International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

Silva, Minelle E.; Fritz, Morgane M.C.; Seuring, Stefan; Matos, Stelvia

2023 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-02-2023-546

Hohn, Marlene M.; Durach, Christian F.

2023 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-09-2021-0410

Despite a surge in public and academic interest in the social sustainability conduct of firms, only few firms have taken responsibility for the social issues in their supply chains. This study seeks to extend our theoretical understanding of why some firms grow toward accepting this type of responsibility while others do not.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conduct a systematic literature review for the purpose of theory building. Building on Gao and Bansal's distinction of instrumental and integrative views on business sustainability (2013, DOI 10.1007/s10551-012-1245-2) as well as corporate social responsibility development research, the authors review socially sustainable supply chain management (social SSCM) literature to theorize the interplay of driving factors that underly firms' choice to refrain from, start or deepen their engagement in social SSCM.FindingsThe authors propose an overview of the presumed mechanisms underlying the development of a reluctant, a purely instrumental or an integrative view on social SSCM. Among other things, the authors propose that it seems highly unlikely for conventional, profit-oriented firms to develop beyond an instrumental view on social SSCM.Originality/valueThis study conceptually extends current research on social SSCM by offering insights on how firms are driven to engage in it. This study offers first thoughts that should help managers and other stakeholders better understand the social SSCM potential of firms and how to realize this potential effectively.

Lee Park, Camila; Fracarolli Nunes, Mauro; Machuca, Jose A.D.

2023 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-09-2021-0405

The study aims to investigate cultural aspects in supply chains, analysing the effect that local customs may have in the quality of buyer–supplier relationships. Building on the premisses of social exchange theory (SET), it concentrates on the impacts that suppliers’ use of local practices and informal networks may have in buyers’ attitudes and perceptions. The issues addressed and the empirical evidence provided represent initial, yet important steps in the fulfilment of the ‘cultural void’ within supply chain social sustainability (SCCS) literature.Design/methodology/approachThrough a role-playing experiment applied to a total sample of 468 participants, the effects of Chinese guanxi, Russian blat, South Korean yongo and Brazilian jeitinho on buyers’ satisfaction, buyers’ commitment, trust and solution severity are measured by their use to access informal networks as solutions to both common (i.e. documentation irregularities) and extraordinary (i.e. modern slavery) supply chain problems.FindingsResults show that, while the activation of informal networks may impact buyers’ perceptions, the use of some local practices by suppliers (i.e. Chinese guanxi and Brazilian jeitinho) cause greater variations in buyers’ attitudes and perceptions than others (i.e. South Korean yongo and Russian blat), with ethical offences (i.e. modern slavery) and higher levels of buyers’ dependency acting as catalysts of these processes.Originality/valueThe investigation of cultural practices typical of economically peripheral countries contributes to the understanding of new facets of buyer–supplier relationships, with the investigation of non-Northwestern practices being particularly important in this regard.

Fernandes, Valérie; Kuzey, Cemil; Uyar, Ali; Karaman, Abdullah S.

2023 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-09-2021-0415

This study aims to examine the roles of board gender and cultural diversities in driving social sustainability practices through the moderating effect of board structure policies in the logistics and transportation sector.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted fixed-effects regression with 2005–2019 data from Thomson Reuters Eikon.FindingsThe results showed that female directors are significant predictors of social sustainability across the four dimensions of human rights, workforce, product responsibility and community development. Additionally, directors with different cultural backgrounds (but not the workforce) are significant determinants of community development, human rights and product responsibility. Furthermore, although board structure policies positively moderate the relationship between board gender diversity and social sustainability, they fail to moderate the relationship between board cultural diversity and social sustainability.Originality/valueThe findings have crucial implications for the logistics and transportation sector's social sustainability and may help the sector align with employees' and society's expectations. The incorporation of board gender and cultural diversities into the research design was a response to calls by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) to address board configuration and stakeholders' concerns.

Miguel, Priscila L.S.; Tonelli, Maria José

2023 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-09-2021-0407

Based on a critical lens, this paper aims to empirically evaluate the adoption of programs to buy from minority suppliers (MS) and their outcomes in Brazil, considering a multi-stakeholder approach (buying companies, suppliers and third parties).Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected via an exploratory survey involving 109 buying companies and two case studies with 21 in-depth interviews.FindingsIt was revealed that supplier diversity (SD) in Brazil is still developing, and is more rhetoric than a practice promoting real change. The current traditional procurement mindset, the role of third parties, and the focus on supplier selection, rather than on supplier development prevents a social impact that could reduce inequality between MS and their counterparts.Originality/valuePrevious studies were focused on buying companies' perspective in advanced countries that have clear regulation for SD. By exploring the phenomenon in a country with great economic disparities and no regulation, and using a critical lens, this study highlights the difference between desired and effective implementation of social initiatives that promote inclusiveness.

Liu, Chia-Yi

2023 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-09-2021-0396

This study expands the isomorphic logic on the participatory guarantee system (PGS) alternative certification method, which aims to level the supply chain sustainability field to determine how the alignment of disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders (e.g. small/applicant farmers, local organizations, consumers and volunteer auditors) might neutralize the negative effects of stakeholder heterogeneity (SH) on PGS recognition.Design/methodology/approachThe sample comprised 113 multilateral matching questionnaires collected from disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders participating in the PGS activities of the Green Conservation Label managed by Taiwan's Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation (TOAF). This study adopted hierarchical regression to test the hypotheses.FindingsStakeholder alignment, external community (EC) constructs, similar backgrounds (SBs) and value congruence (VC) diminish the negative effects of SH on PGS recognition.Social implicationsPGS is an agrifood supply chain social movement designed to allow underprivileged actors to enact solutions collectively to address social inequities and ecological problems through fair procedures, collective assignments and collaborative intentionality. PGS members who leverage VC, SB and EC will have a greater chance of successfully overcoming their institutional disadvantages.Originality/valueBased on the PGS activities initiated by disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders, this study transformed isomorphic logics, including coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphisms, into a mechanism with which individuals can build a governance structure that helps disadvantaged agrifood stakeholders develop alternative institutions by pooling their resources.

Vo, Linh-Chi; Lavissière, Mary C.; Lavissière, Alexandre

2023 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-09-2021-0409

This paper contributes to the social pillar of sustainable supply chain management. It does so by investigating how women managers in the maritime sector handle work-family conflict, thereby acting as institutional entrepreneurs to create a work-family balance logic. The maritime sector is a male-dominated supply chain management environment, which suffers from a talent gap of a lack of women executives. One reason for this problem is work-family balance issues that deter women from staying in the workforce.Design/methodology/approachThe authors interviewed 35 women working as port managers in different developing countries. The authors analyzed their strategies in coping with the conflict between family and work to create a work-family balance logic.FindingsThe authors found four different types of strategies to handle work-family conflicts. Responses showed that women executives in this sector can be institutional entrepreneurs. Based on the findings, the authors were able to confirm and contribute to the existing model proposed by Silva and Nunes (2021) on sustainable supply chain logic. The authors also provided recommendations for these women as institutional entrepreneurs and for policymakers to retain women talent in the supply chain management.Research limitations/implicationsThe research focuses on a specific supply chain management sector, which is the maritime sector. It also relies exclusively on interview data.Practical implicationsThe authors propose recommendations to develop a work-family balance logic and retain talented women in the supply chain industry based on monitoring equality and supporting their need for a work-family balance, both in the short and long terms.Originality/valueThe authors interviewed women executives in one of the most male dominated sectors. The authors studied their ability to cope with work-family conflicts and identified four ways to create a work-family balance logic. These findings enabled us to show the contribution and limits of women executives as institutional entrepreneurs for work family balance logics in male dominated sectors.

Fontana, Enrico; Atif, Muhammad; Heuer, Mark

2023 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/ijpdlm-07-2021-0265

This article encourages novel approaches in the SSCM literature to create transformative change for workers in developing countries' apparel supply chains. It examines how suppliers' implementation of social sustainability is moderated by buyers' pressures (through dyadic ties) and by similar suppliers' pressures (through extended ties).Design/methodology/approachThe article adopts a qualitative method design based on fieldwork and 21 face-to-face interviews with suppliers' senior managers. The data were collected between 2017 and 2020 in the factory premises of suppliers in Pakistan.FindingsThis article distinguishes the pressures that moderate suppliers' implementation of social sustainability positively (top-down encouragement, informal exchange and competitive convergence) and negatively (unrewarded commitment) through social ties. Hence, it shows how suppliers experience constrained proactivity as a state of tension.Originality/valueThe article primarily contributes to the SSCM literature by informing how similar suppliers' pressures in the business community constitute important processes of social governance and are key to create transformative change upstream in apparel supply chains. Against this backdrop, it cautions about buyers' opposite pressures and misuse of their negotiation power, which indirectly holds back and dilutes transformative change.