Summary of multiple-case study analysis
| Industry | Firms | Enablers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technological enablers | Organisational enablers | Environmental enablers | Economic enablers | ||
| Fashion and apparel | Total firms = 5 2 suppliers 3 distributors | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology implementation Interoperability streamlines transparency efficiency and compliance supporting social SSCM | Senior leadership committed to implementing technology Enough training and development opportunities for employees | Change in consumer behaviour drives technological innovation Subsidies/grants from government and regulatory bodies to implement technology to address anti-child labour and workplace safety | Cloud-based software and scalable tools technologies are accessible and streamline compliance with social sustainability goals Tax exemptions from the government encourage technology adoption to adhere to socially sustainable practices |
| Food and beverage | Total firms = 4 2 suppliers 2 distributors | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology to track movement of goods and ethically sourcing of products Interoperability helps firms connect and share information about labour practices and workplace conditions | Firms collaborate with stakeholders to bring in new technological tools to address social issues in supply chains Senior leadership is committed to implementing technology Enough training and development opportunities for employees | Change in consumer behaviour drives technological innovation Subsidies/grants from government and regulatory bodies to implement technology to address anti-child labour and workplace safety | Cloud based software and scalable tools technologies are accessible and streamline compliance with social sustainability goals Tax exemptions from the government encourage technology adoption to adhere to socially sustainable practices |
| Electronics | Total firms = 4 2 suppliers 2 retailers | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology implementation Interoperability streamlines transparency, efficiency and compliance, supporting social SSCM | Firms collaborate with stakeholders to bring in new technological tools to address social issues in supply chains Senior leadership is committed to implementing technology | Industries collaborate and develop certain standards and certification programs to implement technology that bolsters a fair wage system and eliminates forced labour | Cloud-based software and scalable tools technologies are accessible and streamline compliance with social sustainability goals |
| Pharmaceuticals | Total firms = 5 3 suppliers 2 distributors | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology implementation Interoperability allows more transparent tracking of goods | Firms collaborate with stakeholders to bring in new technological tools to address social issues in supply chains | Subsidies/grants from government and regulatory bodies to implement technology to address anti-child labour and workplace safety Industries collaborate and develop certain standards and certification programs to implement technology that bolsters a fair wage system and eliminates forced labour | Tax exemptions from the government encourage technology adoption to adhere to socially sustainable practices) Grants from local government bodies to utilise cutting-edge technology to address social sustainability issues |
| Industry | Firms | Enablers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technological enablers | Organisational enablers | Environmental enablers | Economic enablers | ||
| Fashion and apparel | Total firms = 5 | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology implementation | Senior leadership committed to implementing technology | Change in consumer behaviour drives technological innovation | Cloud-based software and scalable tools technologies are accessible and streamline compliance with social sustainability goals |
| Food and beverage | Total firms = 4 | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology to track movement of goods and ethically sourcing of products | Firms collaborate with stakeholders to bring in new technological tools to address social issues in supply chains | Change in consumer behaviour drives technological innovation | Cloud based software and scalable tools technologies are accessible and streamline compliance with social sustainability goals |
| Electronics | Total firms = 4 | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology implementation | Firms collaborate with stakeholders to bring in new technological tools to address social issues in supply chains | Industries collaborate and develop certain standards and certification programs to implement technology that bolsters a fair wage system and eliminates forced labour | Cloud-based software and scalable tools technologies are accessible and streamline compliance with social sustainability goals |
| Pharmaceuticals | Total firms = 5 | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology implementation | Firms collaborate with stakeholders to bring in new technological tools to address social issues in supply chains | Subsidies/grants from government and regulatory bodies to implement technology to address anti-child labour and workplace safety | Tax exemptions from the government encourage technology adoption to adhere to socially sustainable practices) |
| Industry | Firms | Barriers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organisational Barriers | Technological Barriers | Economic Barriers | Cultural Barriers | ||
| Fashion and apparel | Total firms = 5 2 suppliers 3 distributors | Traditional organisational culture creates conflict with the principles of social sustainability Suppliers, manufacturers and other entities find it hard to comply with new ethical standards | Blockchain and IoT involve higher upfront costs Upgrading digital infrastructure and securing data through services is very costly | Intense competition in international supply chains for firms to cut substantial amounts of costs Suppliers usually have weak negotiation power, and they sometimes operate on a very thin margin There is very limited prioritised or reward in the system in place to support social sustainability practices | What is considered legal/ethical in a highly developed region does not necessarily align with the norms of a firm operating in underprivileged or remote areas Multinational firms usually do not take into account the local context when imposing international standards |
| Food and beverage | Total firms = 4 2 suppliers 2 distributors | Employees are not familiar with how to use new technological tools such as IoT and blockchain Employees have weak negotiation skills Sufficient resources at the disposal of employees to engage in training programs | Inconsistent, inaccurate and incomplete data undermine the effectiveness of technologies Different formats to report, which makes it extremely complex to aggregate and analyse a company’s data | Suppliers usually have weak negotiation power, and they sometimes operate on a very thin margin There is very limited prioritised or reward in the system in place to support social sustainability practices | Workers begin to feel signs of potential layoff if their firm implements a new technology, which will streamline operations and reduce the need for manual labour Multinational firms usually does not take into account the local context when imposing international standards |
| Electronics | Total firms = 4 2 suppliers 2 retailers | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology implementation Employees have weak negotiation skills | Blockchain and IoT involve higher upfront costs Upgrading digital infrastructure and securing data through services is very costly | Intense competition in international supply chains for firms to cut substantial amounts of costs Firms usually prioritise short-term profits and immediate financial outcomes over long-term investment | Cloud-based software and scalable tools technologies are accessible and streamline compliance with social sustainability goals Workers, feel skeptic about the real motives behind implementing technology to address socially sustainable initiatives |
| Pharmaceuticals | Total firms = 5 3 suppliers 2 distributors | Employees have weak negotiation skills Sufficient resources at the disposal of employees to engage in training programs | Different formats to report, which makes it extremely complex to aggregate and analyse a company’s data Blockchain and IoT involve higher upfront costs | Intense competition in international supply chains for firms to cut substantial amounts of costs Suppliers usually have weak negotiation power, and they sometimes operate on a very thin margin Firms usually prioritise short-term profits and immediate financial outcomes over long-term investment There is very limited prioritised or reward in the system in place to support social sustainability practices | Tax exemptions from the government encourage technology workers begin to feel signs of potential layoff if their firm implements a new technology, which will streamline operations and reduce the need for manual labour Multinational firms usually do not take into account the local context when imposing international standards |
| Industry | Firms | Barriers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organisational Barriers | Technological Barriers | Economic Barriers | Cultural Barriers | ||
| Fashion and apparel | Total firms = 5 | Traditional organisational culture creates conflict with the principles of social sustainability | Blockchain and IoT involve higher upfront costs | Intense competition in international supply chains for firms to cut substantial amounts of costs | What is considered legal/ethical in a highly developed region does not necessarily align with the norms of a firm operating in underprivileged or remote areas |
| Food and beverage | Total firms = 4 | Employees are not familiar with how to use new technological tools such as IoT and blockchain | Inconsistent, inaccurate and incomplete data undermine the effectiveness of technologies | Suppliers usually have weak negotiation power, and they sometimes operate on a very thin margin | Workers begin to feel signs of potential layoff if their firm implements a new technology, which will streamline operations and reduce the need for manual labour |
| Electronics | Total firms = 4 | Digital infrastructure supports blockchain technology implementation | Blockchain and IoT involve higher upfront costs | Intense competition in international supply chains for firms to cut substantial amounts of costs | Cloud-based software and scalable tools technologies are accessible and streamline compliance with social sustainability goals |
| Pharmaceuticals | Total firms = 5 | Employees have weak negotiation skills | Different formats to report, which makes it extremely complex to aggregate and analyse a company’s data | Intense competition in international supply chains for firms to cut substantial amounts of costs | Tax exemptions from the government encourage technology workers begin to feel signs of potential layoff if their firm implements a new technology, which will streamline operations and reduce the need for manual labour |
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