Greening SCM through SC integration: an exploratory investigation among Italian supply chain managers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7433/s116.2021.10Keywords:
GSCM; Internal integration; External integration; Organisational cultureAbstract
Purpose of the paper: the study contributes to the debate on the nature of links between supply chain integration and green supply chain management (GSCM). In particular, we empirically tested the existence of relations between supply chain integration, organisational culture, and the adoption of GSCM practices.
Method: We carried out an online survey on a sample of Italian firms. After building research hypotheses and measurement models through a literature review, we administered an online questionnaire to purchasing managers or directors, logistics managers or directors, and managers in charge of supply chain management.
Results: Our results show that internal and external integrations have a multifaceted impact on GSCM practices. Internal integration is an essential condition for their implementation. In particular, technological integration with suppliers is more relevant than informative integration with suppliers in greening the supply chain. The results also show that companies develop different forms of supply chain integration depending on their organisational culture and not on their size.
Research limitations: The main limits of this study consist in the use of data from cross-sectional observation (and not longitudinal data) and the collection of data in a single country.
Practical implications: This study allows supply chain managers to better understand how to pursue a high level of coherence between supply chain integration, organisational culture and GSCM practices. In particular, our results help supply chain managers select integration pathways that support targeted GSCM practices and are more likely to succeed in their specific organisational context.
The originality of the study: This study adopts specific metrics for each component of supply chain integration, organisational culture and GSCM practices, which allows for a detailed analysis of the underlying relationships.
References
AGERON B., GUNASEKARAN A., SPALANZANI A. (2012), “Sustainable supply management: An empirical study”, International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 140, n. 1, pp. 168-182.
ARMISTEAD C.G., MAPES J. (1993), “The impact of supply chain integration on operating performance”, Logistics Information Management, vol. 6, n. 4, pp. 9-14.
ANNUNZIATA E., RIZZI F., FREY M. (2019), “How do firms interpret extended responsibilities for a sustainable supply chain management of innovative technologies? An analysis of corporate sustainability reports in the energy sector”, Sinergie Italian Journal of Management, vol. 37, n. 2, pp. 57-74.
BAE H.S., GRANT D.B., BANOMYONG R., VARADEJSATITWONG P. (2021), “Investigating the impact of the strength of supply chain integration on cost and responsiveness”, International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, pp. 1-19.
BRAUNSCHEIDEL M.J., SURESH N.C., BOISNIER A.D. (2010), “Investigating the impact of organisational culture on supply chain integration”, Human Resource Management, vol. 49, n. 5, pp. 883-911.
ÇANKAYA S.Y., SEZEN B. (2018), “Effects of green supply chain management practices on sustainability performance”, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 30, n. 1, pp. 98-121.
CAO Z., HUO B., LI Y., ZHAO X. (2015), “The impact of organisational culture on supply chain integration: A contingency and configuration approach”, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 20, n. 1, pp. 24-41.
CARTER C.R., CARTER J.R. (1998), “Interorganizational Determinants of Environmental Purchasing: Initial Evidence from the Consumer Products Industries”, Decision Sciences, vol. 29, n. 3, pp. 659-684
CARTER C.R., ROGERS D.S. (2008), “A framework of sustainable supply chain management: moving toward new theory”, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, vol. 38, n. 5, pp. 360-387.
DESHPANDE R., WEBSTER F.E. (1989), “Organisational culture and marketing: Defining the research”, Journal of Marketing, vol. 53, n.1, pp. 3-15.
ELBAZ J., IDDIK S. (2020), “Culture and green supply chain management (GSCM)”, Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 31, n. 2, pp. 483-504.
FLYNN B.B., HUO B., ZHAO X. (2010), “The impact of supply chain integration on performance: A contingency and configuration approach”, Journal of Operations Management, vol. 28, n. 1, pp. 58-71.
FROHLICH M.T., WESTBROOK R. (2001), “Arcs of integration: An international study of supply chain strategies”, Journal of Operations Management, vol. 19, n. 2, pp. 185-200.
GIMENEZ C., SIERRA V. (2013), “Sustainable supply chains: Governance mechanisms to greening suppliers”, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 116, n. 1, pp. 189-203.
GONZÁLEZ-BENITO J., LANNELONGUE G., FERREIRA L.M., GONZALEZ-ZAPATERO C. (2016), “The effect of green purchasing on purchasing performance: the moderating role played by long-term relationships and strategic integration”, Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, vol. 31, n. 2, pp. 312-324.
GREEN K.W., ZELBST P.J., MEACHAM J., BHADAURIA V.S. (2012), “Green supply chain management practices: impact on performance”, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 17, n. 3, pp. 290-305.
HARTMANN J., GERMAIN R. (2015), “Understanding the relationships of integration capabilities, ecological product design, and manufacturing performance”, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 92, pp. 196-205.
HERVANI A.A., HELMS M.M., SARKIS J. (2005), “Performance measurement for green supply chain management”, Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 12, n. 4, pp. 330-353.
HOLT D., GHOBADIAN A. (2009), “An empirical study of green supply chain management practices amongst UK manufacturers”, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 20, n. 7, pp. 933-956.
HONG P., KWON H.B., ROH J.J. (2009), “Implementation of strategic green orientation in supply chain”, European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. 12, n. 4, pp. 512-532.
HUO B. (2012), “The impact of supply chain integration on company performance: an organisational capability perspective”, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 17, n. 6, pp. 596-610.
INMAN R.A., GREEN K.W. (2018), “Lean and green combine to impact environmental and operational performance”, International Journal of Production Research, vol. 56, n. 14, pp. 4802-4818.
KIM D. (2013), “Relationship between supply chain integration and performance”, Operational Management Resources, vol. 6, pp. 74-90.
KIRCHOFF J., TATE W., MOLLENKOPF D. (2016), “The impact of strategic organisational orientations on green supply chain management and firm performance”, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, vol. 46, n. 3, pp. 269-292.
LEE S.M., KIM S.T., CHOI D. (2012), “Green supply chain management and organisational performance”, Industrial Management and Data Systems, vol. 112, n. 8, pp. 1148-1180.
LEWIS K.V., CASSELLS S., ROXAS H. (2015), “SMEs and the potential for a collaborative path to environmental responsibility”, Business Strategy and the Environment, vol. 24 n. 8, pp. 750-764.
LIU Y., BLOME C., SANDERSON J., PAULRA A. (2018), “Supply chain integration capabilities, green design strategy and performance: a comparative study in the auto industry”, Supply Chain Management: an International Journal, vol. 23, n. 5, pp. 431-443.
LO S.M., ZHANG S., WANG Z., ZHAO X. (2018), “The impact of relationship quality and supplier development on green supply chain integration: A mediation and moderation analysis”, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 202, pp. 524-535.
MASSARONI E., COZZOLINO A., WANKOWICZ E. (2015), “Sustainability in supply chain management: a literature review”, Sinergie Italian Journal of Management, vol. 33, n. 98, pp. 331-355.
MITRA S., DATTA P.P. (2013), “Adoption of green supply chain management practices and their impact on performance: An exploratory study of Indian manufacturing firms”, International Journal of Production Research, vol. 52, n. 7, pp. 2085-2107.
NAOR M., GOLDSTEIN S.M., LINDERMAN K.W., SCHROEDER R.G. (2008), “The role of culture as driver of quality management and performance: infrastructure versus core quality practices”, Decision Sciences, vol. 39, n. 4, pp. 671-702.
PAGELL M. (2004), “Understanding the factors that enable and inhibit the integration of operations, purchasing and logistics”, Journal of Operations Management, vol. 22, n. 5, pp. 459-487.
PAULRAJ A. (2011), “Understanding the relationships between internal resources and capabilities, sustainable supply management and organisational sustainability”, Journal of Supply Chain Management, vol. 47, n. 1, pp. 19-37.
PORTER M. (2019), “Supply chain integration: Does organisational culture matter?”, Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 12 n.1, pp. 49-59.
QUINN R.E., ROHRBAUGH J. (1983), “A spatial model of effectiveness criteria: Towards a competing values approach to organisational analysis”, Management Science, vol. 29, n. 3, pp. 363-377.
RAO P., HOLT D. (2005), “Do green supply chains lead to competitiveness and economic performance?”, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, vol. 25, n. 9, pp. 898-916.
SARKIS J., GONZALEZ-TORRES P., ADENSO-DIAZ B. (2010), “Stakeholder pressure and the adoption of environmental practices: the mediating effect of training”, Journal of Operations Management, vol. 28, n. 2, pp. 163-176.
SARKIS J., ZHU Q., LAI K.H. (2011), “An organisational theoretic review of green supply chain management literature”, International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 130, n. 1, pp. 1-15.
SCUR G., BARBOSA M.E. (2017), “Green supply chain management practices: Multiple case studies in the Brazilian home appliance industry”, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 141, pp. 1293-1302.
SHUAIB K.M., HE Z. (2021), “Impact of organisational culture on quality management and innovation practices among manufacturing SMEs in Nigeria”, Quality Management Journal, vol. 28, n. 2, pp. 100-116.
SILVA G.M., GOMES P.J., CARVALHO H., GERALDES V. (2021), “Sustainable development in small and medium enterprises: The role of entrepreneurial orientation in supply chain management”, Business Strategy and the Environment, pp. 1-17, doi: 10.1002/bse.2841.
SRIVASTAVA S.K. (2007), “Green supply-chain management: A state of the-art literature review”, International Journal of Management Reviews, vol. 9, n. 1, pp. 53-80.
STANK T.P., KELLER S.B., CLOSS D.J. (2001), “Performance benefits of supply chain integration”, Transportation Journal, vol. 41, n. 2, pp. 31-46.
TACHIZAWA E.M., GIMENEZ C., SIERRA V. (2015), “Green supply chain management approaches: drivers and performance implications”, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, vol. 35, n. 11, pp. 1546-1566.
TONG Y.K., ARVEY R.D. (2015), “Managing complexity via the competing values framework”, Journal of Management Development, vol. 34, n. 6, pp. 653-673.
WALKER H., DI SISTO L., MCBAIN D. (2008), “Drivers and barriers to environmental supply chain management practices: Lessons from the public and private sectors”, Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, vol. 14, n. 1, pp. 69-85.
VACHON S. (2007), “Green supply chain practices and the selection of environmental technologies”, International Journal of Production Research, vol. 45, n. 18-19, pp. 4357-4379.
VACHON S., KLASSEN R.D. (2006), “Extending green practices across the supply chain: The impact of upstream and downstream integration”, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, vol. 26, n. 7, pp. 795-821.
WEE H.M., LEE M.C., JONAS C.P., WANG C.E. (2011), “Optimal replenishment policy for a deteriorating green product: Life cycle costing analysis”, International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 133, n. 2, pp. 603-611.
WU G.C., DING J.H., CHEN P.S. (2012), “The effects of GSCM drivers and institutional pressures on GSCM practices in Taiwan’s textile and apparel industry”, International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 135, n. 2, pp. 618-636.
WU Z., PAGELL M. (2011), “Balancing priorities: decision-making in sustainable supply chain management”, Journal of Operations Management, vol. 29, n. 6, pp. 577-590.
YOUNIS H., SUNDARAKANI B., VEL P. (2016), “The impact of implementing green supply chain management practices on corporate performance”, Competitiveness Review, vol. 26, n. 3, pp. 216-245.
YU W., CHAVEZ R., FENG M., WIENGARTEN F. (2014), “Integrated green supply chain management and operational performance”, Supply Chain management: An International Journal, vol. 19, n. 5-6, pp. 683-696.
YU Y., ZHANG M., HUO B. (2019), “The impact of supply chain quality integration on green supply chain management and environmental performance”, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, vol. 30, n. 9-10, pp. 1110-1125.
ZAID A.A., JAARON A.A.M., TALIB BON A. (2018), “The impact of green human resource management and green supply chain management practices on sustainable performance: An empirical study”, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 204, pp. 965-979.
ZHAO X., HUO B., SELEN W., YEUNG J.H.Y. (2011), “The impact of internal integration and relationship commitment on external integration”, Journal of Operations Management, vol. 29, n. 1-2, pp. 17-32.
ZHU Q., SARKIS J. (2004), “Relationships between operational practices and performance among early adopters of green supply chain management practices in Chinese manufacturing enterprises”, Journal of Operations Management, vol. 22, n. 3, pp. 265-289.
ZHU Q., SARKIS J., LAI K.H. (2007a), “Initiatives and outcomes of green supply chain management implementation by Chinese manufacturers”, Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 85, n. 1, pp. 179-189.
ZHU Q., SARKIS J., LAI K.H. (2007b), “Green supply chain management: pressures, practices and performance within the Chinese automobile industry”, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 15, n. 11, pp. 1041-1052.
ZHU Q., SARKIS J. (2007c), “The moderating effects of institutional pressures on emergent green supply chain practices and performance”, International Journal of Production Research, vol. 45, n. 18-19, pp. 4333-4355.
ZHU Q., SARKIS J., LAI K.H. (2008a), “Confirmation of a measurement model for green supply chain management practices implementation”, International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 111, n. 2, pp. 261-273.
ZHU Q., SARKIS J., LAI K.H. (2008b), “Green supply chain management implications for ‘closing the loop’”, Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, vol. 44, n. 1, pp. 1-18.
ZHU Q., SARKIS J., LAI K.H. (2012), “Examining the effects of green supply chain management practices and their mediations on performance improvements”, International Journal of Production Research, vol. 50, n. 5, pp. 1377-1394.
