Addressing Environmental and Social Issues In the Supply Chain: Drivers and Challenges From the Perspective of the Mid-chain Actor - A Case Study of Alfa Laval
(2011) In IIIEE Master thesis IMEN41 20111The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
- Abstract
- In response to stakeholder expectations, and in line with the life cycle idea, a growing number of corporations are working to influence its suppliers for improved environmental and social performance. The number and diversity of the actors and aspects to consider in global supply chains contributes to the complexity of the task. Most actively engaging in supply chain improvements are companies with end user relations. This is also where most of the research on the topic has been focusing; the challenges for actors positioned further up in the product chain have been less explored.
This thesis explores the drivers and challenges of an industrial actor, operating in a business-to-business context. Through an in-depth case study of Alfa... (More) - In response to stakeholder expectations, and in line with the life cycle idea, a growing number of corporations are working to influence its suppliers for improved environmental and social performance. The number and diversity of the actors and aspects to consider in global supply chains contributes to the complexity of the task. Most actively engaging in supply chain improvements are companies with end user relations. This is also where most of the research on the topic has been focusing; the challenges for actors positioned further up in the product chain have been less explored.
This thesis explores the drivers and challenges of an industrial actor, operating in a business-to-business context. Through an in-depth case study of Alfa Laval the reality of the company with respect to the management of environmental and social aspects in the supply chain, has been studied. The main objective has been to improve the understanding of the drivers, and associated challenges, perceived by this type of company in relation to the issue. A second objective has been to add to the knowledge of how related efforts are being prioritized.
The study has indicated that both the pressure and the risks perceived by the case company, with respect to environmental and social issues in the supply chain, are limited. External stakeholders, particularly investors and the society, have been identified as key drivers for the company’s environmental initiatives. Weak stakeholder signals add to the challenge of deciding what to do, while spending additional resources for taking action is hard to justify internally. With an ambition to meet expectations and take action, the size and diversity of the supply base, lack of internal expertise and perceived limited influential power add to the complexity of balancing demands, potential risks and resources for activities. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/2174413
- author
- Olbe, Daniel LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- IMEN41 20111
- year
- 2011
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Life Cycle Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, Stakeholder salience, Environmental Supply Chain Management
- publication/series
- IIIEE Master thesis
- report number
- 2011:27
- ISSN
- 1401-9191
- language
- English
- id
- 2174413
- date added to LUP
- 2011-10-19 11:52:05
- date last changed
- 2011-10-19 11:52:05
@misc{2174413,
abstract = {{In response to stakeholder expectations, and in line with the life cycle idea, a growing number of corporations are working to influence its suppliers for improved environmental and social performance. The number and diversity of the actors and aspects to consider in global supply chains contributes to the complexity of the task. Most actively engaging in supply chain improvements are companies with end user relations. This is also where most of the research on the topic has been focusing; the challenges for actors positioned further up in the product chain have been less explored.
This thesis explores the drivers and challenges of an industrial actor, operating in a business-to-business context. Through an in-depth case study of Alfa Laval the reality of the company with respect to the management of environmental and social aspects in the supply chain, has been studied. The main objective has been to improve the understanding of the drivers, and associated challenges, perceived by this type of company in relation to the issue. A second objective has been to add to the knowledge of how related efforts are being prioritized.
The study has indicated that both the pressure and the risks perceived by the case company, with respect to environmental and social issues in the supply chain, are limited. External stakeholders, particularly investors and the society, have been identified as key drivers for the company’s environmental initiatives. Weak stakeholder signals add to the challenge of deciding what to do, while spending additional resources for taking action is hard to justify internally. With an ambition to meet expectations and take action, the size and diversity of the supply base, lack of internal expertise and perceived limited influential power add to the complexity of balancing demands, potential risks and resources for activities.}},
author = {{Olbe, Daniel}},
issn = {{1401-9191}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{IIIEE Master thesis}},
title = {{Addressing Environmental and Social Issues In the Supply Chain: Drivers and Challenges From the Perspective of the Mid-chain Actor - A Case Study of Alfa Laval}},
year = {{2011}},
}