Agency Theory and Sustainability in the Global Supply Chain

This book analyzes how and under what conditions collaborating corporations can effectively manage relationships with their suppliers in order to decrease the risk of suppliers’ noncompliance with codes of conduct and standards. In so doing, it represents an important addition to the management literature on corporate social responsibility in global supply chains – which is highly topical at a time when companies are increasingly aware of the social and environmental aspects of global sourcing. After an opening systematic review of the literature on agency theory and supply chain management, it explores the rationale underlying collaboration among competitors, and the most critical aspects of such collaboration, in depth. Thanks to the book’s use of real-life examples, readers will learn how agency theory can help improve relationship management and address the major issues in sustainable global sourcing.

Emanuela Delbufalo is currently Associate Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at the European University of Rome (Department of Human Science). She is also Visiting Research Fellow at the Logistics and Supply Chain Management Centre at the Cranfield School of Management (UK) where she is involved in several research projects on procurement and supply chain management issues. Emanuela’s research is addressing some of the most critical issues in supply chain management theory and practice, among which are building and managing relational strategies in supply networks, supply chain innovation, and information sharing in buyer-supplier relationships. Her work has been published in various internationally leading publications such as Production Planning & Control, International Journal of Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Scandinavian Journal of Management, Management Decision, among others. Emanuela is also a regular speaker at international academic conferences.