dc.contributor.advisor |
Ball, Peter |
|
dc.contributor.advisor |
Salonitis, Konstantinos |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Pimenta, Handson Claudio Dias |
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2017-08-08T10:46:01Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2017-08-08T10:46:01Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2016-11 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/12287 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Significant literature on sustainable supply chain management exists but there
is a lack of theory explaining diffusion of sustainability practices within the
supplier base led by manufacturing firms. In particular diffusion theory is
insufficiently developed to characterise the development of sustainability
practices in suppliers. The purpose of this research is to establish the conditions
for enhancing the diffusion of environmental and social sustainability practices
across the supplier base from the buying firms’ perspective. The research
design is based on a theory building strategy. The data analysis was carried out
based on a triangulation of different sources of data (e.g. 30 interviews with
directors or managers of four sustainability leading manufacturing firms from the
beverage, cosmetic and textile sector, and an extensive array of documents)
and cross-case analysis and application of diffusion of innovation theory (DoI).
This research identified environmental and social practices diffused through
supplier selection (implementation of requirements), performance assessment
and development. This map of sustainability practices provides a unique
perspective; hence it distinguishes practices diffused across different supply
chain tiers, as well as the mechanism/initiatives employed to diffuse them. The
findings suggested that more emphasis was given to environmental practices
than social practices. In general, social practices were more related to
compulsory level (e.g. human rights) and were evaluated (selection), monitored
(performance) and diffused through development (especially educating
initiatives) in both 1st tier and 2nd tier. Critical materials suppliers in the 2nd tier
were more likely to be engaged by specific procurement teams through the
selection, performance and development activities, especially with the aim of
meeting compliance and improving performance. The findings also suggested
that joint initiatives with critical industrial suppliers focused more on
environmental practices.
Diffusion of innovation theory was applied to consider different elements that
have not been covered in the literature, for instance, emphasis on
communication channels and social system elements. The rate of adoption of
sustainability practices was directly affected by supporting suppliers in
measuring and collaborating in implementing improvements plans, as well as
intense educating initiatives. DoI provides a powerful lens to help explain the
role of buying firms in the diffusion of sustainability practices.
The research provided a more comprehensive view on how sustainability
practices were diffused through the supplier selection, performance assessment
and development. This work is the first instance of considering intra- and interorganisational
factors in the same model for enhancing the diffusion of
sustainability practices. Overall, this depicts patterns of the factors and points
out the most critical variables influencing the implementation of sustainability
practices across the supplier base.
This research has the potential to serve as an analysis tool to uncover gaps in
activity that could lead to greater adoption of sustainability practices by
suppliers, as well as gathering good practice in a structured way. |
en_UK |
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_UK |
dc.publisher |
Cranfield University |
en_UK |
dc.rights |
© Cranfield University, 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the copyright holder. |
en_UK |
dc.subject |
Environmental and social sustainability |
en_UK |
dc.subject |
sustainability practices |
en_UK |
dc.subject |
supply chain management activities |
en_UK |
dc.subject |
supplier sustainability development |
en_UK |
dc.subject |
diffusion of innovation |
en_UK |
dc.title |
Diffusion of environmental and social sustainability practices across the supplier base |
en_UK |
dc.type |
Thesis or dissertation |
en_UK |
dc.type.qualificationlevel |
Doctoral |
en_UK |
dc.type.qualificationname |
PhD |
en_UK |