TY - JOUR

T1 - Supply chain collaboration and sustainability: A profile deviation analysis

AU - Blome, C.

AU - Paulraj, A.

AU - Schuetz, K.

PY - 2014/4/28

Y1 - 2014/4/28

N2 - PurposeThere is only limited knowledge about the performance benefits of the alignment of sustainability-related upstream and downstream collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the deviation from an optimal profile of supply chain collaboration and its detrimental effect on sustainability performance as well as market performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze the deviation from an optimal profile of supply chain collaboration and its detrimental effect on sustainability as well as market performance. Using data collected from 259 European manufacturing firms and advanced structural equation modeling approach, the authors empirically test a number of direct, mediation, and moderation effects.FindingsThe study shows that an alignment between supply chain initiatives does pay off. Furthermore, the results show that the effects of alignment on performance measures are mediated by the firm's internal sustainable production.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides research limitations and implications as part of the research.Practical implicationsThe paper also offers important conclusions for practitioners. Particularly the paper shows that sustainable supply chain collaboration needs to be operated at an ideal profile in collaboration with advanced internal practices to generate improved performance.Originality/valueThis work is differentiated from earlier work through the joint consideration of alignment of supply chain collaboration for customers and suppliers, providing in combination with mediation analysis new nuances to the field of sustainable supply chain management.

AB - PurposeThere is only limited knowledge about the performance benefits of the alignment of sustainability-related upstream and downstream collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the deviation from an optimal profile of supply chain collaboration and its detrimental effect on sustainability performance as well as market performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze the deviation from an optimal profile of supply chain collaboration and its detrimental effect on sustainability as well as market performance. Using data collected from 259 European manufacturing firms and advanced structural equation modeling approach, the authors empirically test a number of direct, mediation, and moderation effects.FindingsThe study shows that an alignment between supply chain initiatives does pay off. Furthermore, the results show that the effects of alignment on performance measures are mediated by the firm's internal sustainable production.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides research limitations and implications as part of the research.Practical implicationsThe paper also offers important conclusions for practitioners. Particularly the paper shows that sustainable supply chain collaboration needs to be operated at an ideal profile in collaboration with advanced internal practices to generate improved performance.Originality/valueThis work is differentiated from earlier work through the joint consideration of alignment of supply chain collaboration for customers and suppliers, providing in combination with mediation analysis new nuances to the field of sustainable supply chain management.

KW - Sustainability

KW - Supply chain management

KW - Survey

KW - Learning

KW - Buyer-supplier relationship

KW - Sustainable supply chain management

KW - Supplier collaboration

KW - Customer collaboration

KW - Profile deviation

U2 - 10.1108/IJOPM-11-2012-0515

DO - 10.1108/IJOPM-11-2012-0515

M3 - Journal article

VL - 34

SP - 639

EP - 663

JO - International Journal of Operations and Production Management

JF - International Journal of Operations and Production Management

SN - 0144-3577

IS - 5

ER -