Sustainable value chain management: A research anthology

Globalization has dramatically changed the way a supply chain is managed. Issues related to social responsibility and sustainability are high on the boardroom agenda because they both may bring fatal damage and disruption to a supply chain, as well as threats to the sustainable supply of energy, food and raw material. So far the supply chain literature has been trying to understand the effects and management of various initiatives, which deal with problems related to the use of child labour, abuse, discrimination, poor factory health and safety, pollution, energy and poisoning of food products in global supply chains. However, the penetration of corporate social responsibility into supply chains is described as 'desire lacking reality' by Nada Kakabadse (2006) and 'patchy success' by Sarah Roberts (2007). By enabling the integration of corporate social responsibility and supply chain literature, this book contributes to the business ethics and supply chain management communities in specific, and business and management communities in general. Since the incorporation of business ethics and corporate social responsibility theories into the supply chain research is still in the embryonic state, this book provides an opportunity to lay out the foundation to advance the development of socially responsible supply management theories. Sustainable Value Chain Management integrates theoretical and empirical chapters that are embedded in corporate social responsibility and supply chain management. The book is divided into two sections. Section one provides definitions and explanations of the main theories of corporate social responsibility and supply chain management. Section one ends with a chapter that integrates the corporate social responsibility and supply chain management literature. Section two focuses on the practice and case studies of initiatives related to the management of social responsibility and sustainability in global supply chains. At the end of section two a chapter pulls the relevant theories and practice together and suggests a framework for further research