Framing Global Value Chains Sustainability Research

Diogo Vallim, John James Loomis, Jose Antonio Puppim De Oliveira

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Abstract

World trade is now driven through Global Value Chains (GVCs), which present social and economic benefits, yet can also drive severe environmental sustainability challenges requiring critical analysis through a systematic review. Given the lack of integration among the different literatures on value chains in management, business and beyond, this review aims to define the best approaches to carry out research on sustainability in the GVCs according to the research topic and object. First, it identified two modes that sustainability can be strengthened by GVCs. The "sustainability-in-chains" mode is composed of intra-firm and inter-firm initiatives, where aspects of strategy, internalization and competition are better incorporated in the analysis by using the firm-centric tools associated with the Global Value Chains (GVCs) tradition. In contrast, initiatives that instrumentalize value chains to achieve impacts at the territorial level beyond the chain compose the "sustainability-through-chains" mode. The analysis of these initiatives incorporates elements of policy, natural resources, and culture, requiring the use of networked tools associated with the Global Production Networks (GPNs) tradition. Second, based on these two modes, the article proposes a framework to align the analysis of sustainability topics with value chain analysis traditions according to five categorizations: governance, non-firm actors' role in implementation, interaction with the broader socio-political context, unit of analysis and perspectives of upgrading. This allows management and business researchers to identify the best conceptual approach to analyse a specific angle within a research topic.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the Eighty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management
EditorsSonia Taneja
Number of pages1
Place of PublicationValhalla, NY
PublisherAcademy of Management
Publication date2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
EventThe Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2024: Innovating for the Future: Policy, Purpose, and Organizations - Chicago, United States
Duration: 9 Aug 202413 Aug 2024
Conference number: 84
https://aom2024.eventscribe.net/

Conference

ConferenceThe Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2024
Number84
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityChicago
Period09/08/202413/08/2024
Internet address
SeriesAcademy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings
ISSN0065-0668

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