Social sustainability in the supply chain: analysis of enablers

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to identify various enablers and the inter-relationships among them in adopting social sustainability measures in the supply chain. Social sustainability in the supply chain has received growing attention in the recent years, due to growing awareness on equity, health and safety, education, child and bonded labor and ethical practices in corporates. Design/methodology/approach – Various enablers and their contextual relationships were identified. The enablers were classified based on dependence and driving power (DP) with the help of MICMAC analysis. In addition to this, a structural model of the enablers to the social sustainability problem has been put forward using the interpretive structural modeling technique. Findings – In this study, 14 relevant enablers were identified from literature review and subsequent discussions with experts from academia and the industry. Competitive pressure leads at the bottom of the digraph with high DP, followed by customers ' requirements, financial liquidity and social concern. Social sustainability awareness was found to be at the last level with less DP. Research limitations/implications – Enablers were developed based on literature survey and expert opinions. Hence, the model is not statistically validated. This model also does not quantify the adverse effect of each of the variables on social sustainability practices in the supply chain. Practical implications – The development of a hierarchy not only helps the supply chain managers to understand the enablers better, based on their importance, but also helps in decision making in the supply chain, which in turn enables the corporations to be competitive. Social implications – Findings of this article will help the corporations to be more socially sustainable by understanding the various enablers and their contextual relationships in the supply chain. Originality/value – The structured social sustainability model helps supply chain managers and experts to understand interdependence of the enablers. This also helps in identifying different enablers with different degree of importance, which will be very much useful in adopting social sustainability measures in the supply chain.

Indicators in Social Life Cycle Assessment: A Review of Frameworks, Theories, and Empirical Experience

“…There are only initial efforts (e.g., Mani et al. ; Spence and Rinaldi ; Varsei et al. ) that reveal how internal and external factors, such as firm capabilities or supply‐chain structure, hinder or enable SLCA practices to respond to stakeholders’ expectations.…”

“…First, more research is needed to investigate factors that determine the implementation, success, and failure of SLCA in business practice. There are only initial efforts (e.g., Mani et al 2015;Spence and Rinaldi 2014;Varsei et al 2014) that reveal how internal and external factors, such as firm capabilities or supply-chain structure, hinder or enable SLCA practices to respond to stakeholders' expectations. Furthermore, there is only a limited understanding of how companies perceive the relevance of social performance issues and what indicators they perceive as particularly useful in decision making (e.g., Harms et al 2013).…”

Impediments to Social Sustainability Adoption in the Supply Chain: An ISM and MICMAC Analysis in Indian Manufacturing Industries

“…Jayalakshmi and Pramod (2015) adopted ISM method to identify and analyse the flexible control systems for industry. Similarly, Mani et al (2015d) determined various social sustainability enablers in manufacturing industries using ISM method. Mathiyazhagan et al (2013) have used ISM method to identify and model the barriers associated to green sustainability adoption in Indian manufacturing Industries.…”

Development Traceability Systems for Agricultural products in India

“…In addition, significant result of this study consistent with other studies in this area where direct linking of small farmers to market, traders , exporters, manufacturer raises income of farmers, secure market at agreed price, and ensure trust (Praveen, K.V, 2014). Besides this, previous studies have focused on inter relationship or interdependency between farmers and suppliers and other actors, agro food supply chain management, market place for agriculture products, and contract farming along with private sector initiatives, rather than just focusing over independent farmer market (Ascione, Cristiano, & Tarangioli, 2011;Kumar, Agrawal, & Sharma, 2013;Mani, Agrawal, & Sharma, 2015;Somashekhar, Raju, & Patil, 2014). With regard to agro food supply chain context, this study has found relative advantage, and has PhD Thesis Keshav Prakash Dandage Discussions 100 | P a g e highlighted the need for smallholder farmers to be aware of the relative advantage of direct trading gateway instead of stepwise process.…”