The purpose of this thesis is to examine the application of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) in the growing industry of consumer electronics. The research intends to look for patterns in respect to the implementation of SSCM programs within selected consumer electronics focused businesses using a case study analysis. The aim of this paper is to investigate which concepts of implementation and design of SSCM are available in the consumer electronics industry and to analyze how they can be classified.
The primary sources for the main analysis of this paper are the sustainability reports from the four companies: Dell, Philips, Samsung and Sony. These companies were selected based on their location, size and ranking within the industry and the method of selection is explained herein.
Following a first look at the data, a process-oriented approach was chosen for the study, and a careful analysis leads to the formation of a model describing the process of achieving supply chain sustainability in the consumer electronics industry:
The ‘Sustainability Achievement Process’ comprises eight phases:
(1) Acknowledgement,
(2) Vision and Strategy,
(3) Communication,
(4) Assessment,
(5) Goal Setting,
(6) Goal Achievement,
(7) Expanding the Reach and
(8) Maintaining the Success.
The model is refined and substantiated in the subsequent cross-case analysis by illustrating the distinctive features of each phase within each company. Furthermore, the author identifies indicators and keywords for every phase which permit the unambiguous association of statements to levels of sustainability achievement for easy classification. Critical cases are recognized, examined and solved during the research in order to provide a framework for a real world application. Overall, the derived model provides the foundation for the evaluation of a corporation’s progress concerning different aspects of sustainability. The thesis concludes by proposing a series of approaches for future research to increase the verification of the model and advance it, potentially extending the applicability of the model to SSCM in general.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Theoretical Foundation
2.1 Sustainability and Supply Chain Management
2.2 Environmental Aspect
2.3 Social Aspect
2.4 Economic Aspect
2.5 Consumer Electronics Industry
2.6 Research Question
3 Methodology
4 Case Selection
4.1 Single Case Review
4.1.1 Dell
4.1.2 Philips
4.1.3 Samsung
4.1.4 Sony
4.2 Cross-Case Comparison
5 Pattern Finding
5.1 Entering the Field
5.2 Crafting Instruments
5.3 Data Analysis and Theory Building
5.3.1 Sustainability Achievement Process
5.4 Refining the Model
5.4.1 Acknowledgement
5.4.2 Vision and Strategy
5.4.3 Communication
5.4.4 Assessment
5.4.5 Goal Setting
5.4.6 Goal Achievement
5.4.7 Expanding the Reach
5.4.8 Maintaining the Success
5.5 Comparison with other Literature
5.6 Discussion
6 Conclusions and Outlook
Research Objectives and Focus
The primary objective of this thesis is to investigate the concepts of implementation and design for Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) within the consumer electronics industry. By analyzing sustainability reports from leading multinational enterprises—Dell, Philips, Samsung, and Sony—the research aims to develop an integrating theory that classifies how corporations achieve supply chain sustainability through a multi-phase process.
- Application of case study analysis to identify implementation patterns in the consumer electronics sector.
- Development of the 'Sustainability Achievement Process' model consisting of eight distinct phases.
- Identification of specific indicators and keywords to evaluate a corporation's progress in sustainability.
- Comparison of empirical findings with existing literature to refine the theoretical framework for SSCM.
Extract from the Book
5.3.1 Sustainability Achievement Process
In this paragraph the process of transformation from a non-sustainable to a sustainable business practice, applied by corporations in order to fully address a certain sustainability issue, is going to be outlined. The model I conceptualized describing this process will be referred to as the ‘Sustainability Achievement Process’. It is divided into the following eight phases shown in Figure 1.
Indicating that subsequent phases need previous ones as foundations a pyramid has been chosen to depict the Sustainability Achievement Process. Another aspect illustrated in Figure 1 which will be explained more in detail later is that all phases can be seen as starting points for continuing processes rather than closed intervals.
The Sustainability Achievement Process starts with the acknowledgement of the sustainability issue in question. During this phase a company identifies the issues and generally decides to address it. The prevalence of mass media in the modern world necessitates care by those who run large scale companies with equally large supply chains. That means that sustainability issues quickly require attention and furthermore measures by the company in order not to cause damage to the company. At this point the extent to which actions and changes to operations will be implemented is still open and will be substantiated in later phases.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter highlights the rising importance of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in the global consumer electronics industry due to environmental concerns and social pressures.
2 Theoretical Foundation: This section reviews the three pillars of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic—and their integration into supply chain management frameworks.
3 Methodology: The author outlines the use of case study research and grounded theory strategies to construct a scientific framework for the subsequent empirical analysis.
4 Case Selection: This chapter provides the rationale for selecting Dell, Philips, Samsung, and Sony as the primary subjects for the study based on their industry ranking and global market presence.
5 Pattern Finding: This core chapter details the data analysis, introduces the 'Sustainability Achievement Process' model, and provides a cross-case analysis comparing the companies' progress across eight distinct phases.
6 Conclusions and Outlook: The final chapter summarizes the research findings, evaluates the proposed model's validity, and suggests directions for future research in SSCM.
Keywords
Supply chain management, sustainability, case study research, consumer electronics industry, holistic approach, theory building, sustainable supply chain management, sustainability achievement process, environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility, GRI reporting, supply chain integration, corporate strategy, industry benchmarks, process-oriented management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the application and design of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) within the consumer electronics industry, utilizing case studies of four major global corporations.
What central theme defines the sustainability framework?
The central theme is the 'Sustainability Achievement Process', a model consisting of eight chronological phases that describe how companies transition from identifying sustainability issues to achieving long-term success.
What is the core research question?
The thesis asks which concepts of implementation and design for SSCM are available in the consumer electronics industry and how these concepts can be classified.
Which methodology is employed in this thesis?
The research employs a qualitative case study approach, utilizing the Grounded Theory Strategy to build an explanatory model based on data derived from corporate sustainability reports.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body focuses on identifying patterns in corporate sustainability reporting, building the eight-phase model, and performing a cross-case analysis to refine the model's logic and definitions.
What key terms characterize the study?
Key terms include Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), grounded theory, multinational enterprises (MNEs), global sourcing, and stakeholder engagement.
Why was the consumer electronics industry selected for this study?
The industry was chosen due to its high complexity, reliance on global sourcing, and the urgent need to manage environmental and social risks in its extended supply chains.
How does the model handle the different sustainability reports?
The model provides a common scale and set of indicators, allowing for the classification of sustainability efforts even when companies use different reporting frameworks or omit specific data.
- Citation du texte
- Christian Brockmann (Auteur), 2014, Sustainable Supply Chain Management. Case studies in the consumer electronics industry, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/295889
