Social sustainability adoption barriers in supply chains: A middle east perspective using interpretive structural modeling

Abstract

The research in the area of social responsibility in supply chains in the Middle East is limited in the extant literature. The present study tries to fill this gap by identifying and analysing the interactions among the variables that inhibit the implementation of social responsibility practices in supply chains. This researchutilizes Interpretive Structural Modelling and MICM AC approach to establish hierarchical linkages among the identified variables of social sustainability in supply chains.In this research work, thirteen variables were identified based on extensive literature review, which were refined further by brainstorming and experts’ opinion. The results indicate that differences in culture and regulatory environment and lack of support from the government and top management are the most important barriers. Social sustainability is an emerging area in the developing economies. This study is among the few that provide an understanding of barriers to social responsibility adoption in supply chains in the Middle East region.