STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES OF SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE SYSTEM WITH CSR CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract

During this competitive environment, the behavior of market is changing abruptly. It is very critical problem for business organizations, to sustain a better performance in the market place. For this, organizations are emphasizing more towards improving their supply chain performance (SCP) system through maintaining an effective and efficient supply chain management (SCM). The effective SCM provides a business processes integration, reduces the system wide costs and maximizes the supply chain outcomes by improving the ethical, operational, financial and customer values. From last few years, government and nongovernment agencies are also pressurizing the business organizations to emphasize on social and environmental responsibilities with their economic concerns i.e. incorporating the theme of corporate social responsibility (CSR) among the business functions. Therefore, a need ascends for organizations to improve or implement their SCP system with the CSR considerations. This research has attempted to fill some of the voids in the body of knowledge. An exhaustive and comprehensive literature review has been conducted to identify the gaps in the existing literature in this area. This research is aimed to identify and analyze the different issues of SCP system implementation with and without CSR considerations followed in the Indian industries operating in automobile sector. A comprehension of company practices has been exposed through brain storming and one-to-one discussion with managers. A questionnaire based survey has been conducted to gain the insight into various issues (with and without CSR notion) related to SCP system of Indian automobile industries. In order to fulfill the gap between theory and practices several brain storming session were conducted to examine the issues and practices. The various models with and without CSR considerations have been developed and analyzed using interpretive structure modeling (ISM), analytical hierarchy process (AHP), fuzzy analytical v hierarchy process (FAHP), fuzzy decision making trial and evaluation laboratory (FDEMATEL), fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS), and expert preference rating (EPR) approaches. The developed models are helpful to select the significant issues (practices, attributes and alternatives) those would encounter the demand of managers. The main contribution of this research can be summarized as follows:  An extensive and comprehensive literature review has been conducted to identify the research gaps and research issues related to supply chain performance system and to provide the solid platform to explore the future directions.  A questionnaire has been developed to identify the issues related to SCP system in Indian industries.  ISM and MICMAC (Matriced’ Impacts Croise´s Multiplication Appliqnce a un Classement) based model has been developed to analyze the mutual interaction among the significant barriers/enablers of SCP system. The developed model may help managers in taking decisions and framing policies to improve their SCP.  FDEMATEL approach has been used to analyze and categorize the different significant enablers of SCP system into their cause and effect group. For the assessment of enablers, causal diagram and inter-relationship diagram was developed. The developed diagrams consider the influence of each enabler on the overall goal, which enhances the decision accuracy.  A hierarchy based model has been developed and analyzed using AHP to select the best alternative for IT enabled SCP system. Developed model provides an insight about the importance of criteria and alternatives to enhance the role of IT in supply chain functions. vi  The SCP system model development and assessment using permutation of FAHP and AHP. The developed model helps organizations in assessing criteria and alternatives to enhance their SCP.  The CSR based SCP system model development and assessment using an integrated FAHP-FTOPSIS approach. The integrated model takes care of the CSR issues through emphasizing on appropriate alternative and provides an aid to the manager in decision making process.  FDEMATEL methodology has been applied to analyze and categorize the various significant CSR practices into their cause and effect group, and to visualize the mutual inter-relationships.  EPR approach has been used to understand the dominating behaviour and prioritization of cause group CSR practices and effect group CSR practices, separately. It helps managers to recognize strength and weakness of CSR practices in building an effective and efficient CSR based SCP system.