Third party social sustainability assessment: Is it a multi-tier supply chain solution?

The paper examines the different third party approaches used to assess the social sustainability of global multi-tier supply chains. Information asymmetries between supply chain actors and stakeholders can result in uncertainty about how a good has been produced and traded, resulting in sustainability uncertainty. Third party social sustainability assessment is one mechanism used to monitor and communicate the credentials of everyday products to stakeholders. We frame our study using information processing theory to discuss how third party assessors can help to reduce sustainability uncertainty. As social sustainability is of particular importance in labor-intensive industries, empirical data is drawn from agriculture, textiles, handicrafts, footwear and consumer electronics supply chains. The analysis of semi-structured interviews with assessors reveals differing approaches to assessment. We show how these approaches utilize differing numbers of supply chain tiers. Some, for example, focus only on the farmer or raw material supplier when assessing social sustainability, which raises questions about the credentials of actors further downstream. The communities and livelihoods of supply chain actors, often located in the global South, can be dependent on the new, niche and potentially more profitable markets made available to goods that can demonstrate their social sustainability credentials. Robust assessment is therefore integral in accessing these new markets. The study offers a comparison between different assessors that will be of interest to scholars and also to supply chain actors considering engaging in social sustainability assessment

The impact of a changing financial climate on a UK local charitable sector: voices from the front line

Forced to compete with private and public sector providers, charities experience tensions as the quest for a more commercially-oriented position may conflict with their social imperative. Little attention has been given to understanding the experiences of local charities as service providers. This paper captures the reactions of those working on the charity front line

Coopetition in Temporary Contexts: Examining Swift Trust and Swift Distrust in Humanitarian Operations

Purpose – By drawing on commitment-trust theory, we examine the role of swift trust and distrust in supporting coopetition under conditions of uncertainty and interdependence in the setting of humanitarian disaster relief organisations. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents findings from case studies of 18 international humanitarian relief organisations based on 48 interviews and the analysis of publicly available documents. Findings – We find that both swift trust and swift distrust support coopetition. As coopetition is simultaneous cooperation and competition, in this study we show how swift trust and swift distrust also occur simultaneously in coopetitive contexts. Research limitations/implications – Coopetition as a strategic choice is well-researched in the private sector, yet has received less attention in the nonprofit sector, particularly in contexts that are shaped by interdependence and uncertainty. We show the importance of swift trust and swift distrust in coopetitive relationships by drawing on commitment-trust theory. Practical implications – In focusing on a competitive environment in which cooperation is essential, we find limited choice of coopetitive partners. Humanitarian relief organisations must often simply work with whichever other organisations are available. We highlight how trust and distrust are not opposite ends of a spectrum and detail how both contribute to coopetitive relationships. Originality/value – Our findings contribute to commitment-trust theory by explaining the important role of distrust in forging coopetitive relationships. Furthermore, we contribute to prior work on coopetition by focusing on an uncertain and interdependent nonprofit environment

Decoupling social status and status certainty effects on health in macaques: a network approach.

BackgroundAlthough a wealth of literature points to the importance of social factors on health, a detailed understanding of the complex interplay between social and biological systems is lacking. Social status is one aspect of social life that is made up of multiple structural (humans: income, education; animals: mating system, dominance rank) and relational components (perceived social status, dominance interactions). In a nonhuman primate model we use novel network techniques to decouple two components of social status, dominance rank (a commonly used measure of social status in animal models) and dominance certainty (the relative certainty vs. ambiguity of an individual's status), allowing for a more complex examination of how social status impacts health.MethodsBehavioral observations were conducted on three outdoor captive groups of rhesus macaques (N = 252 subjects). Subjects' general physical health (diarrhea) was assessed twice weekly, and blood was drawn once to assess biomarkers of inflammation (interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP)).ResultsDominance rank alone did not fully account for the complex way that social status exerted its effect on health. Instead, dominance certainty modified the impact of rank on biomarkers of inflammation. Specifically, high-ranked animals with more ambiguous status relationships had higher levels of inflammation than low-ranked animals, whereas little effect of rank was seen for animals with more certain status relationships. The impact of status on physical health was more straightforward: individuals with more ambiguous status relationships had more frequent diarrhea; there was marginal evidence that high-ranked animals had less frequent diarrhea.DiscussionSocial status has a complex and multi-faceted impact on individual health. Our work suggests an important role of uncertainty in one's social status in status-health research. This work also suggests that in order to fully explore the mechanisms for how social life influences health, more complex metrics of social systems and their dynamics are needed

The smiling assassin?: Reconceptualising redundancy envoys as quasi-dirty workers

Despite redundancies having far reaching consequences for organisations, relatively limited attention has been paid to the conflicting experiences of those implementing the redundancy process; the redundancy envoys. By drawing on theories of cognitive dissonance and ‘dirty work’ we explain how individuals implementing redundancies can experience a disconnect between their outward and inner emotions. We reconceptualise redundancy envoys as quasi-dirty workers as they intermittently perform ‘dirty work’ tasks that may be perceived as morally tainted, whilst recognising their conventional role incorporates tasks perceived as contrary to that of ‘dirty work’. Our study draws on insider research access to redundancy envoys over a five-year period during the implementation of four consecutive redundancy programmes, providing the opportunity to observe decisions and actions in ‘real time.’ By building on the work of Ashman (2015, 2016), we offer a contemporary conceptualisation of the redundancy envoy. This reconceptualisation permits a deeper understanding of the negative impact on redundancy envoys and offers opportunities to examine how this can be reduced. In addition, it is anticipated that the results of this study will offer support to HR functions in reducing the stigma of ‘dirty work’ for redundancy envoys with the intention of enhancing the management of redundancy implementation

Using organisational theories to further our understanding of socially sustainable supply chains

Purpose – This paper aims to use organisational theories to frame research questions examining how to embed social sustainability in supply chain management (SCM) by focusing on fair trade. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on previous organisational theory review papers in SCM, institutional theory and the extended resource-based view have been used as theoretical lenses to develop research questions for further studies. Findings – The authors developed seven research questions that enable and encourage the further examination of the factors impacting fair trade supply chains, as well as identify approaches to improve social sustainability in SCM practice. Social implications – As the aim of fair trade is to rebalance inequities inherent in North–South trading relationships, further work in this area has the potential for positive economic, environmental and social impact. Originality/value – The paper discusses two key themes: whether fair trade is changing SCM practices, and whether fair trade is a source of competitive advantage in supply chains. Using established theory to develop research questions encourages further examination of this important topic

A netnographic study exploring the impact of consecutive redundancy programmes on employee exhaustion, cynicism and organisational detachment

This netnographic study explores the impact on employees subjected to the implementation of four consecutive redundancy programmes over a period of 26 months within an engineering organisation in the private sector. Our research highlight the extent of the presence of the key components identified by the multidimensional theory of burnout (Maslach, 1998); exhaustion, feelings of cynicism and job detachment and feelings of organisational ineffectiveness and failure (Maslach and Leiter, 2006). The research draws on employee perceptions during and post consecutive implementation redundancy implementation. Data from 2033 comments from an intranet-based ‘mood indicator’ is analysed along with engagement survey results

The Use of Technological Innovations in Promoting Effective Humanitarian Aid

The number and scale of natural and man-made disasters is increasing at an unprecedented rate, leading to devastating consequences for citizens, governments, and entire economies. In response, humanitarian supply chains (HSC) are used as a means of reducing suffering and saving lives. HSCs manage and deliver aid to those in need after a disasterstrikes and exist only for the period of the relief operation. With reduced budgetsthere is an impetusto investigate technological innovationsthat offer increased efficiencies and reduced costs. One such innovation is information and communications technology (ICT), which is currently under-utilized by HSCs. This paper investigates the benefits, barriers, and enablers of increased ICT adoption in HSCs and offers solutions most suited to their needs. The study develops a matrix that identifiesthe enablers and barriers of implementing innovative ICT and highlights associated managerial implications and suggested areas for future research

Missing Attention to Power Dynamics in Collaborative Multi-Actor Business Models for Sustainability

Advances within the Sustainability Business Models (SBMs) literature from the perspective of boundary-spanning business models have received limited attention. Further, discourse within the SBMs literature exploring collaborative practices adopts the perspective that collaborative forums are always a ‘force for good’. This paper reviews important theories and relevant literature and calls into question the dearth of research examining business models for sustainability and focuses on the role that power, and power relations, play in the shaping and steering of value creation. In advancing research on sustainable operations, we assess the implications of ignoring uneven power, and draw attention to the affects and consequences of this omission in the study of SBMs. By embracing an alternative, deliberative democracy perspective, we challenge the sub-literature on collaborative multi-actor business models. In taking an inquisitive and critical stance on omnipresent power dynamics, we shine a light on the consequences of uneven power across multi-actor structures by augmenting research with practical insights from selected vignettes. Our proposed concept of a democratic business model for sustainability offers a new strand of theoretical development and a fresh perspective on the sustainability and business models literature

Artificial Intelligence for Supply Chain Resilience: Learning from Covid-19

Purpose: Many supply chains have faced disruption during Covid-19. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one mechanism that can be used to improve supply chain resilience by developing business continuity capabilities. This study examines how firms employ AI and considers the opportunities for AI to enhance supply chain resilience by developing visibility, risk, sourcing and distribution capabilities. Design/Methodology: We have gathered rich data by conducting semi-structured interviews with 35 experts from the e-commerce supply chain. We have adopted a systematic approach of coding using open, axial, and selective methods to map and identify the themes that represent the critical elements of AI-enabled supply chain resilience. Findings: The results of the study highlight the emergence of five critical areas where AI can contribute to enhanced supply chain resilience; (i) transparency, (ii) ensuring last-mile delivery, (iii) offering personalized solutions to both upstream and downstream supply chain stakeholders, (iv) minimizing the impact of disruption, and (v) facilitating an agile procurement strategy. Originality: The study presents the dynamic capabilities for supply chain resilience through the employment of AI. AI can contribute to readying supply chains to reduce their risk of disruption through enhanced resilience. Implications: The study offers interesting implications for bridging the theory-practice gap by drawing on contemporary empirical data to demonstrate how enhancing dynamic capabilities via AI technologies further strengthens supply chain resilience. The study also offers suggestions for utilizing the findings and proposes a framework to strengthen supply chain resilience through AI