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Putting sustainable supply chain management into base of the pyramid research

Raja Usman Khalid (Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany.)
Stefan Seuring (Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany.)
Philip Beske (Centre for Sustainability Management, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany.)
Anna Land (Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany.)
Sadaat Ali Yawar (Department of Information and Service Economy, Logistics, School of Business, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland)
Ralf Wagner (Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany.)

Supply Chain Management

ISSN: 1359-8546

Article publication date: 14 September 2015

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to analyze which sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) arguments are addressed in the base of the pyramid (BoP)-related research. BoP projects address how companies contribute to fulfilling the needs of the poorest populations; increasingly, academics are applying theory to explain these projects. The need for integrating the BoP population into value-adding activities is widely acknowledged, but this is not yet reflected in supply chain management (SCM)-related concepts. The links to SSCM are frequently mentioned but in a scattered manner.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a structured literature review of BoP papers published between 2000 and 2014 in peer-reviewed, English-speaking journals available on Web of Science. A content analysis of BoP papers is conducted based on SSCM constructs from the framework presented by Beske and Seuring (2014).

Findings

The frequencies of SSCM constructs identified in the BoP papers indicate the prevalence of SSCM arguments in the BoP discourse. Technological integration emerges as the core SSCM practice frequently identified and is contingent with a number of other practices. Further, SSCM practices including long-term relationship development, partner development, joint development, enhanced communication, learning, stakeholder management and innovation have regularly been referred to and are considered important by respective BoP scholars. The contingency analysis shows significant correlations among various pairs of categories and allows us to point to major lines of related arguments.

Research limitations/implications

The paper offers insights into the potential links between the SSCM and BoP research streams and sets ground for further theoretical exploration of the subject. Limitations are the uptake of one particular conceptual framework, the selection of BoP papers for the review process and the interpretation of the frequency and contingency analysis. The paper offers a foundation for developing a research stream where BoP-related issues are integrated into research on (S)SCM.

Practical implications

SCM has many practical applications, which help to establish and improve supply chain design and operations. This would benefit BoP projects and should improve their practical outcomes. The relevance of technological integration seems straightforward, but needs a lot of effort to be implemented in each single project.

Social implications

BoP-related research has gained increasing attention in recent years and should help drive the global sustainable development agenda further in the respective geographic locations. Establishing capable supply chains that deliver sustainable outcomes will be at the core of such projects. This paper highlights fundamental practices for firms targeting BoP markets with an effort to alleviate poverty.

Originality/value

The paper applies SSCM theory to analyze BoP issues and thereby interlinks the two research streams. Until now, research amalgamating the two concepts has been disconnected. Therefore, by providing an overview of existing publications, more focus for future studies is created, which is valuable and necessary for advancing both fields. Additionally, assessing BoP-type projects in low-income countries will allow the SSCM agenda to look beyond what is so far typically researched.

Keywords

Citation

Khalid, R.U., Seuring, S., Beske, P., Land, A., Yawar, S.A. and Wagner, R. (2015), "Putting sustainable supply chain management into base of the pyramid research", Supply Chain Management, Vol. 20 No. 6, pp. 681-696. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-06-2015-0214

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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