ABSTRACT. This paper studies the impacts of Additive Manufacturing adoption on the environmental and social performance of a supply chain. The research is based on a two-step process: a focus group with 4 practitioners to identify the potential effects of AM adoption on sustainability, and then a Delphi study to validate these variables and collect experts’ opinion from a broader range. The paper offers an original understanding about the potential implications AM, and consequent changes on SC design and strategy stemming from its adoption, may have on energy consumption, CO2 emissions, material usage, such as the impact on local economies and communities of rural areas, on workers and society. The paper contributes with empirical evidence and cases description, supporting the theory framed in a research framework.

ABSTRACT. This research builds on the signalling theory to explain the sustainable supply chain transparency. It aims to advance the understanding of how buyers assess the importance of various attributes of supply chain information voluntarily disclosed by suppliers. It also incorporates the factors associated with blockchain technology. The choice-based conjoint experiment was designed and sent to test with actual buyers. This research found that buyers are concerned with sustainability signals from suppliers when selecting new suppliers. The priority is given to product disclosures, followed by process and sourcing network disclosures, while the immutability and timeliness of information gain less attention.

ABSTRACT. This study examines sustainable procurement in the context of ICT service supply chains by investigating related characteristics, drivers, and practices. A case study was conducted by collecting data from 16 semi-structured interviews with a lead firm operating in the financial services sector and its three main ICT service suppliers. The results show that, while the case-study firms have started to implement sustainability practices, ensuring sustainability in the ICT service sector is still in the early stages. Also, the findings highlight the complexity of sustainable supply management in the service context.

ABSTRACT. Powerful actors in a supply chain have been shown to influence sustainable practices. This paper captures how power has been explored in relation to sustainability in an agri-food supply chain context through critically evaluating the current research landscape. Four distinct perspectives emerged from the review; those who influence, impose, accept and resist sustainable practices within their supply chains. Influence and accept are classifications when practices are seen as fair in the supply chain from the perspective of the powerful and weaker actors respectively. When powerful and weaker actors perceive unfair practices, this has been categorised as impose and resist accordingly.

ABSTRACT. Standards and certifications have been employed for the last 30 years as a tool to counteract unsustainable practices in cocoa sector. Lately, lead firms are increasingly migrating from independent certification schemes to proprietary programs run by themselves. We therefore investigate how their move beyond certification is reflected in their public communication. We gather almost 9000 pages comprising 88 sustainability reports from 11 major chocolate manufactures to perform topic modelling and sentiment analysis. Preliminary results show a shift in content distribution and tones over time. Our study contributes to the discussion over sustainable sourcing and production strategies inglobal supply chains.

ABSTRACT. Please see the abstract attached

ABSTRACT. This research aims to map the state of the art of sustainable multi-tier SC performance measurement systems in the food industry. Moreover, the objective is to design a semi-quantitative decision tool that could be used to evaluate how social sustainability is handled both in a self-evaluative and supplier-centric perspective and in this way to have a complete overview of performance assessment in practice. The research follows a mix methodology approach of qualitative and quantitative perspectives, first, conducting multiple case studies in the food industry in Italy and second, building a tool with a set of key performance indicators.

ABSTRACT. The MIMIC megagame was developed as a serious game for use in workshops on construction logistics. This article covers its inception, development and testing. The “megagame” support discussions of both homogenous and heterogeneous groups when it comes to understanding the perspectives of different actors, underscoring that effective cooperation requires more than just agreement. Findings include difficulties and strengths in the online adaptation, such as difficulties are overview and lack of interaction/mingling between participants and strengths are privacy and opportunities to include stressed but important groups into the game. Conclusions are that online megagames are suitable for high-end stakeholders with geographical spread.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into how supply chain management can be taught using megagames as a pedagogical motor. This study has had a longitudinal action research approach to student centred learning as it builds on a previous paper on introducing a theme of cross-functional decision-making through combining lectures, case assignment, and computer-based tools. Combining case work and the megagame has led to activity independence and room for new reflections. What can be seen is that exchanging the computer-based tool for a megagame has allowed students a deeper understanding of not only decision-making, but also decision-formulation.

ABSTRACT. In this research, we aim at integrating and adapting a serious gaming platform named Scenario Exploration System to constructive alignment in education. The gaming platform originally aimed at engaging with foresight and scenarios in a quick process, in less than three hours, in systemic thinking with a long-term perspective and to explore alternative futures for specific issues. Through an interactive and participatory process, the game enables participants to acquire and share knowledge, explore the interests, motivations and strategies of different societal actors. Thus, the integration to education will enhance the challenges for students thinking by exploring the situations.

ABSTRACT. For the challenges regarding sustainability and digitalisation, the purchasing and supply management function needs a future workforce that can think strategically out of the box. An experiment in a masters course showed that a mix of learning objectives, didactics and assessments leads to strategic thinking. Evidence shows that a precondition is that the student is result-driven, curious and open to new experiences. According to Mintzberg (1994), “creativity” is a necessity for “strategic thinking”. This paper provides evidence that analytical thinking and creativity are necessary conditions for strategic thinking. Absent creativity and analytical thinking will prevent the student from strategic thinking. Additionally, creativity is a sufficient condition; higher levels lead to higher levels of strategic thinking. Moreover, evidence is found for other necessary and sufficient conditions than Mintzberg proposed.

ABSTRACT. In this conceptual article, we use an institutional perspective to discuss how the uptake of Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) in Europe can be accelerated. More specifically, we discuss how three topics related to institutional forces (coercive, mimetic and normative) can be applied to stimulate SPP, what the advantages and disadvantages are, and what can be done to try to mitigate some of the disadvantages. In particular, we pay attention to the coercive force and different forms of mandatory SPP requirements. Using a theoretical adaptation method, we argue for a mandatory approach with procedural requirements that provides public buyers with sufficient flexibility and stimulates efforts beyond certain minimum levels of SPP. We discuss that the single use of substantive requirements might even hinder the uptake of SPP. A procedural comply-or-explain requirement in combination with substantive requirements might be more effective. Furthermore, we discuss that the combination of the three forces might be the most effective way forward. A mandatory approach with sufficient flexibility is considered to be most effective when professional norms are changed, to correspond with the principals of sustainable development, and when the copying of best practices is stimulated by tender platforms and other measures.

ABSTRACT. The public sector is moving towards a framework that prioritizes public value creation over merely fixing market failures. Meanwhile, a range of societal objectives and sustainability transitions need to be addressed in the same public space, with limited time and resources, which calls for an ‘Integrated Approach’, where multiple objectives are achieved simultaneously. We study how Dutch municipalities work out this necessary ‘Integrated Approach’ to create more public value and take the procurement of multi-goal nature-based solutions as an empirical context. We present a research proposal for an interpretivist multi-case study.

ABSTRACT. Research on circular public procurement has mainly focused on the implications for the procurement stage, while studies on Implementation in public organizations are scarce. The aim of this study is to analyze the challenges of circularity in the public procurement implementation chain in two case studies and to explore the possibility of supporting purchasers through nudging. The results from this study contribute to the fields of sustainable consumption and organizational change, as well as provide implications for public procurement and the use of nudging in a public purchasing context.

ABSTRACT. While the Kraljic Matrix is extensively embraced by procurement practitioners in different sectors, we argue in this paper that the characteristics of public procurement necessitate a critical evaluation of its application in the public sector. In this study, we propose an alternative portfolio model to define specific sourcing and supplier relationship strategies in public procurement. The model uses supply chain and product complexity and supply risk as two dimensions for categorizing items purchased by procurement organizations in the public sector. These dimensions identify four groups of strategies to purchase these items – cooperative agreements, patronized competition, monitored partnership and deputized responsibilities – that are described in detail.

ABSTRACT. In this paper, we conceptualize the resilience-creating efforts of strategic networks using digital technologies. We deploy a multi-level conceptualization of strategic networks and address how digital technologies impact resilience at different levels of strategic networks and their wider boundary management within a business network context. The paper provides a nomological framework for addressing these issues empirically through future research as well as a framework for managers of lead firms to systematically address resilience-creating issues and potential trade-offs.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study is to explore the resilience strategies of the suppliers at the deep-tiers (i.e. far, up-stream) of supply chains to build bilateral resilience along their supply chains through (1) increasing their adaptability to the resilience demands of downstream firms and, (2) improving visibility at their suppliers for building upstream resilience. A concept mapping methodology is adopted to identify and analyze the interplay between various resilience strategies that are followed by deep-tier suppliers. Results show the different clusters of deep-tier supplier strategies to adapt resilience strategies upstream. A big challenge is the time lag between the focal organizations and their deep-tier suppliers.

ABSTRACT. The recent continual supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19, the Suez Canal blockade, and the Ukraine war have made industries sufficiently aware of the significance of supply chain resilience (Derrein & Van Der Putten, 2021; Maatsch, 2022; Ollagnier, 2022). It is vital for firms to have a supply chain that is resilient to be strong in the market and for the longevity of their business. A resilient supply chain might be affected during the disruption but can quickly return to its original performance level (Carvalho et al., 2012). The manner in which firms can achieve resilience is still not fully explored (Linnenluecke, 2017). The upstream supply chain partners (suppliers) have a huge impact on how resilient a customer firm can be (Attinasi et al., 2021; Lund et al., 2020). The differential impact of activities of tier 2 and tier 1 suppliers on customer’s resilience has not been addressed fully in current literature. Furthermore, a customer who satisfies suppliers gain preferential status and receive preferential treatments such as allocation of their capacity, employees, or other resources (Hüttinger et al., 2014). However, the role of being a preferred customer to the supplier in achieving resilience during disruption is still unknown. It is essential for companies to know every potential opportunity to be resilient in this unpredictive market. This study therefore intends to compare the effect of resilience of tier 2 and tier 1 suppliers as well as preferred customer status on resilience shown towards customer.

ABSTRACT. The level of complexity in sourcing and procurement decisions reached unprecedented levels to secure faster response and adaptation in turbulent and unpredictable environments. To react appropriately to such disruptions and secure supply chain service levels, firms must enhance resiliency capability in their upstream supply chains. The role of purchasing structure in organization for enhancing supply chain resiliency has been underexplored in the literature. This study conducts an in-depth analysis on a manufacturing company to discover how different purchasing structures contribute to the company’s resiliency and highlights the reasons behind choosing different purchasing structure for different components. The company utilized centre-led purchasing structure for sourcing technological components, while coordinated structure is used for bulky components. Each structure contributes to the company’s resiliency in different ways. Centre-led structure securing the supply and mitigating supply disruption through more buying power, and coordinated model increases resiliency through supply base localization.

ABSTRACT. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in the circular economy (CE) transition. The CE transition of Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) with a focus on manufacturing SMEs underpins this research, which explores the potential barriers to implementing a CE business model. Barriers to the CE transition is a growing research area and this study makes two key contributions to the literature. First, we explore the interaction between different barriers to the CE transition. Second, we do this through an in-depth case study of a small enterprise at the center of the electrification and mobility ecosystem that specializes in high-voltage batteries for heavy-duty trucks. Our results show that barriers related to the actors and their attitudes, structure, technology, and tools hinder the speed of the CE transition. Moreover, the interactions between these barriers keep the system unbalanced by reinforcing loops and making the CE transition more challenging. Among identified barriers, the financial barriers and lack of funding followed by cultural barriers related to the supply chain actor maturity for transition seem to be the main hurdles. The government’s role is critical in facilitating the transition through their intervention and introducing new policies. Finally, to make the transition happen the whole ecosystem needs to change which will happen through the collaboration between actors.

ABSTRACT. The aim of the study is to analyze the interdependencies of barriers to circular procurement. ISM-MICMAC was applied to find the contextual relationship among the barriers. A panel of experts from industry and academia was consulted to develop a contextual relationship. Based on the analysis, a hierarchical model of barriers is developed that helps to understand the impact of one barrier over others. The managers and organizations can use this study to inhibit the effects of barriers to the successful implementation of CP that will lead to achieving the sustainable development goal (SDG) number 12 particularly target 12.7.

ABSTRACT. Circular economy (CE) is becoming an influential force behind sustainability, both in the literature and in practice, few studies integrate it into Purchasing and Supply Management. However, a new mindset, ways of suppliers’ management may be needed for purchasing teams to contribute effectively to CE. Thus, this article aims to explore, understand and identify the drivers for its implementation. Our qualitative study explores the emerging theme of circular economy and buyer-supplier attractiveness through interviews with experienced purchasing professionals working in an international context. The findings characterize the nature of attractiveness and indicate that mutual attractiveness in the buyer-supplier relationship is improved by CE practices within companies.

ABSTRACT. Recent supply chain research highlights the importance of studying collaborative practices to achieve circular economy (Sudusinghe & Seuring, 2022) and shows that one lever for scaling up could be systemic operations involving collaborations going beyond traditional industrial boundaries (Tate et al., 2019). This paper studies cross-industrial circular collaborations, how they emerge, function and whether they are relevant from a profitability and environmental perspective. The methodological approach is a qualitative multiple study of 6 supply networks straddling different industrial sectors. The theoretical approach is the network theory (Granovetter, 1973) coupled with an application of an inter-organisational proximity framework (Boschma, 2005).

ABSTRACT. Our aim is to understand the relationship between gender and decision behavior regarding socially sustainable procurement. We examine the effects ambiguity has on social sustainability preferences in decision making, and whether differences based on gender arise. A scenario-based role-playing experiment in the classroom is used to provide preliminary results on the hypotheses. The results suggest that when given an ambiguous probability of an issue occurring, females tend to choose the more sustainable product choice when compared to the choices made by males in our student sample. Preliminary insights into decision behavior are provided as part of a larger project.

ABSTRACT. Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is becoming increasingly important, but its implementation by companies still remains challenging. Currently, the literature has primarily focused on identifying the various antecedents and drivers for the adoption of SSCM. In this paper, we go deeper into one particular driver of SSCM and provide a more thorough understanding of the relationship between top management team (TMT) diversity and SSCM. We attempt to bring more clarity to the concept of TMT diversity within the context of supply chains and guide its development by reviewing and synthesizing the existing literature on how diversity may influence the adoption and implementation of sustainable practices in supply chain operations. We provide a theoretical framework that zooms in on the particular mechanisms behind TMT diversity as a driver of SSCM. The framework allows us to structure the present research and depicts how increasing TMT diversity can be an important way to increase the actions the firm is likely to take towards ethical and sustainable sourcing.

ABSTRACT. Interest in introducing practices that address socially relevant issues, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), has broken through firms’ boundaries over time, prompting the requirement for various supply chain members to implement new practices. Inclusive purchasing has emerged as one of these new practices that addresses DEI issues in the operations management context. However, little is known about how firms learn to implement such practices. To fill this research gap, this study was designed to investigate how boundary objects—defined as artifacts that shape the learning of specific practices in this context—configure inclusive purchasing practices through multi-level learning. This qualitative research, comprising multiple cases, produced evidence used to elaborate on inclusive purchasing theory. Data collected were analyzed inductively and revealed five boundary objects across multiple levels that represented methods the firms employed to span boundaries for inclusive purchasing. For instance, at the coalition level, learning was represented by a standardized object developed collectively by all members. This article provides insights for theory by demonstrating the vital role of boundary objects in inclusive purchasing practice and for practitioners by uncovering learning pathways for introducing socially relevant issues.

ABSTRACT. The energy transition and ongoing digital transformation poses major challenges and opportunities to society. Smart meter data can help grid managers to operate the electricity grid with increased reliability at lower cost. So far, the digital transformations of electricity sectors are faltering. To improve, we need to learn about how actors in the energy sector can better leverage smart meter data and how to govern the relationships between these actors to better deal with rising complexity. Through investigating the digital transformation policy failure related to the rollout of smart meters in the Dutch electricity sector we develop a research agenda.

ABSTRACT. Due to cost and resource efficiency, circular "as-a-service" solutions – where customers pay for access – are growing. These solutions save resources because private means are often unused. These non-ownership models have many benefits but rebound effects that could undermine their sustainability have been understudied. This e-scooter case study investigates such effects in the Mobility-as-a-Service context and finds ways to mitigate them. It shows that increased demand, resource extraction, waste, and pollution are severe rebounds in this context, diminishing the solution’s resource efficiency. Recommendations to mitigate rebounds include reforming the pricing model, incentivizing responsible purchasing, establishing pick-up and return spots, and raising awareness.

ABSTRACT. In this paper, we consider the fulfillment process of online orders for an omni-channel retailer implementing ship-from-store strategy lateral transshipment between stores. This problem is motivated by the real inventory planning problem frequently faced by omni-channel retailers aiming to serve their online customers in major cities with premium delivery speeds (i.e., same-day and on-demand delivery) at a high level of service out of their existing, heavily space constrained brick-and-mortar stores. The objective of this problem is to minimize the omni-channel retailer’s fulfillment cost while minimizing the CO2 emissions. We formulate the problem recurring to multi-objective optimization.

ABSTRACT. Current research on social implications of adopting technologies is limited and needs to be studied further to mitigate unintended consequences. Our case study approach reveals SRSCM-specific learnings from end-user and technology-service provider perspectives. The findings show that technology is not a “silver bullet” to solve SRSCM issues, isrekindling “traditional” challenges and creating novel problems. We find that buyer- supplier relationships needs to be studied further. We contribute to limited literature at the intersection of Industry-4.0 and SRSCM by providing insights on two simultaneously transforming yet interdependent phenomena. We provide practical implications for managers considering technology-based solutions by illustrating specific challenges.

ABSTRACT. The need for a transformation to an environmentally friendly economy is undisputed. Procurement has a steering function, as considerable influence can be exerted on the upstream supply chain. The incorporation of environmental ambitions in purchasing strategies, policies and processes has gained widespread interest in academic research. In both private and public procurement, recent research examines whether the implementation and uptake of green purchasing practices not only takes place in an efficient and effective manner, but whether the implementation and uptake can also improve the performance of an organisation. While studies on measuring the influence of green procurement practices on organisations' performance are available, they come to different conclusions. Hence, this paper, examines 22 empirical studies by employing a meta-analytical methodology. The results demonstrate, that adopting green procurement practices has a positive effect on organizational performance.

ABSTRACT. In this research we investigate transparency and opacity in animal welfare in fashion supply networks. Following a literature review, we develop a conceptual framework of transparency and opacity of animal welfare in supply networks using a geology perspective. By conceptually framing animals as ‘stakeholders’ rather than as ‘resources’, we add new insights into transparency in animal welfare in supply networks. By reporting on initial findings from our study, which brings insights from animal welfare organizations (international NGOs) through interviews and by conducting an analysis of secondary data on companies’ actions on animal welfare transparency, we uncover how responsible practices can evolve in fashion supply networks to develop improved animal welfare transparency.

ABSTRACT. Because of the complexity of the issues plaguing the supply chain for organ donation andtransplantation, this research seeks to develop a hierarchical model to explain theinterrelationships between key challenges in organ supply chain operations. After reviewingthe available literature, eleven factors (variables) were identified. As a system is the result ofits interactions rather than its individual parts, we used the interpretive structural modelling(ISM) approach to reveal the contextual relationship among the challenges identified in theliterature through expert opinions. Key players in organ donation and transplantation fromNigeria and Uganda are on our panel of experts. The findings revealed that inadequateregulatory frameworks, insufficient information systems, and a lack of required skills make itdifficult for key actors to carry out their responsibilities efficiently. Thus, the study informsexperts and policymakers on how to strengthen organ transplantation supply chains indeveloping countries. To our knowledge, our study is the first to empirically examine organtransplant supply chain challenges from an SSA perspective and provide theoreticalexplanations for the findings.

ABSTRACT. Electronic waste the fastest-growing solid waste stream has evolved as a domain drawing substantial attention among scholars. Particularly, research in the field of behavioral studies is on the rise. While reviews on e-waste have proliferated, a paucity prevails on WEEE-behavioral review studies. Thus, this study aims to perform a bibliometric review study on WEEE-behavioral research in two phases combining both 1) bibliometric and 2) content analysis to provide a systematic and holistic review. First, bibliometric analysis was done using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny (R package) on a sample of initial 293 articles combining SCOPUS and WOS databases. The bibliometric part initially determines the evolution of WEEE-behavioral research, most productive nations, journals, themes, and clusters via bibliographic coupling-based network analysis, co-occurrence, co-citation analysis, Sankey diagram, impact analysis with global and local citation, etc. Second, content analysis has been done with 41 relevant articles (assigning inclusion and exclusion criteria to an initial 293 sample) that are able to answer the research questions. Hence, in terms of findings from the bibliometric and content analysis, this study presents: 1) the evolution of the WEEE-behavioral domain via bibliometric analysis 2) proposes an integrated theoretical framework 3) underlying main research streams with a framework, and 4) avenue of future research with a robust conceptual model to hypothesize.

ABSTRACT. In the textile industry, many suppliers are involved in producing final clothing goods. Due to the turbulent and dynamic business environment, these suppliers often face various uncertainties in their business. If suppliers consider these uncertainties in their sustainability decision, it is known as the uncertainty aversion attitude of the supplier. Thus, the objective of this research is to understand the relationship between these uncertainties and sustainable practices of suppliers. Moreover, certification agencies are also essential to suppliers' sustainability practises. Hence, we use a qualitative research methodology to describe how these certifying bodies affect supplier attitudes and sustainability practices.

ABSTRACT. This research addresses the need of a comprehensive understanding of value generated by certifications in food industry. The problem is studied from a multidimensional perspective considering the drivers, characteristics, outcomes, and contextual factors that determine the value of certifications in a food SME. A mixed method approach was applied: survey and multiple case studies. The former aimed to understand the purchasing habits and awareness of food certifications among Italian consumers. The latter aimed to investigate the approach towards the certification adoption process in Italian food SMEs. A conceptual framework is proposed highlighting the relevance of each concept in the certification adoption process.

ABSTRACT. Supplier codes of conduct (SCOC) are a widely adopted practice as part of ESG and sustainability programs. We present findings from a longitudinal content analysis of SCOC spanning over two decades. We find that scope and coverage of SCOC has increased over the years. We complement this analysis with the study of how SCOC are rolled out across the supply base. Using resource orchestration and signaling theory as foundations, we study five case companies and develop a framework for the maturation of SCOC beyond a focus on compliance and reputation towards a focus on sustainability progress and supply chain impact.

ABSTRACT. Global public procurement spend is significant and although its central goal is essentially the acquisition of goods and services for governments at the best possible value, it must also serve to promote equal treatment of all interest groups in the process. Although a number of different policies and measures have been adopted to increase access for female-led companies to successfully bid for public sector contracts, progress has been slow. This suggests that barriers exist that are preventing the full implementation of gender-responsive procurement and this paper explores the possibility that there is gender-biased language in a range of public sector Invitations to Tender.

ABSTRACT. By building on stakeholder engagement, public procurement (PP), and circular economy (CE) literature, this study aims to add to the understanding of how engaging stakeholders can develop the circularity of construction projects in their planning and implementation phases. The study includes four cases from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, and reflects the vast differences in scopes for circular public procurement (CPP) in the construction industry. We emphasize the importance of stakeholder engagement and identify the key elements that should be adjusted or added to the current PP literature to incorporate CCP better.

ABSTRACT. Purchasing services within the public domain is a challenging task. Public organizations must comply with formal and regulated processes, however, services are intangible, contain subjective qualities, and rely on constant interactions between providers and buyers. Therefore, Public organizations need specific capabilities to successfully exchange services in regulated interactions with suppliers. Using the systematic literature review method, this working paper explores public organizations' capabilities for effective interaction in purchasing services.

ABSTRACT. The objective of the presented research is to investigate the effect of the digital capabilities of Italian municipalities on the public procurement efficiency performance. A multivalued treatment effects analysis is described. Three treatments are defined to describe the digital capabilities of the Italian municipalities; they are the presence of a head of digital transformation, the presence of a digital innovation office, the presence of an ICT provider or a software development team. The impact of the treatments was studied on efficiency outcomes of the tendering process, such as the percentage saving and the time duration. The analyses were repeated by partitioning the sample according to three different moderator variables: the awarding criteria, the level of competition, the municipality’s size.

ABSTRACT. This study explores, empirically, the concept of supply chain plasticity in response to a supply chain disruption. Specifically, the work pursues two broad research questions, does supply chain plasticity exist? If so, why does it matter? Specifically, we focus on a research context where disruptions, cause manufacturing shutdowns. Drawing on the existing literature evidence and partnered with a Silicon Valley based end-to-end supply chain risk management solutions provider, Resilinc. Corp., a two-staged, sequential analysis was conducted. In the first stage, we explored to what degree does a firm engage in plasticity after a disruption, captured as the change of firm’s structural network position (e.g. structural holes, network centrality, and clustering). In the second stage, we determined the implication of plasticity, that is, how fast can a firm “bounce back” from the disruption, captured by the time to recover from the shutdown. Findings indicate that plasticity does indeed exist, and, its performance implications are consequential.

ABSTRACT. The last few years provide some serious crises which especially affect PSM. An effective crisis management determine companies’ competitiveness in recent times. This paper investigates management and supply chain resilience activities in PSM of past crises by conducting a systematic literature review. Therefore, we classify the results into stages of crisis management and different management areas provided by the MTOI model. The developed framework of results portrays a holistic perspective on crisis management activities.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this paper is to explore what paths lead to supply chain resilience. Data from 165 Swedish manufacturing and retailing firms was split in two subsets based on level of supply chain complexity and analyzed using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Findings indicate four and three sufficient paths to resilience for low and high complexity, respectively. All but one path consists of configurations of two capabilities. The results also show little overlap, which is suggestive of different paths to resilience based on level of complexity.

ABSTRACT. Beside the growing interest in Circular Economy (CE), there is a lack of management studies investigating the new paradigm of CE to cope with risks, to increase resilience and to improve firm’s performances. Recent studies are arguing that resilience can help firms and supply chains (SCs) to build circular business models and proactively respond to any crisis due to the presence of crucial capabilities. However, conceptual or empirical researches on this field are still lacking. This study aims to investigate whether resilience can help firms to realize CE strategies and to improve firms’ performance, proactively responding to crisis in turbulent environment.

ABSTRACT. This research investigates circular supply chain configurations, the significance of various flows in enabling circularity, and the role of capabilities in managing these flows. Secondary data on 200 environmental award winners within the B Corp certification scheme has been analysed, and resulting insights are combined with in-depth case studies of six organizations. The results highlight the need for integrative designs of all types of flows, as well as the paramount role of capabilities in the successful implementation of circular supply chain designs, including those related to stakeholder relationship management, supply chain collaboration for improved supply chain transparency, and systemic thinking.

ABSTRACT. This study aims to define food waste and its impact before providing a comparative analysis of UK, US and Australian government legislation / incentives for food waste reduction and the adoption of anaerobic digestion (AD). A content analysis of 11 UK, 9 US and 5 Australian supermarket food waste strategies are provided and the impact of legislation / incentives on these strategies. The paper concludes that the specific strategies adopted and their relative success, such as the amount of food going to landfill, diverted to animal feed or to produce energy through AD is linked to national or state legislation.

ABSTRACT. This paper explores the influence of circular economy capabilities (CEC) on effective end-of- life management with sustainable product design (SPD) mediating this relationship. CEC was operationalised as sensing, seizing and reconfiguring capabilities. Empirical data for the study was from questionnaires from manufacturing firms in the Accra and Tema metropolises. PLS- SEM findings indicate that sensing and seizing capabilities had a significant and positive effect on SPD but reconfiguring capabilities did not, as seen in the mediated relationship. All three CECs had a significant influence on end-of-life management. NCA results however showed that each circular economy capability was necessary in different levels for sustainable product design and end-of-life management. These results address gaps in literature.

ABSTRACT. Civil unrest around the globe reminds everyone that inequality is still pervasive and work must be done to rectify societal issues. Supplier diversity programs provide an opportunity to address some of these issues. In addition, diversifying supplier bases gives organizations opportunities to improve their operations and work toward environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals that generate lasting impacts on the greater global community. This research uses a Delphi method to quantify the return on investment of supplier diversity programs and support its systematic integration into the strategic sourcing process as a value driving factor, which we call economic inclusion. Introducing economic inclusion as a core component of the strategic procurement process can create a diverse supply chain ecosystem globally beyond tier-one suppliers.

ABSTRACT. Despite the interest of purchasing and supply management (PSM) by socially responsible purchasing in general, little is known about inclusive purchasing. This working paper seeks to address how does inclusive purchasing practice has been internalized by a private tertiary organization. By conducting a case study in a tertiary private organization in France which follows public procurement rules, this paper describes the institutionalization process of institutional logic of inclusiveness. Our findings show clear sequence of events affecting the PSM structure for inclusive purchasing practice. This has been promoted by the purchasing manager playing the role of an institutional entrepreneur for change.

ABSTRACT. This paper sets up a meta-analysis on gender effects on sustainable supply chain management. The aim is to both evaluate purchaser gender in decision making and the gendered behaviors associated with purchasing and supply management occupations. Based on preliminary evidence, individual gender stereotypes of being agentic or communal also shape occupational behaviors such as being tough negotiators or collaborating with suppliers. Behavioral studies that measure the relationship between gender or gendered occupational behaviors and sustainable performance will be analyzed. This research topic will add to the growing body of literature supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in management.

ABSTRACT. Despite the persistent calls for further research on gender issues in logistics (Zinn et al., 2018), the study of women in management positions in this male-dominated field remains very limited in the existing literature. The objective of our research is to understand the unequal social relations between men and women by answering the following question: How do women deal with the gender imbalance in management positions in the logistics sector? We build on Social Identity Theory to examine gendered social dynamics, explain this imbalance between women and men and highlight the strategies that are implemented (collective or individual; gendered or not) by women to improve their representation in decision-making positions. We collected data in France from logistics companies. We carried out 31 semi-structured interviews and we adopted a hybrid data analysis approach combining automatic and manual text analysis. Initial data analysis revealed that the imbalance in representation between women and men is a social reality managed by two strategies (1) arbitration (social creativity) and (2) mentoring/sponsorship (individual mobility).

ABSTRACT. Our topic focuses on a small, but potentially impactful field of supply networks: sustainable school food systems. In case of school food systems, sustainability impacts include both environmental and socio-economic aspects. In our study we use data from food network mapping done in the SchoolFood4Change project (grant number: 101036763). Our work is based on analyzing the different school food networks from the environmental, social, and economic sustainability point of view. As a result of the analysis, we can distinguish and describe different school food system models. We aim to identify possible places of improvement towards the European Farm2Fork Strategy.

ABSTRACT. Urban logistics represents an increased interest from both practitioners (firms, politics, etc.) and academics. The aim of this exploratory paper is therefore to examine the specificities of urban logistics services, the evolution in this domain (notably the implementation of “Low Emission Zone”) in order to identify the consequences on logistics services providers and buying firms (evolution of purchasing requirements, interfaces with the various stakeholders, etc.).

ABSTRACT. By studying different actors in global agri-food supply chains (SCs), our research provides empirical insight into the institutional work aimed at creating and maintaining the conditions that affect the adoption of sustainable practices in multi-tier SCs. The results present how different organizations – individually and collectively – engage in multiple forms of institutional work, which are either targeted at the legitimacy of practices or the boundaries of the (meta-)institutional SC field. By diverging from ‘traditional’ institutional studies in our academic discipline, we hope to offer some understanding how the purposive actions of organizations contribute to the (de)institutionalization of practices in multi-tier SCs.

ABSTRACT. The following research investigates temporal changes in supply chain sustainability practices through a longitudinal analysis of ESG reports. Elaborating on legitimacy theory, IBM’s (International Business Machine Corporation) moral, cognitive, and pragmatic legitimacy are analyzed by using data from its sustainability reports. This manuscript investigates the legitimacy of a sustainability leader by examining the evolution of its sustainable supply chain practices. Gaining legitimacy through specific sustainability practices does not necessarily equate to being viewed as legitimate as an organization. Legitimacy theory is a multi-level theory that allows for an understanding of how an organization’s legitimacy is perceived differently by various stakeholders.

ABSTRACT. Buying firms often rely on collaborations with suppliers for innovations. However, when a buyer collaborates with a supplier, the buyer risks knowledge spillovers. Therefore, although collaborations with a supplier can help the buying firm to improve innovation, it also poses a risk as these innovations might spillover to competitors. In this paper, we examine knowledge spillovers via suppliers explicitly. We present an agenda for future research based on empirical explorations into multiple perspectives (i.e., Sales, Purchasing, R&D) on knowledge spillovers. Initial findings present several novel perspectives that challenge existing views in the literature.

ABSTRACT. Supply chain managers view complexity in supply chains as one of the most pressing issues, yet there is still limited understanding regarding what it is, its performance effects, and how it can be effectively managed. In this study, we focus on upstream complexity and provide a comprehensive review of the supply network complexity (SNC) literature by investigating 130 articles. First, we provide clarity to its conceptualization by highlighting multiple (sub)dimensions. Then, we investigate performance effects of SNC by differentiating between theoretical positioning (i.e., SNC as determinant/contingency/outcome, contingent SNC). Finally, we provide a classification of SNC management practices.

ABSTRACT. In this paper, we investigate the role and impact of supply chain leaders on their organization. We leverage structure-as-strategy and upper echelon theory to investigate how and under what conditions supply chain leaders drive systemic change within their organizational confines and across boundaries. In particular, we study a set of 18 Supply Chain and Operations Management Executives that operate at the level of the top management team or board of executives. Our findings highlight both what SCOMEs do within their organizational contexts, as well as how their individual backgrounds shape their sensemaking and shift their attention.

ABSTRACT. The infrastructure sector is growing rapidly, and its performance is directly linked to regional competitiveness and overall national economic performance. Public procurement associated with infrastructure projects has a variety of complexities and challenges. Similar to other sectors public procurement in infrastructure projects needs to transform from a price-centric myopic view and into value creation in wider terms. More understanding of the role of various purchasing and supply management practices in improving value creation is needed in this context. Using the theoretical lens of a practice-based view this study examines how value manifests in infrastructure procurement and how different purchasing and supply management practices contribute to value creation. The primary data utilized in this study was collected through in-depth interviews with experts from public buyer and supplier organizations. The results of the study extend the understanding of value creation in the infrastructure sector and propose a set of practices improving value in infrastructure procurements.

ABSTRACT. Over the past years, several different studies have outlined the importance of cross-border public procurement (CBP) for an efficient, effective, and strong European econ-omy. Even if CBP can add value to meet current economic challenges, such as pandemic recovery or digital transformation, past studies confirmed a low level of CBP activities in Europe. In light of the actual importance of CBP, our aim is to measure the current level of CBP and to identify possible potential barriers and challenges that hinder the implementation of CBP in Europe. Therefore, we used a secondary data analysis of con-tracting data of public authorities in Europe. In this context, we used the data from the tenders electronic data, also called TED of the European Union. With our paper, we can confirm previous study results, whereby we give an up-to-date view of current CPB activities. Consequently, we show that the actual level of CBP is still at a low level with a share of 1 to 3 percent. In addition, we show that there is a more heterogenous than uniform understanding of CBP. In this context, we are also able to identify 12 different obstacles in the award process. The identified obstacles show that home bias is a signifi-cant factor that hinders the implementation of CBP. In conclusion, it is necessary that policies clarify the term, scope, potential advantages, positive effects, and legislation frameworks for Europe-wide implementation of CBP in the public sector.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this qualitative study is to provide information on the dynamic and non-dynamic capabilities related to outcome-based public procurement from a dyadic perspective. The empirical findings of the 18 interviews consider only dyadic capabilities, excluding non-dyadic ones. As a contribution, dyadic capabilities relevant for the implementation of outcome-based procurement are identified at different procurement/sales phases. It was also found that some dyadic transforming capabilities cannot be linked to any procurement phase, but they rather act as more general enablers of outcome-based procurement implementation.

ABSTRACT. Public procurement is an important domain that has the power to bring more innovative and sustainable products and services to society. To provide such results, procurement experts must present the right competences. This research provides a systematic literature review of necessary public procurement competences. This literature review distinguished between three order codes, the level of analysis, the content of analysis, and the aggregation process. In total, 134 competences were determined and categorised. The results show that communication skills, negotiation, and critical thinking are necessary for public procurement professionals to purchase innovative and sustainable goods and services from the market.

ABSTRACT. The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a huge impact and influence on all aspects of the world; Wuhan, China, was the first place to be affected from the pandemic imposing a rigorous lockdown and quarantine policy yet reports how companies in this location continued their operations to this event are scarce (Chowdhury et al., 2021; Golan et al., 2020). Unlike other regions, China still sticks to a stringent zero-COVID policy, as it happened in Wuhan in the first place; therefore, examining the business continuity of Wuhan companies can have significant managerial and policy implications for current and future disruptions. This study aims to improve our understanding of business continuity during extreme environmental conditions drawing evidence from a unique company located in Wuhan, China. Previous literature on supply chain resilience ignored how companies react during prolonged crises; the COVID pandemic offered such a research setting, yet evidence from Wuhan, China, i.e., the epicentre of the crisis is scarce. We conducted a single case study, of a large company located in Wuhan. Sources of evidence include in-depth, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and secondary data. Interviews took place in 2021-2022. We trace the events as they happen among three company sites. We conduct a thematic analysis of the key resilience factors and show how companies can successfully react to such phenomena. Findings have important managerial, policy, and theoretical implications.

ABSTRACT. The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedent challenges in global supply chains, led managers to develop and implement strategies to mitigate the risks, and increased the awareness about the importance of resilient supply chains. In this research we analyse the perception of supply chain practitioners in France and the U.S. regarding the challenges faced by their companies during COVID-19, the strategies implemented to mitigate the risks, the effectiveness of these strategies and the difficulty of implementing them. We found that perceptions were consistent between French and U.S. practitioners and, overall, firms focused their actions on increasing collaborative efforts with customers and suppliers.

ABSTRACT. Using longitudinal cases from 6 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Italy and Korea, we seek to investigate (1) how the SMEs have adjusted their operations and supply chain management strategies build the necessary efficiency and flexibility competence to respond to disruptions by COVID-19 and (2) how the adjustments have evolved over time during the different phases of the pandemic. Our findings suggest that (SMEs) have taken different approaches to deal with supply chain disruptions, which are shaped by the specific nature of each business and the characteristics of its products or processes.

ABSTRACT. Outsourcing projects in the pharmaceutical industry are complex and demanding. With COVID-19 causing global disruptions, this research examines the challenges faced by industry professionals and the lessons derived. Using the phenomenology approach, this study conducted in-depth interviews with twenty senior industry professionals from diverse geographic regions. The research uncovered considerable operational challenges triggered by the pandemic in multiple domains such as manpower, IT infrastructure, communications, and supply chain. Additionally, it highlights the adoption of digital technologies and robust supply chains as crucial for future organizational resilience. This paper provides insights for industry managers to navigate and manage future uncertainties. 

ABSTRACT. This paper investigates the role of Institutional Pressures (IPs) and Supply Chain Integration (SCI) in driving the adoption of Circular Economy (CE). Given the acknowledged role of supply chains in the transition to a CE, it is hypothesised that higher IPs might also drive higher levels of SCI in the attempt to implement CE practices. A conceptual framework is developed and tested, by using secondary data from a sample of MNEs. Findings show that IPs are driving the adoption of CE practices only through the mediation of SCI; the prominent role of coercive and normative pressures is also highlighted.

ABSTRACT. This research aims to explore the emerging concept of circular procurement (CP) by identifying and formalizing the practices. Based on dynamic capabilities theory, sustainability orientation at the firm and procurement levels and the adoption of green procurement practices along the sourcing process are examined as two antecedents to final the reconfiguration of circular procurement. Through a triangulation of data from secondary sources and a case study, four groups of CP practices were identified: circular inputs, circular supplier selection, circular supplier development programs, and circular contracts.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of the paper is to investigate social innovations potential and assess their importance for managing supply chains in line with the circular economy principles in the empirical context of the bio-based biodegradable food packaging market. We addressed the research problem using two qualitative methods, in-depth interviews and Social Innovation Labs, involving representatives of internal and external stakeholders of bio-packaging supply chain. The research findings and conclusions are derived from the two-year research journey in the international project “New Frontiers in Social Innovation Research: Social Innovation Management for BIOPlastics” (SIMBIO) carried out in Brazil, Canada, Poland and the UK.

This paper will be jointly presented by Barbara Ocicka and Jolanta Turek

ABSTRACT. This paper establishes the mediating role of contract logistics on the relationship between reverse logistics (RL) and sustainable supply chains of the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry in Kenya. It is motivated by the environmental pollution caused by packaging materials and the inadequate policy framework on proper packaging waste disposal. FMCG industry is a major consumer of single-use packaging that comprises the largest proportion of plastic usage globally. This paper will provide a futuristic theoretical framework for sustainable supply chains, especially on ecological and social aspects. It further advances the research on social supply chain sustainability in Africa.

ABSTRACT. This paper questions the mainstream narrative about growth and globalization and confronts “green growth” and “beyond growth” solution streams to distil guidelines for purchasing and supply management (PSM). We review the literature to answer: “What are the key principles of beyond growth narratives and how do they provide direction to business in general and PSM specifically?”; and, “How has PSM research and practice engaged with beyond growth narratives and what are the implications for future research?” Our proposed conceptual framework derives in a research agenda, contributing to build bridges and foster a paradigm shift in PSM.

ABSTRACT. Proactive contracting and legal design approaches represent alternative approaches to contracting that could enable systemic change and resilient sustainability. This paper introduces these perspectives and reviews the literature on proactive contracting and legal design in the purchasing and supply chain management (PSM) literature to identify knowledge gaps. The paper concludes with propositions for future research.

ABSTRACT. The aim of the paper is to investigate the networks involved in the development and operation of solar parks. The study takes a qualitative approach through a comparative case study of two recently constructed solar parks in Sweden, involving multiple actors. We use the industrial network analysis as analytical framework to identify actors, resources, and activities. Findings reveal that a diverse set of actors are needed for solar park business models. The study points to the importance of coordinating multiple actors, creating public-private collaborations. The study contributes to sustainable business model literature by showing the need for networked multi-actor collaborations. 

ABSTRACT. In recent years, is found a research effort to develop customer attractiveness or to achieve the position of the preferred customer in markets where competition is between buyers to get the supplier that best suits their needs, a complex and important element in business strategy. This research in the private sector is lacking in its translation to the public sector. The public sector plays a dual role in society, as a driver of the economy, managing around 14% of GDP, and as a promoter of innovation, adequate transparency for the well-being of society, efficiency in public spending, respecting the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination, proportionality and integrity and development. Public procurement, like private procurement, has evolved to include qualitative, environmental, social, and innovative aspects linked to sustainability and the SDGs, requiring transparency in decision-making. In the recent COVID-19 pandemic, public procurement has had to make an effort to "pull in" suppliers, especially in the health sector, so that local companies can reconvert their capacities to meet the urgent needs of society. The public sector must now re-evaluate supply contracts in a globalized POST-COVID market, where suppliers importing Asian products are more competitive, in terms of price. Using the case study method and economic-financial information from the commercial register, the study presents and analyses the comparison between the local company in the textile sector which, due to the needs suffered during the pandemic, decided to convert itself into a supplier of surgical textile material, with specific investments and staff training, so necessary at the time, and instead of going into lockout, as almost all the companies in its sector were doing, and the previous supplier importing these products. It answers the research question of whether the inclusion of company-paid taxes as an element in the specifications for evaluating the cost of procurement develops sustainable procurement. The paper informs the design of public procurement by analyzing the positive effect of including taxation in the evaluation criteria as an element of the society's Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Taxation contributes to social sustainability by being a key element in the financing of public works, social aid, and social welfare. Sustainability-oriented contracts must include the fiscal variable, as taxes burden society. The development of a close network of suppliers has also brought the added value of joint development, information transfer, and confidence in a more agile adaptation to contracting needs and a greater return to society.

ABSTRACT. Our research adopts a microfoundation perspective (Barney and Felin; 2013) to study how micro and macro factors interact to accomplish industry-level sustainability transformation. Our study spans three levels of analysis: Microfoundations (MF), Industry Structure (IS) and Emerging Properties (EP) at macro level. As data sharing is a foundation of self-adaptive supply chains (Choi et al., 2017) and a condition to develop the circular economy (Kristoffersen at al., 2020), we study how individuals’ willingness to share information along the chemical and automotive supply chains results in industry-wide sustainability improvements. We explore three research questions. How industry structures impact on the willingness of decision makers to share information with other firms? How data aggregation occurs along supply chains to create shared resources? And how shared resources impact on capabilities and produce emerging properties at industry level? Our research is conducted by studying data sharing initiatives in the chemical and automotive industry.

ABSTRACT. The impetus of supply chain management (SCM) has been aggressive competition on price; convenience and speed to meet customer demands. Increasingly, consumers are changing their outlook and demanding responsible products, and responsible consumption has been enshrined in SDG 12. Given that the SCM system is a production process designed to fulfil the economic rationale, we set forth the polemic argument as to why and how contemporary economics has shaped SCM thus exacerbating irresponsible consumption, using systems thinking. However, operating in a responsible consumption paradigm requires supply chains to shift their priorities from fast and low-cost to slow and fair cost.

ABSTRACT. A gap between sustainability intentions and actions is well known from consumer buying behavior: Customer intentions to buy sustainable products can vary significantly from their actions (e.g., Carrigan and Attalla (2001), Roberts (1996), Auger and Devinney (2007)). A decoupling between the company’s intentions and actions is also well known (Meyer & Rowan, 1977). Presuming there is also a gap between companies’ sustainability intentions and actions, and they intend to be sustainable but do not act in a sustainable way, a survey among 420 procurement employees was conducted. This survey provides first empirical evidence that there is a decoupling of companies’ sustainability intentions and actions which results in an intention action gap in corporate sustainability. Further, drives that impact the gap are identified and first explanations are derived why companies’ sustainability actions overshoot or undershoot the corporate sustainability intentions. Thereby, this research establishes the basis for aiming at a tight coupling of corporate sustainability intentions and actions, as well as for developing theories.

ABSTRACT. Hybrid organizations are increasingly recognized as innovative organizationals forms that pursue social missions in combination with commercial activities. This research aims to explore the role of operations strategy in highly impactful hybrid organizations. To accomplish our aim, we focus on a sample of certified B-Corps. We conduct exploratory multivariate analysis to identify highly impactful B-Corps and characterize them in terms of business model elements and key stakeholders served. We find that highly impactful B-Corps focus on creating positive impact for a specific group of stakeholders (customers) and deploy business models for providing services to disadvantaged populations.

ABSTRACT. Building on nexus supplier institutional theories, this paper studies how information disclosure efforts from critical lower-tier suppliers in the extended supply network may help focal buyers to prevent ESG risk exposure. We empirically analyze a sample of 457 extended supply networks, up to tier three suppliers obtained from Bloomberg SPLC, and nexus suppliers are identified using data envelopment analysis (DEA). We contribute to the sustainable supply chain management literature by exploring an alternative mechanism to gain visibility into lower-tier supplier practices and to reduce buyer exposure to negative media on ESG issues.

ABSTRACT. This paper focuses on drivers and barriers of buying plastics in secondary markets and the role of purchasing in facilitating the link between secondary plastics suppliers and consuming companies. Supply chain literature has largely investigated secondary markets with a closed loop systems perspective. Plastic is one of materials that has been long associated with circular economy in open loop systems and is considered a valuable resource in the secondary market. A relevant issue for companies buying in the secondary plastic market is the low degree of control over the quality of the incoming material delivered from suppliers, especially in the case of multiple suppliers providing the same waste. Recent studies point out the critical role that cross-tier suppliers coordination plays in increasing the production and use of recycled plastics. Aligning material properties, production techniques, and product designs for recycling thus calls for greater sharing information practices. The role of purchasing in facilitating information sharing practices between secondary plastics suppliers and consuming companies is explored.

ABSTRACT. By investigating the tensions connected with sustainability that many organisations, and purchasing professionals in particular, nowadays are facing, this paper proposes a novel contribution by addressing how deepened and broadened searches can be leveraged to solve such tensions. Six case studies, namely sustainability projects implemented by different companies, are explored to show how purchasing helped searching for innovative solutions to balance the experienced tensions. The study contributes to the literature on purchasing and supply chain management by further developing the concept of search and demonstrating its suitability to solve sustainability-related tensions.

ABSTRACT. This article fills a gap in the literature on Purchasing and Supply Management (PSM) by identifying and analyzing the paradoxes of this business function. From an extensive exploration of the academic literature, 103 academic articles allowed us to classify 99 paradoxes in 20 different categories. We analyze the distribution of these paradoxes and discover that they are more numerous in an interorganizational configuration than in an intraorganizational one and that they mainly concern the Organizing and Performing dimensions. We then built a framework with seven different resolution strategies explained by examples.

ABSTRACT. Although the fashion supply chain has spread across both developing and developed countries, suppliers from developing countries have been overlooked in academic research. Most sustainable supply chain management studies have focused on the buying firm’s perspective of implementing practices and standards that exert compliance on suppliers. This paper examined the implementation of sustainability practices by fashion suppliers situated in challenging institutional contexts by applying institutional theory. This work-in-progress paper analyses six case studies of manufacturer suppliers in Vietnam. 

ABSTRACT. This working paper explores the dark side of the Prato garment district in Italy by engaging with multiple stakeholders to understand how local actors can help to address exploitative working practices and create systemic change. The findings provide a timeline of events that have characterized the textile district in Prato. We explore how the intervention of a multiplicity of stakeholders is needed to reduce modern slavery issues affecting the textile district in Prato, to help foster the integration of migrants and Italian entrepreneurs, ensuring that the industry can continue to prosper.

ABSTRACT. The fashion industry is responsible for around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Most of these are located within their value chain. This paper takes a deep dive into the electricity intensity in relation to textile production. Using the example of Turkey as a producer country we show that pledged environmental goals of major fashion firms do not align with stated corporate growth goals. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we demonstrate that it is extremely unlikely that both corporate or sovereign climate goals can be achieved should the stated growth ambition of fashion production be realised. We contribute to the growing literature on the importance of supply chains for climate action and add evidence to corporate greenwashing research.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this article is to highlight the good purchasing practices found in small companies, and to set up a system to analyze these practices. It is true that the study was carried out on a specific territory, however, it is aimed at all small structures that make purchases. We have managed to create a purchasing practices analysis table that is suitable for small organizations.

ABSTRACT. In this paper, the direct and indirect effect of logistics service complexity on brand sensitivity and brand importance is examined using PLS-SEM with a sample of 335 respondents. Based on information processing and cognitive dissonance theory, we found that the logistics service complexity has an impact on brand sensitivity via perceived risk, while no direct effect could be determined. The results emphasize that managers use brands more as risk reducers than as information chunks when making selection decisions. In addition, a multi-group analysis shows that the mediating effect occurs primarily with representatives of the logistics department and not with representatives of the purchasing department.

ABSTRACT. Green marketing is seen as a promising way to influence professional buyers towards more sustainable purchasing. Research suggests that green marketing mix strategies influence customer trust and loyalty. However, the literature is inconclusive about the role of eco-labelling awareness within the green B2B marketing mix. Our findings among 98 business buyers in the Dutch floriculture sector confirm the influence of green product quality and green price on customer trust. Most notable is the full mediation of eco-labelling awareness on the relationship between green promotion and trust. Apparently, green promotion can only be effective if it contributes to the eco-labelling awareness of professional buyers.

ABSTRACT. Based on the dynamic capabilities view by Teece et al. (1997, 2007, 2014) and a multiple case study, organisational innovation capabilities in public procurement of innovation (PPI) processes are identified and described as the capability to acknowledge the need for change — to collect, evaluate and adopt information and new knowledge from stakeholders (sensing capability), to specify, explore, frame, mobilise and onboard internal and external resources (seizing capabilities) and to prepare the resources involved in change and continuous renewal (transforming capability). Strategic alignment and objectives, project organisation and collaboration and learning conditions are suggested to be internal antecedents and enablers that induce and strengthen these innovation capabilities in PPI processes within public organisations.

ABSTRACT. Despite the growing interest in mobilising public procurement for strategic purposes like innovation, economic growth, social value and sustainable development, there are significant knowledge gaps regarding the impacts of public procurement and the evaluation of public procurement as a strategic policy tool. We review the different methods that have been used in academic and grey literature on the topic and highlight the background, contributions, advantages, and limitations of each approach. Conceptually, there are several notions like ‘procurement of innovation’ and ‘innovation in procurement’, but we discuss the lack of consensus over an operational or empirical definition for identifying strategic procurement. Methodologically, we highlight the inadequacy of existing data to enable robust research that can trace the causal impact of public procurement on firms, communities, and local economies. To address these gaps, we propose a set of potential actions in research and practice.

ABSTRACT. Focusing on social procurements from social enterprises as public providers, this paper aims to explore the relationship between social innovation and legitimacy. Institutional theory (IT) and insights from empirical accounts reveals the institutional tensions of operating in the public sector (PS). Focally, the paradox of institutional rigidity and innovative processes are brought to light.

ABSTRACT. This paper sought to explore the determinants and indicators of supplier resilience that are considered by public buyers in public procurement’s supplier selection decisions. We adopted the case study approach and used case data from the innovative procurement database in Norway to analyze how six organizations collectively made supplier selection decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic period between 2019 and 2022. Our analysis focused on resilience metrics and how they were embedded in the supplier selection decisions of six innovative procurement projects within healthcare in Norway. The findings show that suppliers are asked to demonstrate resilience in various ways based on the specificity of the procurement need, the complexity of the need, and the nature of the supply market. In addition, the buyer’s market knowledge and buyer behavior (e.g., risk neutral, risk seeking or risk averse) determines if buyers consider either offensive resilience or defensive resilience indicators.  

ABSTRACT. Research on the topic of supply chain resilience (SCR) has been flourishing over the last years, yet research on resilience from a purchasing and supply management (PSM) has not. Integrating a complex adaptive systems (CAS) perspective, we research how to gain more resilience in the government supply chain through what public procurement systems should do in terms of internal mechanisms and their relationship with the environment. The research design involves a qualitative longitudinal study, executed during the direct response of COVID-19 (April 2020), and extends to the recovery phase of COVID-19 (July 2021). This approach validates the design of fourteen propositions to establish what public procurement systems (PPS) require for minimizing the initial impact during response phase of a disaster, but also to understand how the co-evolvement in the recovery phase of the disaster can minimize the overall recovery time.

ABSTRACT. The climate crisis brings with it physical risks (e.g., extreme weather events), price risks (increasing material scarcity) and product risks (changes in supply and demand) to supply chains. Public procurement, due to lower risk management maturity overall, may be particularly vulnerable to these. Our aim is to i) identify the most critical climate change impacts to public procurement, ii) understand current climate change risk mitigation practices in public procurement and iii) to develop guidance on how climate change risk adaptation and preparation should be conducted in the future in public procurement. Preliminary results are provided in this study.

ABSTRACT. This paper examines the shareholder value impact of carbon neutral operations (CNOs) measuring the stock reaction to 163 announcements of Scope 1-2 CNOs. We find that the market does not react negatively to CNOs, highlighting the importance of not extending empirical results from previous emission reductions. We find that decarbonization of up-stream supply chain (Scope3), high level of environmental capabilities, and intermediate reduction targets on the net-zero path have a positive influence on CNOs returns. We high-light theorical contributions and propose a strategic approach to frame the competitive re-sponse to the management of operations under the goal of carbon neutrality.

ABSTRACT. This study examines procurement managers as active meaning-makers who devise coping strategies and supplier interaction strategies based on their interpretations of GHG emission reduction targets. Our analysis through the lens of symbolic interactionism offers new insights into the complexity of how Scope 3 emission targets travel across a supply network. In an effort to green the supply network, procurement managers construct their own symbolic and metaphorical systems to interpret targets. These systems have implications for their supplier interaction strategies. The findings from this paper provide necessary complements to existing supply chain management and procurement research, particularly emerging research on Scope 3 targets.

ABSTRACT. In this paper, we aim to answer how firms can engage their supplier network for a more successful green sourcing practice. We study a case of an automotive manufacturer’s green sourcing and use of product carbon footprint (PCF) for a specific electronics component. Data is gathered from both the OEM and its tier 1 supplier. The findings contribute to our understanding of how green sourcing can succeed in practice, and to more sustainable procurement of electronics in the automotive industry.

ABSTRACT. The world is phasing a climate crisis. Governments and companies around the globe set targets aiming establishing a carbon-neutral business model. However, when reducing carbon emissions, the supply chain has a 11 times greater footprint compared to the emission resulting from company's own operational activities, highlighting its reduction potential. Thus, future pathways, drivers and stakeholders influencing the development of carbon-neutral supply chains seem unclear. This study elaborates on critical stakeholder, and influential factors, towards the development of carbon-neutral supply chains. 

ABSTRACT. With the 32nd IPSERA conference, the leading association in the field of research in purchasing and supply management (PSM) is calling for a „systemic change. While the concept of systemic change remains disputed, a common denominator is that systemic change entails a fundamental, transforma-tive, and cross-cutting form of change that implies major shifts and reorientation in social interaction systems. From this point of view of research in the field of PSM, the question arises whether these major shifts and reorientation have already become apparent in recent years and which signals and trends will shape this change. Along with this, the extent of continuous patterns and structures in re-search and discussion in PSM needs to examine. The inquiry of IPSERA conference proceedings is far from being new. The aim of previous contribu-tions was to record the current state of research in the field of PSM, to identify emerging new issues, and, based on this, to derive recommendations for future research priorities. For example, Morlacchini et al. identified in their review topics with a strongly increasing research intensity like the early in-volvement of suppliers in the development of the use of information technology, the early involve-ment of suppliers in the development of new products, network formation by purchasing, or ecological sustainability in supply chains (…). Despite different conceptual approaches, the present studies succeed in identifying essential patterns and trends for procurement. To this end, the contributions are based on different periods of observa-tion. For example, the article by Morlacchini et al. examines the conference proceedings from 1991 to 2001, whereby the paper by Zheng et al. analyzed the period from 1995 to 2003. In contrast, the con-tribution of Rozemeijer et al. takes the year 2011 as a basis. Consequently, different time periods of observation from ten to one year exists. In addition, there are overlapping periods of investigation or only point-in-time investigations. Furthermore, the present papers only marginally hint at how the thematic foci have actually developed over time. At present, no overview of the more current devel-opments from 2011 to 2022, and patterns, trends, and weak signals are emerging here. In this regard, qualitative data analysis has been employed to extract the main topics in past discus-sions at IPSRA conferences. In total, more than 1,400 accepted and published conference papers from 2012 to 2022 were considered in this inquiry. With the exploratory aim and the structure-discovering approach, it was possible to extract 2,139 keywords, that were summarized in 19 different topic clus-ters with a total of 182 different topic facets. Based on those topic clusters and their facets, archetypes of research were developed on a yearly basis. Thereby, the developed archetypes show how PSM top-ics evolved over time. Hereby it is shown that the archetypes vary each year and that there are partially strong shifts in archetypes from year to year. This paper continues the series of existing analyses of IPSERA conference proceedings to reveal latent structures and linkages within the topics discussed in the past. In this way, it provides an updated view of past findings. Thereby, previously identified themes are confirmed, new themes are added, and the understanding of the themes is actualized. In this context, a systemic change is not discernible. The analysis rather shows a consensus in the discussion, because recurring thematic structures are present-able. This paper provides the basis for further and more focused content-related analyses in order to uncover the mature evolution of the extracted main topics and developed archetypes.

ABSTRACT. The decarbonization of supply chains is vital in the fight against climate change. While scholars have investigated supply chain responses to climate-related risks and opportunities, limited research examines the complexity that characterizes these responses. In this paper, we adopt a system dynamics perspective and develop a causal loop system dynamics framework of supply chain climate risk management. The proposed framework extends existing research by demonstrating the complexity of supply chain management in response to climate change, and by supporting managers in assessing the anticipated effect of their supply chain strategy on the broader system in which they are situated.

ABSTRACT. ‘Ethical’ and ‘sustainable’ sourcing have long been recognized as helping businesses improve their competitive position. However, it is questionable whether such instrumental approaches are able to drive systemic change. In this paper, we elaborate the concept of ‘social purpose sourcing’ that is supported by, and compatible with, alternate economic models that propose that treating environmental and social costs of supply chains as ‘externalities’ is a luxury society can no longer afford. This approach is easily dismissed as naïve utopianism but this would be to ignore the emergent sourcing strategies of social purpose businesses.

ABSTRACT. Social enterprises can take on different boundary spanning roles to address social issues in their supply chains (SCs). Previous research has considered boundary spanning and compliance to work conditions standards in SCs; this research considers how boundary spanning entities make broader social impacts in high quality coffee SCs. Through multiple, comparative case studies in the US, Netherlands, and Columbia, we explore their different bridging roles to influence social impact across their coffee supply chains. We find three distinct roles with implications for impact depending on the company’s mission, SC structure and available resources.