Strategy for sustainable supply chain transformation: a resource orchestration perspective
Industrial Management & Data Systems
ISSN: 0263-5577
Article publication date: 25 July 2024
Issue publication date: 30 July 2024
Abstract
Purpose
With the popularization of sustainable concepts, how to transform into a sustainable supply chain has received widespread attention in practice. Under this circumstance, this paper aims to propose a theoretical framework of sustainable supply chain transformation (SSCT) from a perspective of resource identification and utilization, investigates resources/capabilities that can be used to promote SSCT and explores how to use resources/capabilities to achieve SSCT effectively.
Design/methodology/approach
An inductive multi-case analysis is applied to this paper. Four state-owned/non-state-owned enterprises from the manufacturing sector are selected as the research objectives, which are all leaders in the industry based on the 2022 China TOP 500 Enterprises Ranking. Meanwhile, to guarantee the diversities of enterprises, the four selected enterprises are respectively positioned in upstream and downstream of the supply chain.
Findings
A theoretical framework of SSCT is proposed with following research findings: (1) Technology resources, facilities and equipment resources, and business process reengineering capability are the key resources/capabilities to promote SSCT. (2) From the supply chain structure perspective, there exists a leader-participant structure in SSCT. The enterprise with dominant resources/capabilities should actively transfer to a SSCT leader. From the supply chain function perspective, specific sustainability assessment indicators and special teams are two necessary settings for SSCT. From the supply chain lifecycle perspective, SSCT should be promoted in a phased manner and dynamically adjusted in each stage. (3) Digital transformation degree and enterprise ownership play a moderating role in the implementation of strategies.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a conceptual framework of SSCT based on the resource orchestration perspective, which provides decision support for enterprises in practice.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper is a phased research achievement of the Major Program of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (Grant No. 2022-JB-01). The reviewers' comments are also highly appreciated. The authors acknowledge Weihua Liu as the co-corresponding author for this paper.
Citation
Yan, X., Chen, X., Lu, C., Liu, W., Shi, X. and Gong, Y. (2024), "Strategy for sustainable supply chain transformation: a resource orchestration perspective", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 124 No. 8, pp. 2633-2662. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-11-2023-0877
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited