IMPROVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SUPPLY CHAIN INTEGRATION: AN EVIDENCE FROM JORDANIAN PHOSPHATE FERTILIZERS MANUFACTURING COMPANIES

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the effect of supply chain integration (SCI) in terms of supplier integration (SI), internal integration (II), and customer integration (CI) on sustainable development (SD) of Jordanian phosphate fertilizers manufacturing (JPFM) companies in terms of economic responsibility (ECR), social responsibility (SOR), and environmental responsibility (ENR). The study model and hypotheses were developed based on the literature review. The data were collected from 102 managers through a structured questionnaire. Normality, validity, and reliability of the questionnaire items were confirmed. Then, descriptive statistical analysis, the correlation between variables, and multiple linear regression were carried out. The results revealed that the overall SCI has a positive and significant effect on the overall SD. The results also provided evidence that SI, II, and CI have a positive and significant effect in enhancing SD. However, II is superior to external integration (SI and CI) in enhancing SD. This study promotes the idea of implementing SCI in JPFM companies in order to enhance their SD. It also recommends these companies rethink their efforts toward economic, social, and environmental responsibilities. This study is one of the first studies that create awareness about adopting SD by Jordanian companies, especially that SD still does not have the highest priority in Jordan. In addition, it is the first study in Jordan that is conducted in the phosphate fertilizers manufacturing sector.