The research considers the use of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) policies as a means to forge a bridge beween the micro scale of individual firm operations and the macro scale of ecological and societal impact(referred to as Kleindorfer's Challenge). Qualitative case study research is undertaken across different economic sectors identified with specific macro-scale challenges that are taken as a more precise and up-to-date definition for sustainability. This research assumes the plaentary boundaries (PB) framework, developed by environmental scientists led by Rockstrom & Steffen et al., and the social foundations (SF) framework, from international development, defined by Raworth & Leach et al. as the basis of the definition used. Eight firms grouped into five case studies are subjected to in-depth investigation into how they relate their own activities to sustainabiity outcomes via their SSCM policy and the barriers they face. To understand the nature of knowledge versus uncertainty within each firm, decision theory is adopted and elaborated in the context of sustainability. In particular, Snowden's Cynefin framework and Keeney's value-focussed decision analysis are adopted as aspects of the dominant logic for each firm. This shapes their decision making abilities when faced with complexities and ambiguities in delivery SSCM in the context of various external pressures (notably from legislative, investor and customer demands). The resulting evidence informs a model of substantive sustainability, whereby firms with substantive impacts are distinguished from those without substantive impacts, in terms of the PB+SF framemworks. This helps firms realise the extent to which they should be concerned about sustainability issues, with some firms having a disconnect between their stated goals and their actual influence, and other firms with substantial impacts receiving insufficient attention from academia and practice.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:699365 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Alexander, Anthony Edward |
| Publisher | Cardiff University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://orca.cf.ac.uk/96059/ |
Page generated in 0.0018 seconds