the sustainable SCM activities of the organisation. The research will entail a total of approximately 75 interviews, composed of a number of focal companies and their primary and secondary suppliers, plus other key stakeholders.