It is believed that the critical next step from examinations of operations and the environment is the study of sustainability and supply chains (Linton, Klassen, and Jayaraman (2007)). Environmental quality and preservation as well as meeting the stress of emission reductions is rapidly becoming an important issue for public policy (Wilkinson, Hill, and Gollan (2001)). However, Lambertini and Mantovani (2007) note the disregard, unrelated to regulatory requirements, of research practitioners to the potential benefits of appropriate competition policy measures and consumer pressures (Srivastara (2007)). In addition, a firm’s success, notably, in terms of financial and/or environmental practices, has been tied, in part, to the strength of its ability to coordinate and integrate activities along the entire supply chain (Spekman, Kamauff Jr., and Myhr (1998)), and to effectively implement multicriteria decisionmaking tools to aid in their strategic decisions. I present five essays in this dissertation. For each model I utilize the theory of variational inequalities, derive the formulation, present qualitative properties, and provide numerical examples. The first essay develops the multitiered sustainable supply chain network model with multicriteria decision-making. In the second essay I construct a modeling and computational framework that allows for the determination of optimal carbon taxes applied to electric power plants in the context of electric power supply chain (generation/distribution/consumption) networks. The third essay considers electric power supply chain networks and develops a model of tradable pollution permits in the case of multiple pollutants and spatially distinct receptor points. In the fourth essay, I quantify and assess, from a system-optimized sustainable supply chain network perspective, the environmental effects resulting when a horizontal supply chain integration occurs. In the fifth and final essay, I extend the work of Nagurney (2009) to the multiproduct supply chain network domain to quantify the impacts. This dissertation is heavily based on the following papers: Nagurney, Liu, and Woolley (2006), Nagurney, Liu, and Woolley (2007), Woolley, Nagurney, and Stranlund (2009), Nagurney and Woolley (2009) and Nagurney, Woolley, and Qiang (2009).

Global supply chains feature multi-tier systems encompassing many geographically dispersed and sequential partners operating across diversified product chains. This research attempts to examine the different mechanisms that reinforce the management of sustainability throughout complex multi-tier supply chain. Using a multi-case study of a sample of eight firms and relying on the foundations of complexity theory, this research recognises the complex operating environment of global multi-tier supply chains and reveals various mechanisms to effectively manage and facilitate the relationships with first- and lower-tier suppliers. Although institutional controls are important to manage the sustainability of first-tier suppliers, the findings posit that due to the inherent complexities of global multi-tier supply chains, duplicating institutional controls to lower-tier suppliers might not be effective. Therefore, firms should attempt to foster modest mechanisms that reinforce adaptation and self-organisation, for example, collaboration and guiding mechanisms, to effectively manage the sustainability of lower-tier suppliers. The research contributes to multi-tier sustainable supply chain management literature by exploring the different mechanisms to manage multi-tier supply chains and the inherent complexities that may impact on firms’ endeavours in achieving their sustainability goals. Managers can utilise different contingent mechanisms to effectively manage the relationships with suppliers that are beyond their immediate visibility.

The goal of this dissertation was to contribute to our understanding of the relationship between supply chain structure and the pursuit of a sustainability-driven corporate strategy. The literature indicates that in order to pursue a sustainability-focused strategy, an increased level of integration across the supply chain is required. However, there are also industry-level dynamics that impact observed levels of vertical integration. That is, some industries are naturally more integrated than others based on the maturity level of the industry. Thus, some firms may experience opposing forces regarding their sourcing strategies once they choose to pursue a sustainability-focused strategy. To explore this potential tension, it is first necessary to objectively measure vertical integration. Several methods for measuring vertical integration exist; however, all of these methods rely exclusively on economic data. These measures might overlook other forms of integration that might be enacted, such as the development of stronger social ties. Thus, this research will seek to utilize a novel method that makes use of social network analysis to assess integration among firms in a supply chain along social dimensions. This dissertation 1) determined the correlation between having a vertically-integrated organizational structure and pursuing a sustainable supply chain strategy by identifying if sustainability-focused companies (SFCs) have a more vertically-integrated organizational structure than their counterparts that are not pursuing such strategies, 2) examined the evolution of supply chain structure as a company becomes more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable over time, and 3) defined the social ties between SFCs and their first- and second-tier suppliers to understand if they develop stronger social ties as a potential substitute for pure vertical integration. This dissertation is comprised of four main parts. In the first part of the dissertation, I compared three recently developed vertical integration indices based on consistency and ease of measurement. The three vertical integration indices studied were empirically tested on companies in the U.S. Medical Devices Industry and the limitations of each are discussed. Our analysis suggested adoption of the Fan and Lang's method. In the second part, I examined the vertical integration level of environmentally sustainable and non-sustainable companies. I empirically examined the vertical integration level of 144 sustainability-focused companies in 9 different industries. The results demonstrate that sustainability-focused companies in the Medical Devices Industry and the Industrials Industry tend to have more vertically integrated organizational structures than their industry competitors that are not pursuing such a strategy since these two industries are production oriented and they have closer relationships with their suppliers. In the third part, the objective was to understand how the organizational structure of sustainability-focused companies changes over time as the companies become more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. I applied trend analysis to the sustainability and vertical integration level of the companies. Our sample consisted of 10 sustainability-focused companies from the industrials industry. I used the content analysis of annual reports to calculate sustainability development scores, and applied the Fan and Lang's method to determine the vertical integration level of the companies. The study results demonstrated an increasing trend in both vertical integration and sustainability development of industrial industry companies over a 15-year of period. Furthermore, the companies became more vertically integrated as their environmental, economical, and social sustainability increased. Finally, in the fourth part, I developed and empirically tested a theoretical model that examines the supplier relationships of sustainability-focused companies (SFCs) to understand if these relationships are substitute to a vertically integrated organizational structure. Furthermore, I tested if SFCs are more socially connected to their suppliers compared to non-sustainable companies (non-SFCs). An online survey instrument was utilized for data collection. The empirical findings of path analysis demonstrated that SFCs establish long term relationships, collaborate, transfer know-how and experience, and create strong-ties with their first and second-tier suppliers to have an organizational structure that is substitute to a pure vertical integration. Findings further revealed that SFCs are connected to their first and second tier suppliers with stronger social ties compared to non-SFCs. Results support the natural transaction cost economics and natural resource based perspectives. Our study results should be useful to researchers and managers who are interested in corporate sustainability behavior.

Dans le présent travail, le concept de durabilité a été redéfini pour que la compréhension commune puisse être garantie. Un modèle d'évaluation du degré de durabilité d'une chaîne logistique existante a été conçu par la suite. Ce modèle a été testé de façon empirique à travers une étude de cas. En appliquant l'amélioration continue, il faut que cette évaluation soit suivie d'un processus de reconception de la chaîne logistique en question. Cependant, Il est important qu'une évaluation des risques soit réalisée auparavant. Pour cette raison, un modèle de quantification des risques a été développé. Le modèle peut considérer soit les risques débouchant sur une reconception, soit les risques dus à une reconception. Une étude de cas basée sur les risques débouchant sur une reconception de la chaîne logistique a été mise en place pour prouver l'applicabilité du modèle dans un environnement réel. Les résultats qui découlent du modèle doivent être considérés comme étant une aide à la décision / Ln the present work, the sustainabillty concept has been redeflned so that common understanding can be guaranteed. Subsequently, a model intended to evaluate an existent supply chain's overall degree of sustainability has been developed and empirically tested through a case study. Considering the approach of continuous improvement, this evaluation should be followed by a redesign of the considered supply chain. However, a risk assessment needs to be done ex-ante. Forthis reason, a risk Identification and quantification model has been evolved. This model may consider bath, the risks leading to the redesign process and the risks resultlng from the redesign phase. A case study, which considers the risks leading to a redesign phase, has been implemented so that the model's feasibility in a real business' environment can be proved. The model's outcomes must not be mistaken for ultimate results but need to be considered being a decision support for managers.

Informationssystem har fått en allt större betydelse för området hållbarhet och inom utvecklingen av hållbara leverantörskedjor. Informationssystem (IS) och informationsteknik (IT) är ett väsentligt verktyg för att verksamheter ska kunna arbeta hållbart. Denna studie undersöker hur hållbarhet påverkar informationssystemens roll i leverantörskedjor och dessutom förstå hur affärsvärde främjas i samband med att verksamheter förhåller sig till hållbara affärsaktiviteter.  Studiens resultat baseras från olika arbetsroller i olika branscher vars organisation har en betydande roll i leverantörskedjor. Datainsamlingen skedde via semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultatet påvisar att hållbarhetsarbete påverkar informationssystem i och med att det förändrar hur verksamheter arbetar i sina leverantörskedjor. Att utgå från att informationssystem är en typ av arbetssystem påvisar resultatet att det är olika delar av informationssystem som påverkats. Verksamheter är tvungna att svara på förändring eftersom att en större efterfrågan på att arbeta hållbart hela vägen har ökat från konsumenter och intressenter.Detta leder till att verksamheter behöver utvärdera sin leverantörskedja och dokumentera hur informationssystem påverkar social, ekonomisk samt miljömässiga hållbarhetsaspekter för att kunna förbättra sina affärsaktiviteter. Hållbar utveckling är ett nytt område som har börjat appliceras inom IS dock behöver det betraktas som en ny dimension vid utvärdering av informationssystem. / Information systems has gotten a bigger role in the field of sustainability and in the development of sustainable supply chains. Information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) is an essential tool for businesses to work sustainably. This study researches how sustainability affects the role that information systems have in supply chains and how business values can be promoted in connection to businesses attitudes towards sustainable business activities.  This study's result is based on different work roles in different industries where the organization has an important role in the supply chain. The data collection took place via semi-structured interviews. The results show that work with sustainability affects information systems since businesses change the way they work in their supply chains. Assuming that information systems is a type of work system the results show that different parts of the information system are affected. Businesses have to respond to change because a greater demand for working sustainably all the way has increased from consumers and stakeholders. This leads to businesses having to evaluate their supply chain and document how information systems affect social, economic and environmental sustainability aspects in order to improve their business activities. Sustainable development is a new area that is starting to apply in IS but it needs to be seen as a new dimension in evaluation of information systems.

[pt] A sustentabilidade corporativa é identificada na interseção de um conjunto de práticas ambientais, sociais e econômicas integradas. Inúmeras práticas sustentáveis são empregadas pelas organizações, resultando em diversos benefícios de curto e longo prazo. A mensuração do desempenho por meio de indicadores de sustentabilidade com objetivo de acompanhar os resultados e os impactos gerados na natureza e na sociedade por essas práticas tem sido empregada e reportada em forma de relatórios de sustentabilidade por inúmeras empresas ao redor do mundo. No contexto brasileiro, percebe-se a falta de estudos que abordem esse tema. Por tanto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo identificar as principais práticas sustentáveis e indicadores de desempenho reportadas em relatórios de sustentabilidade utilizadas por empresas de diferentes setores da economia brasileira pertencentes ao ISE da bolsa de valores de São Paulo. A primeira etapa dessa dissertação consistiu em realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura a fim de apresentar o estado da arte sobre medição de desempenho em relatórios de sustentabilidade. A segunda parte consistiu em identificar as práticas sustentáveis e indicadores relatados nos relatórios de sustentabilidade por meio de uma análise de conteúdo. Por fim, realizou-se uma análise estatística dos indicadores de desempenho obtidos. Após a realização da pesquisa, conclui-se que i) A maioria das empresas está focando nos aspectos da sustentabilidade e estão no caminho certo para o desenvolvimento sustentável. ii) As empresas estão buscando soluções para suas demandas, levando em consideração aspectos como gerenciamento de água, eficiência energética, redução do consumo de insumos, diminuição de desperdícios, novas composições de materiais e formas de produção. iii) Os relatórios de sustentabilidade servem como ferramenta de transparência, uma vez que apresenta de forma concisa dados e informações de como as empresas utilizam todos os seus recursos para criar valor no curto, médio e longo prazo. / [en] Corporate sustainability is identified at the intersection of a set of integrated environmental, social and economic practices. Numerous sustainable practices are employed by organizations, resulting in several short and long term benefits. Performance measurement through sustainability indicators to monitor the results and impacts generated in nature and society by these practices has been employed and reported in the form of sustainability reports by countless companies around the world. In the Brazilian context, there is a lack of studies that address this theme. Therefore, this dissertation aimed Identify the main sustainable practices and performance indicators reported in sustainability reports used by companies from different sectors of the Brazilian economy belonging to the ISE of the São Paulo Stock Exchange. The first step of this dissertation was to conduct a systematic literature review to present the state of the art on performance measurement in sustainability reports. The second part was to identify sustainable practices and indicators reported in sustainability reports through content analysis. Finally, a statistical analysis of the obtained performance indicators was performed. After conducting the research, it is concluded that i) Most companies are focusing on sustainability aspects and they are on the right track for sustainable development. ii) The companies are looking for solutions to their demands, taking into account aspects such as water management, energy efficiency, reduction of input consumption, waste reduction, new material compositions and production methods. iii) Sustainability reporting serves as a transparency tool as it concisely presents data and information on how companies use all their resources to create value in the short, medium and long term.