Developing a Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices Framework: A Case Study on the Egyptian Wheat Sector

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Researcher at faculty of International transportation and logistics, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport Alexandria Egypt

2 Associate Professor at Marketing and International Business Department, College of Management and Technology, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

3 lecturer at college of management and technology, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport Alexandria Egypt

Abstract

Supply chain practices are activities which integrate both internal relationships within the organization, and external activities with partners, in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole supply chain performance. This research indicated the influence of a number of supply chain practices on performance measures which resulted from conducting a systematic literature review. It is an exploratory research built upon an inductive approach, relying on interviewing a selected number of the organizations involved in the wheat supply chain which are represented in public organizations, and government officials. This research managed to provide two main contributions to the body of knowledge: first, a theoretical framework for sustainable supply chain practices and organizational performance which can be generalized to other disciplines; two, conceptual and applied frameworks for the wheat supply chain in Egypt which can be built upon in the future. The findings led to the conclusion that the wheat supply chain in Egypt is developing to cope with global trends and changes, as well as local needs; however, it is not yet well structured. Its supply chain practices are complex and interrelated, in which each organization has only a certain role. There is a very limited degree of shared vision and goal congruence between organizations in different stages and levels in the supply chain, and without shared goals and practices, integration and coordination between involved organizations is impossible.

Keywords