Supply chain sustainability, risk and transformational tension: a systems perspective
Journal article, 2024

Purpose: Sustainability continues to be put forth as a strategic priority. However, sustainability efforts are often deemphasized for short-term profitability. This study explores the nuances in managerial decision-making related to adopting sustainability initiatives within food supply chains in an emerging economy. We identify a complex interaction between sustainability efforts and risk mitigation. We derive a model to explain conflicting company goals, managerial decisions and system design. Design/methodology/approach: We followed an exploratory research design with an inductive approach. We analyzed data from semi-structured interviews with 29 companies representing different tiers in Turkish food supply chains. We refined and validated the interview findings through a focus group with nine senior managers. We conducted open, focused and theoretical coding in an iterative and reflective manner to analyze the data and derive our results. Findings: From the data, three themes emerged, indicating that managers are pursuing different, often conflicting, goals concerning value creation, risk management and sustainability performance. Managers identified and commented on new risks brought on by sustainability initiatives. These sustainability-induced risks were seen as a threat to operational performance, a driver of increased costs and a negative impact on product quality and delivery performance. Trade-offs across operating, sustainability and risk management systems create transformational tension that confounds the sustainability adoption decision-making process. Originality/value: The data from the study was contrasted with a theoretical framework derived from systems theory, goal-setting theory of motivation and the theory of planned behavior. We identified four distinct decision paths that managers pursue. Increased awareness of transformational tension and how it influences managerial decision-making can enhance strategic sustainability system design and initiative success.

Theory of planned behavior

Systems theory

Risk management

Sustainability

Transformational tension

Author

Aysu Göçer

İzmir University of Economics

Sebastian Brockhaus

Cleveland State University

Stanley E. Fawcett

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, School of Engineering

Ceren Altuntas Vural

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Supply and Operations Management

A. Michael Knemeyer

Fisher College of Business

International Journal of Logistics Management

0957-4093 (ISSN) 1758-6550 (eISSN)

Vol. In Press

Subject Categories

Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics

Business Administration

DOI

10.1108/IJLM-04-2023-0132

More information

Latest update

4/3/2024 1