Organisational Culture and Supply Chain Sustainability Performance in the Food Manufacturing Industry in the UK. Does Supply Chain Integration Really Matter?

Abstract

This research draws on a study in the food manufacturing industry in the UK to examine the role of organisational culture (OC) and supply chain integration (SCI) in improving sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP). Qualitative methodology was employed by interviewing 11 senior managers from 11 top firms in the food industry. A list of the firms was obtained from the FAME database out of which thirty-five (35) leading firms were selected. Only 11 agreed to the interview. After manually analysing the interviews, we found that that three competing values, namely: developmental, group and hierarchical culture are effective for implementing and achieving higher SSCP. Also, the values inherent in these cultures also trigger internal and external integration through which the firms acquire sustainability ideas, knowledge, training, skills from customers and suppliers to improve SSCP. These findings also confirm the positive impact of supply chain integration on SSCP. We also found that within the context of sustainability performance, the effectiveness of external integration depends on the strength of internal integration. The study contributes immensely to sustainability literature by linking OC to SSCP and establishes the mediating role of SCI. Managers are advised to adopt blended competing values (developmental, group and hierarchical culture) to implement sustainability practices and improve SSCP. Managers also need to strengthen SCI to improve sustainability performance thereby overcoming various sustainability challenges. A proposed framework for implementing the values and SCI is presented.