Modern slavery in supply chains: insights through strategic ambiguity
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 10 February 2021
Issue publication date: 1 March 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess whether firms' transparency in supply chain (TISC) statements indicate that substantive action is being taken on modern slavery in UK government supply chains.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyse 66 of the UK government's strategic suppliers' TISC statements and 20 key documents related to the policy intent of the UK Parliament, 2015 TISC requirements. Qualitative document analysis identifies what suppliers say they are doing and what they are not saying to provide novel insights into how firms employ ambiguity to avoid timely action on modern slavery in their supply chains A set of propositions are developed.
Findings
The authors elaborate the concepts of time and change in socially sustainable supply chains and illustrate how firms use ambiguity in TISC statements as a highly strategic form of action to defend the status quo, reduce accountability and delay action for modern slavery within supply chains. The authors identify three ambiguous techniques: defensive reassurance, transfer responsibility and scope reduction that deviate from the policy intention of collaborative action.
Social implications
The results illustrates how ambiguity is preventing firms from taking collaborative action to tackle modern slavery in their supply chains. The lack of action as a result of ambiguity protects firms, rather than potential victims of modern slavery.
Originality/value
Prior research focuses on technical compliance rather than the content of firms' TISC statements. This qualitative study provides novel insights into the policy-resistant effects of ambiguity and highlights the dynamic and instrumental role of modern slavery reporting. Theoretically, we identify accountability as an essential concept to address the causes of modern slavery in supply chains and for developing collaborative supply chain environments to tackle the issues.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Matt Mitchell, Anneke Schaefer, Nathan Davies, Oliver Kennedy, and Demitri Kyriacou, for their research assistance.
Citation
Meehan, J. and Pinnington, B.D. (2021), "Modern slavery in supply chains: insights through strategic ambiguity", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 41 No. 2, pp. 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-05-2020-0292
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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