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Stakeholder Forces of Socially Responsible Supply Chain Management Orientation

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Abstract

This project investigates salient stakeholder forces of socially responsible supply chain orientation (SRSCO) in the apparel and footwear sector focusing on fair labor management issues. SRSCO was conceptualized as a composite of internal organizational direction and external partnership for a creation and continuation of fair labor conditions throughout the supply chain. Primary stakeholders identified were consumers, regulation, industry, and media. A total of 209 mail survey responses from sourcing managers of U.S. apparel and footwear companies were analyzed. Two dimensions of SRSCO were confirmed: internal direction and external partnership. Consumer and industry peer pressures were found significantly related to internal direction, while industry peers and media were significantly related to the external partnership. Regulation was not significantly related to either internal direction or external partnerships. Lack of regulation forces to govern labor issues and roles of consumers, industry peers, and media in promoting fair labor management are discussed in this article.

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Abbreviations

SRSCO:

Socially Responsible Supply Chain Orientation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Ecology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, U.S.A.

    Haesun Park-Poaps

  2. Department of Human Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363, U.S.A.

    Kathleen Rees

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  1. Haesun Park-Poaps
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  2. Kathleen Rees
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Correspondence to Haesun Park-Poaps.

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Park-Poaps, H., Rees, K. Stakeholder Forces of Socially Responsible Supply Chain Management Orientation. J Bus Ethics 92, 305–322 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-009-0156-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-009-0156-3

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