Supply chain integration and supply chain sustainability relationship: a qualitative analysis of the UK and Ghana pharmaceutical industry

Abstract

This study identifies and proposes a framework that provides insights into supply chain integration (SCI) and supplies chain sustainability (SCS) relationships. Drawing on dynamic capability theory, stakeholder theory, and contingency theory, it analyses primary qualitative data obtained by interviewing managers and executives and conducting observations, as well as secondary data within leading pharmaceutical companies, national pharmaceutical institutions, and regulators in the UK and Ghana. The study illustrates how and why (i) SCS can be achieved through SCI, and (ii) identifies the internal and external contextual factors (IECFs) that influence the relationship between SCI and SCS, that is, ‘external uncertainty (EU)’, ‘patient satisfaction’, and ‘leadership style’. The contribution of the paper lies in (i) providing an in-depth understanding of the IECFs affecting supply chains’ sustainability performance, and (ii) proposing a framework that extrapolates the IECFs influencing the relationship between SCI and SCS for both developed and developing country contexts. Practitioners are provided with guidance on how to effectively and efficiently operationalise SCI to achieve SCS whilst managing the effects of the IECFs on supply chain activities.

Keywords:

• Supply chain integration
• supply chain sustainability
• external uncertainty
• pharmaceuticals

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Frank Donkor

Frank Donkor is a lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management at the Exeter Business School, department of Science, Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (SITE), and Centre for Simulation, Analytics and Modelling (CSAM). Before joining Exeter Business School, he held the position of a lecturer in operations management at the University of Kent- UK. He obtained a PhD in Management Science (with a focus on operations and supply chain management) from the University of Kent- UK. He also holds an MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (Distinction) from University of Westminster- UK, BA Industrial Art (First Class) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)- Ghana, Certificate in Advanced Survey Data Analysis and Survey Experiments from University of Essex- UK, and MRes in Supply Chain Management. Frank’s research largely focuses on the area of operations, supply chain sustainability and management, leadership styles in supply chains’, and business analytics. His research generally covers a wide range of industries in both developed and developing countries' contexts and adopts both advance quantitative and qualitative approaches for his research.

Thanos Papadopoulos

Thanos Papadopoulos is a Professor of Management (Information Systems/Operations Management) and Department Lead for Research and Innovation at the Department of ‘Analytics, Operations, and Systems’ of Kent Business School, University of Kent, UK. He received his PhD from Warwick Business School of University of Warwick, UK. His research is focussing on the problems that are at the nexus of operations management and information systems and more recently on Big Data within Supply Chains and Operations. He has published over 150 articles in peer reviewed journals and conferences including, inter alia, the British Journal of Management, Decision Sciences, European Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, International Journal of Production Research, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, International Journal of Production Economics, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, and Production Planning and Control. He is Associate Editor for British Journal of Management and International Journal of Operations and Production Management. He also sits at the Editorial board of Production Planning and Control and Technological Forecasting and Social Change and is Distinguished Editorial Board member of International Journal of Information Management and International Journal of Information Management Data Insights.

Virginia Spiegler

Virginia L. M. Spiegler is a reader in Operations and Supply Chain Management at the University of Kent. She holds a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil; an M.Sc. in Logistics and Operations Management, a Pg.Dip. in Social Science Research Methods and a Ph.D in Supply Chain Dynamics from Cardiff University. She is a member of the Department of Analytics, Operations and Systems at Kent Business School and her research focuses on supply chain resilience, sustainability and digital transformation as well as nonlinear control theory and system dynamics. Virginia has also worked in the areas of material and production planning and traceability in the automotive and aircraft industries. Her research work has been applied in the food and drink, semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries.