An organizational framework for sustainable supply chain management: An integrated theoretical perspective

Abstract

This study reviews the existing approaches and frameworks on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Theories from other fields including quality management, supply chain management, and management (stakeholder theory and institutional theory) are explored to identify their contribution to theory development in SSCM. Drawing upon these theories an organizational framework for SSCM is developed with an integrated theoretical perspective. Based on the developed framework and supporting theories, testable research models are proposed for future testing and theory building. The proposed organizational framework integrates a quality management framework and SSCM practices within the umbrella of the organizational profile emphasizing instrumental motives, relational motives, and moral motives. The proposed organizational framework provides a comprehensive overview on the functioning mechanism at an organizational level. The proposed organizational framework results in positive research models that provide future research directions and suggestions relevant to industry.

Keywords:

• Institutional theory
• organizational framework
• quality management
• stakeholder theory
• sustainable supply chain management

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Xianghui Peng

Xianghui Peng is an Assistant Professor of Project and Supply Chain Management in the Black School of Business at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. His research articles have been published in journals including Computers and Industrial Engineering, Industrial Management & Data Systems, International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, Journal of Cleaner Production, Operations Management Research, Quality Management Journal, and Resources, Conservation & Recycling. His research focuses on quality management, sustainable supply chain management, healthcare operations, and technology management.

Xinyu Wei

Xinyu Wei is an Assistant Professor in the Business Information Systems department at California State University, Chico. He received a doctoral degree of management science from University of North Texas. His research interests are emerging technology adoption and sustainable supply chain. He is an active member of the Decision Sciences Institute (DSI), Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), and Production and Operations Management Society (POMS).

Lu Xu

Lu Xu is an Assistant Professor of Business Statistics and Quantitative Methods in the Mike Cottrell College of Business at the University of North Georgia. She received her doctoral degree of management science from the University of North Texas. Her research articles have been published in journals including Quality Management Journal, Industrial Management & Data Systems, International Journal of Production Economics, and Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. Her research interests are quality management, sustainable supply chain management, and consumer behaviors.

Ying Cao

Ying Cao is an Assistant Professor of Project and Supply Chain Management in the Black School of Business at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. She received her Ph.D. in Management Science from the University of Texas at Dallas. Her research articles have been published in journals including International Journal of Production Economics and Journal of Cleaner Production. Her research focuses on sustainable supply chain management, retail operations, and inventory management.

Victor Prybutok

Victor Prybutok is a Regents Professor of Decision Sciences in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, Vice Provost for Graduate Education, and Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School at the University of North Texas. He received his bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and a doctorate from Drexel University. Prybutok is an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Quality Auditor (CQA), Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), and an accredited professional statistician (PSTAT) by the American Statistical Association. Prybutok has authored 250 journal articles, several book chapters, and more than 300 conference presentations in information systems measurement, quality control, risk assessment, and applied statistics.