Coordinating multi-level collective action: how intermediaries and digital governance can help supply chains tackle grand challenges

作者：Eugenia Rosca, Wendy L. Tate, Lydia Bals, Feigao Huang, Francesca Ciulli · 发表于：International Journal of Operations & Production Management · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1108/ijopm-07-2022-0432 · 被引用次数：38 · 研究领域：Innovation and Knowledge Management、Outsourcing and Supply Chain Management、Business Strategy and Innovation

Purpose Driven by increasing concerns for sustainable development and digitalization, intermediaries have emerged as relevant actors who can help supply chains tackle grand societal challenges. They can also trigger significant changes in structure, shape and governance models of supply chains. The goal of this research is to advance the understanding of supply chain intermediation and digital governance as coordinating mechanisms for enabling multi-level collective action to address the world's grand challenges. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual research paper that uses a vignette approach, where real examples are described to help question and expand theoretical insights and provide a basis for future research. The examples are drawn from past and ongoing extensive primary and secondary data collection efforts in diverse types of supply chains. Findings Three contexts are proposed to illustrate how intermediaries and digital governance can play a key role in helping supply chains tackle grand challenges. The first and second context highlight the differences between material and support flow intermediaries in a triadic supply chain relationship. The third context illustrates intermediation within a multi-level network which can be industry-specific or span across industries. The three contexts are evaluated on the level of intervention, the focus on material or support flows, and traditional or digital governance. The specific Sustainable Development Goals wh...