Research Proposal Assignment: Impact of Green Supply Chain Management on Corporate Performance

Question

Task: You are required to prepare a research proposal assignment on the topic “What is the impact of implementing green supply chain management practices on corporate performance?”.

Answer

Introduction
The concept of supply chain management practices illustrated in the research proposal assignment can be considered to be vulnerable and require strategic coordination, integration, and the alignment of the business chain practices. The different processes of the supply chain are to be synchronized and integrated including the marketing, logistics, manufacturing as well as purchasing aspects. Further, it can be said that there is a requirement of strategic imperatives that is to align with responsiveness, equity, customer focus, quality, and the sustainability aspects of the environment (Zhang et al., 2017).

On the other hand, it has been found that different supply chain companies focus on the end-to-end business processes to lower the pressure of the customers and the government. The pressure from the customer is encouraged only by the companies that want to adopt green practices in their processes and thus respond to the enhancement of the performance in the organization (Roehrichet al.2017). Further, it has been found that the investment in the cleaner level of technology improves the performance of the environment thereby creating the competitive advantage and economic performance. However, it has been found that different companies have tried their best to carry out a considerable level of investment in the development of green technological practices such as Unilever, P&G, and General Motors. With the help of these green practices, it has been found that the supply chain has assisted in the development of positive hope among the individuals affecting the environment and the financial performance (Zhang et al., 2017). The green practices have led to positive hope on the financial and environmental performance to a great extent. This study will highlight the impact of the Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) practices on the corporate performance of the organization.

Research Question
What is the effect of the sustainable environmental practices on the corporate performance of the firms?

Key literature and theoretical background of the topic of investigation
Theories, concepts, and literature along with recent developments The GSCM practices include the varied phases of the product life cycle including the withdrawal of the fresh supplies through the invention, plan, and delivery stage to utilize the products by the consumers (Fernandoet al.2019). Further, the wider view of the environmentally friendly supply chain is also linked with the triple bottom line approach including the social performance, the economic performance, and the environmental aspects. According to Kimand Chai (2017), it has been found that the aim of the sustainability practices has shifted from the societal aspects to the operational management practices. This includes the integration of the material flow and the information linked with the operational management practices mitigating the customer's demand with the pocket-friendly products and services of the organization.

Moreover, the incorporation of the supply chain management practices has assisted the organization to tackle the first-mover edge through the improved level of differentiation as well as the cost leadership that would be easier for the firms to compete with its competitors and thus find out the improved level of opportunity. There exist similarities between the opinions forwarded by Fernando et al. (2019) and Kim and Chai (2017) as both have stressed the internal aspects of sustainable environmental practices. These can be considered to be integrating on the varied environmental problems as well as the concerns linked with the procurement aspects.

Masudin et al. (2018) have opined that the accomplishment of green purchasing relies on the success of the environmental efforts, the objectives, and the performances of the firm to a great extent. This green purchasing can be considered to be associated with the integration of the environmental problems and the concerns that are linked with the procurement process. On the other hand, Suryanto et al. (2018) has stated that the resource-based view of the firm can be considered to be effective in analyzing the effect of GSCM practices on the performance of the firm. This can be considered to be indispensable, valuable, and non-substitutable leading to sustained competitive advantage in the organization. Further, it has been found that with the help of the resource-based view of the firm, the operational chain practices can be considered as the strategic resource enhancing the profitability of the firm. This will also assist the firms to differentiate themselves from the competitors thereby increasing the sales that are improved through market legitimacy and social approval. It has been found that there exists similarity of opinions forwarded by Masudin et al. (2018) and Suryanto et al. (2018) as both have stressedon the role of GSCM and corporate sustainability. Both the study focuses on the adoption of the improved resources that leads to an improved level of competitive edge through the adoption of the higher quality products at the lowest cost.

Saeed et al. (2018) opined that the stakeholder’s theory can also be considered to be effective in analyzing the impact of sustainable eco-friendly practices on the corporate performance of the firm. As the stakeholder group is concerned with the higher and improved level of awareness related to the environment, the attitudes of the businesses towards environmental and social issues need to be managed accordingly. On the other hand, KhanandQianli (2017)have stated that the varied dimensional concerns related to the GSCM practices lowers the ineffective impact of the products and services of the organisation. It also lowers the material consumption of water as well as hazardous substances by lowering the environmental accidents and the community health accordingly. According to Chu et al. (2017), the green operation costs of the businesses do not lay effect on the short-run profitability as well as the sales performance. It also increases the costs of the businesses affecting the financial performance of the firm. It has been found that Saeed et al. (2018) and Chu et al. (2017) have focused on the green manufacturing associated with the enhancement of the firm’s reputation as well as the image. It also plays an effective role in reducing wastes through the improvement of efficient production processes.

Policy and business implications
The business implications associated with the impact of sustainable eco-friendly practices on corporate performance include complying with the international standards and the principles associated with corporate governance and ethics. The different multinational organizations try their best to cope up with the holistic sustainable strategies, principles, and standards of management (Sari,2017). Moreover, the businesses also find it easier to increase their profitability by streamlining the business operations such as through improved use of sustainable materials as well as the assurance of a safe and quality environment. All these aspects can be regarded to be beneficial in cutting down the operational costs, increasing the revenue and the return through improved ways (Kimand Chai,2017). There are also chances of translation of the higher business valuation for raising the firm’s profitability. On the other hand, corporate innovation, corporate social responsibility as well as the development of a positive brand image affect the corporate performance of the firm utilizing the GSCM practices. The organizations can also rule out the concerns of the investors related to the sustainable environmental management practices and thus ensure that the business organizations can operate with efficiency and transparency (Bae, 2017). There also exists an improved level of consumer support for developing sustainability in the supply chain processes by streamlining the business operation and enhancement of the product quality. Further, the organizations can also inject the enhanced vision and the values for exploring improved levels of opportunities to resolve and develop the new products and services accordingly.

Gaps to be addressed
The article published by KhanandQianli (2017) has failed to highlight the eco-design and the organizational performance of the firm. It has not discussed the importance of eco-friendly products laying a significant impact on the survival of the firm to gain improved advantage and thereby differentiate itself from the competitors. On the other hand, the article published by Suryanto et al. (2018) has not provided evidence on the green information system affecting organizational performance. This has made it difficult for the researcher to arrive at a valid conclusion and thus analyze the performance of the firm caused due to the change in the supply chain processes. Further, the article published by Kim and Chai (2017) has failed to analyze the environmental problems related to the GSCM with the help of an analytic network process. With the help of this single network, it becomes easier for the firms to maintain improved relationships as well as influence the other associated factors linked with the green supply chain practices. Moreover, the study has also not highlighted the different ingredients of a successful corporate strategy linked with the effective utilization of the resources and the capabilities and thereby associated with choosing close business functions.

Proposed research question
What is the necessity of implementing green environment-friendly initiatives for tackling the supply chain affecting the performance of the firm?

The direction of research and expected findings
The potential data that can be collected as the evidence to this research includes analysis of the company’soperations management practices that can be considered to be sustainable in the smooth functioning of the organization. It is important to evaluate the different dimensions of cooperation of the consumers linked with green purchasing and the environmental issues within the single dimensions known as the external practice. This will make it easier for the researcher to find out the varied dimensions of the GSCM practices as per the dimensions (Khan and Qianli, 2017).

I also have sufficient and good-quality data to arrive at a valid conclusion as I have carried out a systematic analysis of the research articles linked with the research topic from the database of the university. I am trying to find out how the sustainable eco-friendly practices lay a direct consequence on enhancing the performance of the organization. I have tried to gather all the peer-reviewed articles related to the topic and then I have found out the similarities and the differences that exist between them. Further, these have assisted me to find out the gaps in the literature that I have analyzed accordingly. With the help of these gaps, it would be easier for me to conduct further research related to this topic thereby enhancing my knowledge and wisdom. As these green supply chains utilized by different companies and industries differ, I have conducted this research from the companies of similar industries that have made it easier for me to carry out the analysis through improved ways. Moreover, while conducting the research, I have found out this green supply chain affects economic and environmental performances in varied ways. However, I have taken into consideration how the green supply chain affects the entire functioning of the organization considering all the factors. All these aspects can be considered to be essential for enhancing my research knowledge and conducting further research.

The strong points within the investigation are that the varied studies have focused on the environmental supply chain practices and the management of the internal environment. This aspect fulfills the goals of the researcher linked with the supply chain management practices as well as the dimensions of the green supply chain (Bae, 2017). Moreover, it has been found that the studies have also focused on the concepts of integration, production, logistics, and reverse logistics by examining the green supply chain management framework accordingly.

The weak points within the investigation are that the studies have failed to focus on the implementation of the eco-design which is a vital part of structural performance. This implementation of the eco-design aspects lays a vital impact on the financial performance and thus it can be achieved successfully through the applicationof eco-friendly practices in the supply chain.

References
Bae, H.S., 2017. The effect of environmental capabilities on environmental strategy and environmental performance of Korean exporters for the green supply chain management. The Asian journal of shipping and logistics, 33(3), pp.167-176.

Chu, S.H., Yang, H., Lee, M. and Park, S., 2017. The impact of institutional pressures on green supply chain management and firm performance: Top management roles and social capital. Sustainability, 9(5), p.764.

Fernando, Y., Jasmi, M.F.A. and Shaharudin, M.S., 2019. Maritime green supply chain management: It's light and shadow on the bottom line dimensions of sustainable business performance. Research proposal assignmentInternational Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 11(1), pp.60-93.

Khan, S.A.R. and Qianli, D., 2017. Impact of green supply chain management practices on firms’ performance: an empirical study from the perspective of Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(20), pp.16829-16844.

Kim, M. and Chai, S., 2017.Implementing environmental practices for accomplishing sustainable green supply chain management. Sustainability, 9(7), p.1192.

Masudin, I., Wastono, T. and Zulfikarijah, F., 2018.The effect of managerial intention and initiative on green supply chain management adoption in Indonesian manufacturing performance. Cogent Business & Management, 5(1), p.1485212.

Roehrich, J.K., Hoejmose, S.U. and Overland, V., 2017.Driving green supply chain management performance through supplier selection and value internalisation: A self-determination theory perspective. International Journal of Operations & Production Management.

Saeed, A., Jun, Y., Nubuor, S.A., Priyankara, H.P.R. and Jayasuriya, M.P.F., 2018. Institutional pressures, green supply chain management practices on environmental and economic performance: A two theory view. Sustainability, 10(5), p.1517.

Sari, K., 2017. A novel multi-criteria decision framework for evaluating green supply chain management practices. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 105, pp.338-347. Suryanto, T., Haseeb, M. and Hartani, N.H., 2018. The correlates of developing green supply chain management practices: Firms level analysis in Malaysia. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 7(5), p.316.

Zhang, M., Tse, Y.K., Dai, J. and Chan, H.K., 2017.Examining green supply chain management and financial performance: roles of social control and environmental dynamism. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 66(1), pp.20-34.