Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Identifying the competitive determinants of firms’ green supply chain capabilities under uncertainty

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The link between green supply chain (GSC) and firm performance has been thoroughly studied, and it has been argued that firms are unlikely to perform well if they apply their capabilities in isolation. However, there is a lack of studies that identify the competitive determinants, the critical success factors, of GSC capabilities of firms, and the evaluation of GSC capabilities is predisposed to subjective and linguistic preferences. This study proposes to address the vague nature of qualitative measures using the fuzzy Delphi method to filter the measures and the fuzzy analytic network process to deal with the linguistic preferences in hierarchical structure of firms’ GSC capabilities. Data were collected from supply chain networks of electronic industry in Taiwan. This study presents empirical evidence of firms’ GSC capabilities, concluding that cost is the top competitive determinant and the environmental costs is the top priority of GSC capability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agarwal A, Shankar R, Tiwari MK (2007) Modeling agility of supply chain. Ind Mark Manag 36:443–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aragon-Correa JA, Sharma S (2003) A contingent resource-based view of proactive corporate environmental strategy. Acad Manag J 29(1):71–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Berman SL, Wicks AC, Kotha S, Jones TM (1999) Does stakeholder orientation matter? The relationship between stakeholder management models and firm financial performance. Acad Manag J 42(5):488–506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao M, Zhang Q (2010) Supply chain collaborative advantage: a firm’s perspective. Int J Prod Econ 128:358–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang DS, Yeh LT, Liu W (2015) Incorporating the carbon footprint to measure industry context and energy consumption effect on environmental performance of business operations. Clean Technol Environ Policy 17(2):359–371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper DR, dan Emory CW (1995) Business research methods. Irwin, Martinsville

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbett CJ, Kirsch DA (2001) International diffusion of ISO 14000 certification. Prod Oper Manag 10(3):327–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dou Y, Zhu Q, Sarkis J (2014) Evaluating green supplier development programs with a grey-analytical network process-based methodology. Eur J Oper Res 223:420–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenhardt KM, Martin JA (2000) Dynamic capabilities: what are they? Strateg Manag J 21:1105–1122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fandela G, Stammen M (2004) A general model for extended strategic supply chain management with emphasis on product life cycles including development and recycling. Int J Prod Econ 89:293–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich MT, Westbrook R (2001) Arcs of integration: an international study of supply chain strategies. J Oper Manag 19:185–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez P, Sarkis J, Adenso-Diaz B (2008) Environmental management system certification and its influence on corporate practices: evidence from the automotive industry. Int J Oper Prod Manag 28(11):1021–1041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes RH, Wheelwright SC (1984) Restoring our competitive edge: competing through manufacturing. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hervani AA, Helms MM, Sarkis J (2005) Performance measurement for green supply chain management. Benchmarking 12(4):330–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofer C, Cantor DE, Dai J (2012) The competitive determinants of a firm’s environmental management activities: evidence from US manufacturing industries. J Oper Manag 30(1–2):69–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kjaerheim G (2004) Cleaner production and sustainability. J Clean Prod 13:329–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee HL (2002) Aligning supply chain strategies with product uncertainties. Calif Manag Rev 44(3):105–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin YH, Tseng ML (2015) Assessing the competitive priorities within sustainable supply chain management under uncertainty. J Clean Prod (Article in press)

  • Lin YH, Chen CC, Tsai CF, Tseng ML (2014) Balanced scorecard performance evaluation in a close-loop hierarchical model under uncertainty. Appl Soft Comput 24:1022–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu CS (2007) Evaluating key resources and capabilities for liner shipping services. Transp Rev 27(3):285–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu CS, Yang CC (2006) Evaluating key logistics capabilities for international distribution center operations in Taiwan. Transp J 45(4):9–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Michelsen O (2007) Investigation of relationships in a supply chain in order to improve environmental performance. Clean Technol Environ Policy 9(2):115–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monczka RM, Petersen KJ (2012) The competitive potential of supply management. Supply Chain Manag Rev, May/June, pp 10–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrissey AJ, Browne J (2004) Waste management models and their application to sustainable waste management. Waste Manag 24:297–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noorderhaben N (1995) Strategic decision making. Addison-Wesley, Wokingham

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathiyazhagan K, Govindan K, NoorulHaq A, Geng Y (2013) An ISM approach for the barrier analysis in implementing green supply chain management. J Clean Prod 47:283–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roh J, Min H, Hong P (2011) A coordination theory approach to restructuring the global supply chain. Int J Prod Res 49(15):4517–4541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rondinelli DA, Vastag G (1996) International environmental standards and corporate policies: an integrative framework. Calif Manag Rev 39(1):106–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saaty TL (1980) The analytic hierarchy process. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Saaty TL (1996) Decision making with dependence and feedback: the analytic network process. RWS Publications, Pittsburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkis J (1998) Evaluating environmentally conscious business practices. Eur J Oper Res 107(1):159–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shang KC, Lu CS, Li S (2010) A taxonomy of green supply chain management capability among electronics-related manufacturing firms in Taiwan. J Environ Manage 91:1218–1226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soeanu A, Debbabi M, Allouche M, Belanger M, Lechevin N (2015) Hierarchy aware distributed plan execution monitoring. Expert Syst Appl 43:66–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava SK (2007) Green supply-chain management: a state-of-the-art literature review. Int J Manag Rev 9(1):53–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu T, Wu Y, Chen YJ, Goh M (2013) Aligning supply chain strategy with corporate environmental strategy: a contingency approach. Int J Prod Econ 147:220–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan KC, Steven B, Lyman J, Wisner D (2002) Supply chain management: a strategic perspective. Int J Oper Prod Manag 22(5/6):614–632

    Google Scholar 

  • Teece D (2007) Explicating dynamic capabilities: the nature and micro-foundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance. Strateg Manag J 28(13):1319–1350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Triantaphyllou E, Lin C (1996) Development and evaluation of five fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making methods. Approx Reason 14(4):281–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TSEC, Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation (2007) Database of listed companies in Taiwan. http://www.twse.com.tw/en

  • Tseng ML (2011a) Using a hybrid MCDM method to evaluate firm environmental knowledge management in uncertainty. Appl Soft Comput 11(1):1340–1352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng ML (2011b) Green supply chain management with linguistic preferences and incomplete information. Appl Soft Comput 11(8):4894–4903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng ML (2013) Modeling the sustainable production indicators in linguistic preferences. J Clean Prod 40:46–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng ML, Lin YH, Chiu ASF, Liao CH (2008) Using FANP approach on selection of competitive priorities based on cleaner production implementation: a case study in PCB manufacturer, Taiwan. Clean Technol Environ Policy 10(1):17–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng ML, Chiang JH, Lan LW (2009a) Selection of optimal supplier in supply chain management strategy with analytic network process and choquet integral. Comput Ind Eng 57(1):330–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng ML, Divinagracia L, Divinagracia R (2009b) Evaluating firm’s sustainable production indicators in uncertainty. Comput Ind Eng 57:1393–1403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng ML, Lin RJ, Lin YH, Chen RH, Tan K (2014) Close-loop or open hierarchical structures in green supply chain management under uncertainty. Expert Syst Appl 41(7):3250–3260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng ML, Lim KM, Wong WP (2015) Sustainable supply chain management: a closed-loop network approach. Ind Manag Data Syst 115(3):436–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsireme AI, Nikolaou EI, Georgantzis N, Tsagarakis KP (2012) The influence of environmental policy on the decisions of managers to adopt G-SCM practices. Clean Technol Environ Policy 14(5):953–964

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Hoof B, Thiell M (2015) Anchor company contribution to cleaner production dissemination: experience from a Mexican sustainable supply programme. J Clean Prod 86:245–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vickery SK, Jayaram J, Droge C, Calantone R (2003) The effects of an integrative supply chain strategy on customer service and financial performance: an analysis of direct versus indirect relationships. J Oper Manag 21(5):523–539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu KJ, Liao CJ, Tseng ML, Chiu ASF (2015) Exploring decisive factors in green supply chain practices under uncertainty. Int J Prod Econ 159:147–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yusuf YY, Gunasekaran A, Adeleye EO, Sivayoganathan K (2004) Agile supply chain capabilities: determinants of competitive objectives. Eur J Oper Res 159:379–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Q, Vonderembse MA, Lim J (2003) Manufacturing flexibility: defining and analyzing relationships among competence, capability, and customer satisfaction. J Oper Manag 21(2):173–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Q, Dou Y, Sarkis J (2010) A portfolio-based analysis for green supplier management using the analytical network process. Suppl Chain Manag 15(4):306–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Q, Sarkis J (2006) An inter-sectoral comparison of green supply chain management in China: drivers and practices. J Clean Prod 14:472–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Q, Sarkis J (2007) The moderating effects of institutional pressures on emergent green supply chain practices and performance. Int J Prod Res 45(18–19):4333–4355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Q, Sarkis J, Geng Y (2005) Green supply chain management in China: pressures, practices and performance. Int J Oper Prod Manag 25(5):449–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Q, Sarkis J, Lai K (2013) Institutional-based antecedents and performance outcomes of internal and external green supply chain management practices. J Purch Supply Manag 19(2):106–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Q, Sarkis J, Cordeiro JJ, Lai K (2008) Firm-level correlates of emergent green supply chain management practices in the Chinese context. OMEGA-Int J Manag Sci 36(4):577–591

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lunghwa University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Ming-Lang Tseng, Kimhua Tan & Anthony S. F. Chiu

Authors
  1. Ming-Lang Tseng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kimhua Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anthony S. F. Chiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ming-Lang Tseng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tseng, ML., Tan, K. & Chiu, A.S.F. Identifying the competitive determinants of firms’ green supply chain capabilities under uncertainty. Clean Techn Environ Policy 18, 1247–1262 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-015-1064-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-015-1064-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation