Nachwuchstalente werden in Logistik und Supply Chain-Management händeringend gesucht, auch junge Menschen mit akademischem Abschluss. Entscheider in den Unternehmen frage sich, wie sie diese Talente für sich gewinnen können – was ist es, das eine Arbeit im Wirtschaftsbereich Logistik attraktiv macht? In meiner Position als Hochschulprofessor an der THWS nutze ich derzeit die Gelegenheit und frage die Studierenden, die den Schwerpunkt Logistik gewählt haben, nach ihren Gründen. Von den Papers, die daraufhin bei mir eingegangen sind, werde ich ab sofort das jeweils beste jedes Studiengangs bzw. Schwerpunkts vorstellen.
Aufmerksame Leserinnen und Leser können unter anderem daraus schließen, mit welchen Informationen sie sich bei potenziellen neuen Mitarbeitenden „interessant machen“ können. Oder warum sie sich vielleicht doch noch für eine Karriere in der Logistik entscheiden sollten.
Den Anfang macht das Paper von Sarah Kolb aus dem englischen Schwerpunkt „Logistics“ des Studiengangs „Bachelor International Management“. Für sie ist besonders der Einfluss interessant, den sie in Logistik und Supply Chain-Management auf die Nachhaltigkeit betrieblicher Abläufe nehmen kann. Ich wünsche eine spannende Lektüre und gute Erkenntnisse!
Ihr Prof. Christian Kille
Discussion of the Framework – by Sarah Kolb
Stepping into the dynamic world of logistics, the adaption to sustainability changes is vital. Related trends and pressures influence the area of supply chain management, uncovering challenges as well as opportunities that develop within this field. The narrative focuses on clearing the path for a logistics environment defined by ethical considerations, tenacity, and a competitive advantage. Therefore, combining sustainability and supply chains is not only a business decision, but also a commitment to a better, transformative future.
Chosen field – Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM)
Sustainable supply chain management encompasses creating a chain which contains ethical as well as environmentally conscious practices, thus creating a profound logistics model. [1] Therefore, it is about more than just the environment. Areas such as human rights and labor practices have a significant importance as well. [2] I aspire to work in a company that is active in supporting other businesses in establishing a sustainable supply chain. An exemplary company is “GoodWeave”. Their mission is to prevent child labor in global supply chains. [3] Another example is “Everledger”. The company aims to bring transparency and clarity into supply chains by providing technology solutions, such as incorporating blockchain technology. [4] Thus, these companies can tackle the issues of human rights, unethical labor practices, and environmental behavior within the supply chains of various businesses.
To be more precise, I would like to explore the field of incorporating blockchain technology in a supply chain to create higher transparency and address the previously stated sustainability issues. In the scope of logistics, a blockchain is a distributed digital ledger, that transparently documents and verifies every part of the supply chain process. Each block within the supply chain process contains records which are specific to the current step with each record being verified by a participant in the blockchain. After consensus is accomplished, the approved record is added to the chain. The cryptographic character of blockchain technologies stops retroactive modifications of preceding records in the chain. Thus, ensuring authenticity, traceability, and accountability for factors such as labor conditions, human rights, and the environment. The decentralized nature of blockchain technology positions it as the key for cultivating transparency and sustainability within the logistics process.[5]
This presents a critical effort in precisely locating the need for incorporating sustainable practices at individual steps within the supply chain. Due to the decentralized technology, trust can be improved as well.[6]
However, it is important to acknowledge that blockchain implementation is a complex matter and faces challenges. Potential difficulties may arise due to a lack of testing during execution or by choosing the wrong development approach.[7]
Overview of Framework Conditions and Sustainable Trends
The Framework of this field includes many trends and drivers that influence the development of sustainable supply chain management. These can be seen as pressures that force companies towards an implementation of specific sustainability initiatives.
To gain a better overview, the drivers and trends can be segregated in external and internal.[8] Externally speaking, sustainability and circular economy are drivers which create a market pressure. Furthermore, social change, a changing lifestyle, and “sustainability as a necessity” create a new demand by investors and consumers. They expect companies to implement sustainable and ethical goals in their strategy. Thus, creating a social pressure to conform. Regulatory changes, such as those mandated by the SEC, require the display of information regarding climate-related activities, increasing transparency within business practices. This portrays a driver which creates regulatory pressures.
Internally speaking, the importance of diversity and inclusion fosters a change in the organization’s culture and its characteristics. Furthermore, the corporate strategy can be influenced by the trend of rising sustainable resilience. It is important to integrate sustainable supply chain management in risk management. Thus, creating a supply chain adapted to increasing environmental disruptions.[9]
It is vital to understand the influence of especially the external drivers to shape the logistics practices accordingly. Therefore, based on the institutional theory three forms of drivers can be considered. The coercive pressures are the most dominant ones including the government, regulatory bodies, and authorities. Normative pressures are related to social obligations. Thus, encompassing trade unions and the society. Mimetic pressures are caused by the need to take an action based on the competitor’s behavior. [10]
It becomes clear that the trends in sustainable supply chain management create a high bargaining power for the customers. The demand for eco-friendly and fair products is constantly increasing. Furthermore, rivalry among competitors and threat of new entrants define the area. Some companies might have more transparent and sustainable supply chains than others, leading to an improved market position.
In the face of this framework certain challenges arise when entering this field.
Sustainable SCM must be integrated in a broad range of internal processes to effectively create value. Negative impacts might even arise from unethical practices by sub-suppliers since sustainability is a prominent issue. Thus, the scope of the SSCM goes beyond own suppliers which creates new obstacles.
Moreover, ensuring high transparency within the supply chain is challenging to implement, yet essential. This ensures clear communication of business practices to all stakeholders and thus, secures human and labor rights as well as ethical and sustainable practices.[11]
Impact of Sustainable Framework on Career Choice
Looking at the framework, the importance of sustainability as well as the pressure to adapt to it is ever growing. Through engagement in this evolving field, I aim to assist companies in overcoming the challenges arising from the implementation of sustainable supply chain management. Thus, reaching their sustainability goals, staying competitive, as well as conforming to the trends and drivers.
Specially making supply chains more transparent is a focus that I want to explore. By providing more transparency I aim to help companies prevent unethical labor practices, identify human rights issues, and create environmentally friendly operations within their supply chains. Thus, I hope to achieve a beneficial change by helping people involved in unethical supply chains and to positively contribute to the planet by encouraging sustainable business practices within logistics.
Conclusion
It is evident that sustainable supply chain management becomes a vital part of the logistics operations in a company. This allows companies to stay competitive and continuously grow along with sustainability trends and drivers. The implementation of sustainable practices in supply chains, especially blockchain practices, do not only have a positive influence on the company itself but also on a wide range of partakers. Suppliers and sub-suppliers, workers, society, and the planet can profit from these changes. Recognizing the global importance of this industry shift, I aspire to contribute to the field of sustainable supply chain management.
Bibliography
- BMUV (2017): Step-by-Step Guide to Sustainable Supply Chain Management, [online] https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Pools/Broschueren/nachhaltige_lieferkette_en_bf.pdf, retrieved on December 31st of 2023.
- Dennis Turpitka (2020): Five Challenges To Prepare For When Using Blockchain For Supply Chain Operations, [online] https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/09/29/five-challenges-to-prepare-for-when-using-blockchain-for-supply-chain-operations/, retrieved on January 27th of 2024.
- Emel Yontar (2023): The role of blockchain technology in the sustainability of supply chain management: Grey based dematel implementation, [online] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772390923000227#:~:text=Blockchain%20technology%20has%20a%20very,et%20al.%2C%2, retrieved on January 5th of 2024.
- Everledger (o.D.): [online] https://everledger.io, retrieved on January 4th of 2024.
- GEP (2023): Top trends in supply chain sustainability, [online] https://www.gep.com/blog/strategy/top-trends-in-supply-chain-sustainability#:~:text=Investors%20and%20customers%20expect%20companies,influencing%20decision%2Dmaking%20by%20enterprises, retrieved on January 4th of 2024.
- GoodWeave (o.D.): [online] https://goodweave.org/about/mission/, retrieved on January 4th of 2024.
- J.L. Glover / D. Champion / K.J. Daniels / A.J.D. Dainty (2014): An Institutional Theory perspective on sustainable practices across the dairy supply chain, [online] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527313005860, retrieved on January 5th of 2024.
- Muhammad Amad Saeed / Wolfgang Kersten (2019): Drivers of Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Identification and Classification, [online] https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/4/1137#:~:text=2.2.,1%2C12%2C13%5D, retrieved on January 4th of 2024.
- Prof. Kille (2023): Module 1.2 – Framework, Prof. Christian Kille (2023): Module 1.2 – Framework, lecture material focus logistics of the programme Bachelor Business Administration at the THWS.
- SAP (o.D.): What is a sustainable supply chain?, [online] https://www.sap.com/products/scm/what-is-a-sustainable-supply-chain.html, retrieved on January 1st of 2024.
Vishal Gaur / Abhinav Gaiha (2020): Building a Transparent Supply Chain [online] https://hbr.org/2020/05/building-a-transparent-supply-chain, retrieved on January 4th of 2024.
[1] SAP (o.D.), online
[2] BMUV (2017), online, p.10
[3] GoodWeave (o.D.), online
[4] Everledger (o.D.), online
[5] Vishal Gaur / Abhinav Gaiha (2020), online
[6] Emel Yontar (2023), online
[7] Dennis Turpitka (2020), online
[8] Prof. Kille (2023)
[9] GEP (2023), online; Muhammad Amad Saeed / Wolfgang Kersten (2019), online
[10] J.L. Glover / D. Champion / K.J. Daniels / A.J.D. Dainty (2014), online
[11] BMUV (2017), online, p.8-9
Leave a Reply