Developing sustainable supply chain networks under global uncertainty: Empirical investigation of companies from seven European economies
Developing sustainable supply chain networks under global uncertainty: Empirical investigation of companies from seven European economies

Summary/Abstract: Research background: After the lessons of supply chain disruptions caused by environmental changes such as the pandemic, political and commercial restrictions, and natural disasters, companies make strategic decisions to design more sustainable, resilient, and flexible supply chains able to reduce the effect of uncertainty. Nevertheless, most companies lack the skills and understanding of how to systematically develop a network of sustainable supply chain partners that would take advantage of new technological capabilities to meet changing consumer expectations and exploit market opportunities. Therefore, the problem this research addresses is how to develop sustainable supply chain networks in conditions of global uncertainty. Purpose of the article: Based on an analysis of recent scientific literature on sustainable supply chain management, to assess the corporate practices used to develop sustainable supply chain networks in conditions of global uncertainty. Methods: Scientific literature analysis; quantitative empirical research of a survey among managers of companies from seven European countries. Findings & value added: This study moves beyond general sustainability concepts to pinpoint the specific networking drivers--namely the supplier, customer, and internal integration--that determine resilience under conditions of global uncertainty. The results reveal a critical weak link in supplier integration and a value-action gap in social sustainability. To ensure long-term viability, managers must pivot from transactional procurement to deep, technologically enabled supplier integration, as robust networking ties are the primary engine for translating aspirations for high sustainability into measurable operational resilience.

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