Title: Governance mechanisms in managing sustainability practices in retail supply networks

Authors: Hadi Rezaei Vandchali; Stephen Cahoon; Shu-Ling Chen

Addresses: Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Australia ' Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Australia ' Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Australia

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to compare the application of sustainability practices in two Australian food supply networks to identify how suppliers and focal firms (retailers) interact in terms of sustainability practices. A web-based questionnaire is developed to investigate the sustainability practices in Australian suppliers. Data from 66 received questionnaires are analysed via parametric and non-parametric tests to explain the differences between mean scores of the various sustainability practices implemented by retailers. The results identify two distinct governance mechanisms, which retailers apply to manage their suppliers' sustainability practices. The hands-off governance mechanism generally uses the sustainability practices in which retailers do not need to be involved directly when managing sustainability practices, while in the hands-on governance mechanism they are interested in participating directly. This paper is one of the few studies that empirically investigate governance mechanisms in the context of sustainability practices across the SN.

Keywords: sustainability practices; supply network; governance mechanism; focal firms; retail.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2022.120983

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2022 Vol.41 No.1/2, pp.3 - 28

Received: 22 Jan 2020
Accepted: 07 Nov 2020

Published online: 21 Feb 2022 *

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