IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/proeco/v292y2026ics092552732500310x.html

Bridging ethical culture and competitiveness in supply chains: Applying resource orchestration theory

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Chi
  • Venkatesh, Mani
  • Laguir, Issam
  • Ohana, Marc

Abstract

This study investigates how organizational ethical culture influences organizational competitiveness via supply chain social sustainability practices, using resource orchestration theory as a framework. Analyzing survey data from 214 French manufacturing firms with structural equation modeling, the results show that organizational ethical culture enhances competitiveness indirectly through supply chain social sustainability, confirming its role as a key mediator. However, the effectiveness of supply chain social sustainability in driving competitiveness weakens significantly under high environmental uncertainty. The findings suggest that while integrating ethical culture into supply chain practices is essential for fostering competitiveness, firms operating in uncertain environments may need to prioritize flexibility over long-term supply chain social sustainability commitments. By applying resource orchestration theory to socially sustainable supply chain management, this study provides fresh insights into how ethical culture orchestrates external resources and highlights the contingent nature of supply chain social sustainability effectiveness in dynamic conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Chi & Venkatesh, Mani & Laguir, Issam & Ohana, Marc, 2026. "Bridging ethical culture and competitiveness in supply chains: Applying resource orchestration theory," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:292:y:2026:i:c:s092552732500310x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2025.109825
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092552732500310X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ijpe.2025.109825?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maiju Kangas & Joona Muotka & Mari Huhtala & Anne Mäkikangas & Taru Feldt, 2017. "Is the Ethical Culture of the Organization Associated with Sickness Absence? A Multilevel Analysis in a Public Sector Organization," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(1), pages 131-145, January.
    2. Chowdhury, Soumyadeb & Ren, Shuang & Richey, Robert Glenn, 2025. "Leveraging artificial intelligence to facilitate green servitization: Resource orchestration and Re-institutionalization perspectives," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    3. Mani, Venkatesh & Gunasekaran, Angappa, 2018. "Four forces of supply chain social sustainability adoption in emerging economies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 150-161.
    4. Juliana Toro-Arias & Pablo Ruiz-Palomino & María Pilar Rodríguez-Córdoba, 2022. "Measuring Ethical Organizational Culture: Validation of the Spanish Version of the Shortened Corporate Ethical Virtues Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 551-574, March.
    5. Sirish Kumar Gouda & Haritha Saranga, 2018. "Sustainable supply chains for supply chain sustainability: impact of sustainability efforts on supply chain risk," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(17), pages 5820-5835, September.
    6. Silke Eisenbeiss & Daan Knippenberg & Clemens Fahrbach, 2015. "Doing Well by Doing Good? Analyzing the Relationship Between CEO Ethical Leadership and Firm Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 128(3), pages 635-651, May.
    7. Chavez, Roberto & Malik, Mohsin & Ghaderi, Hadi & Yu, Wantao, 2021. "Environmental orientation, external environmental information exchange and environmental performance: Examining mediation and moderation effects," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    8. Elina Riivari & Anna-Maija Lämsä, 2019. "Organizational Ethical Virtues of Innovativeness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 223-240, March.
    9. Riggs, Randy & Felipe, Carmen M. & Roldán, José L. & Real, Juan C., 2024. "Information systems capabilities value creation through circular economy practices in uncertain environments: A conditional mediation model," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    10. Kristoffersen, Eivind & Mikalef, Patrick & Blomsma, Fenna & Li, Jingyue, 2021. "The effects of business analytics capability on circular economy implementation, resource orchestration capability, and firm performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    11. Bedford, David S. & Malmi, Teemu & Sandelin, Mikko, 2016. "Management control effectiveness and strategy: An empirical analysis of packages and systems," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 12-28.
    12. Ardekani, Zahra Fozouni & Sobhani, Seyed Mohammad Javad & Barbosa, Marcelo Werneck & de Sousa, Paulo Renato, 2023. "Transition to a sustainable food supply chain during disruptions: A study on the Brazilian food companies in the Covid-19 era," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    13. Roy, Achinto & Newman, Alexander & Round, Heather & Bhattacharya, Sukanto, 2024. "Ethical Culture in Organizations: A Review and Agenda for Future Research," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 34(1), pages 97-138, January.
    14. Mani, Venkatesh & Jabbour, Charbel Jose Chiappetta & Mani, Kavitha T.N., 2020. "Supply chain social sustainability in small and medium manufacturing enterprises and firms’ performance: Empirical evidence from an emerging Asian economy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    15. Elina Riivari & Anna-Maija Lämsä, 2019. "Correction to: Organizational Ethical Virtues of Innovativeness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 241-241, March.
    16. Bortolotti, Thomas & Boscari, Stefania & Xiao, Cheng-Yong, 2024. "Leveraging organizational culture to create competitive value from environmental practices," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    17. Maiju Kangas & Muel Kaptein & Mari Huhtala & Anna-Maija Lämsä & Pia Pihlajasaari & Taru Feldt, 2018. "Why Do Managers Leave Their Organization? Investigating the Role of Ethical Organizational Culture in Managerial Turnover," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 707-723, December.
    18. Long-Zeng Wu & Ho Kwan & Frederick Yim & Randy Chiu & Xiaogang He, 2015. "CEO Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Moderated Mediation Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(4), pages 819-831, September.
    19. Abdul Waheed & Qingyu Zhang, 2022. "Effect of CSR and Ethical Practices on Sustainable Competitive Performance: A Case of Emerging Markets from Stakeholder Theory Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(4), pages 837-855, February.
    20. Xiaonan Dong & Sungjin Son & Taewoo Roh, 2025. "Strategic Linkages to ESG Performance: The Role of Performance Measurement System and Psychological Empowerment," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 4372-4391, May.
    21. Henri, Jean-François & Wouters, Marc, 2020. "Interdependence of management control practices for product innovation: The influence of environmental unpredictability," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    22. Spenser G. Seifert & Ethan G. LaMothe & Donna Bobek Schmitt, 2023. "Perceptions of the Ethical Infrastructure, Professional Autonomy, and Ethical Judgments in Accounting Work Environments," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(3), pages 821-850, January.
    23. Enrique, Daisy Valle & Lerman, Laura Visintainer & Sousa, Paulo Renato de & Benitez, Guilherme Brittes & Bigares Charrua Santos, Fernando M. & Frank, Alejandro G., 2022. "Being digital and flexible to navigate the storm: How digital transformation enhances supply chain flexibility in turbulent environments," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    24. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    25. Christina W.Y. Wong & Chee Yew Wong & Sakun Boon‐itt, 2018. "How Does Sustainable Development of Supply Chains Make Firms Lean, Green and Profitable? A Resource Orchestration Perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 375-388, March.
    26. Anne Boomsma, 1985. "Nonconvergence, improper solutions, and starting values in lisrel maximum likelihood estimation," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 50(2), pages 229-242, June.
    27. Mohammad Alghababsheh & David Gallear, 2021. "Socially Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Suppliers’ Social Performance: The Role of Social Capital," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(4), pages 855-875, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Juliana Toro-Arias & Pablo Ruiz-Palomino & María Pilar Rodríguez-Córdoba, 2022. "Measuring Ethical Organizational Culture: Validation of the Spanish Version of the Shortened Corporate Ethical Virtues Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 551-574, March.
    2. Yan Ling & Michelle Hammond & Li-Qun Wei, 2022. "Ethical leadership and ambidexterity in young firms: examining the CEO-TMT Interface," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 25-48, March.
    3. Hielscher, Stefan & Schultz, Felix Carl & Valentinov, Vladislav & Pies, Ingo, 2025. "A governance perspective on moral character development," Discussion Papers 2025-07, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Chair of Economic Ethics.
    4. Min Zhou & Xianyi Long & Kannan Govindan, 2024. "Unveiling the value of institutional pressure in socially sustainable supply chain management: The role of top management support for social initiatives and organisational culture," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 2629-2648, July.
    5. Simone Sehnem & Ana Cláudia Lara & Karen Benetti & Kurt Schneider & Maiara Lais Marcon & Tiago Hilário Hennemann Silva, 2024. "Improving startups through excellence initiatives: addressing circular economy and innovation," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(6), pages 15237-15283, June.
    6. Govindan, Kannan & Demartini, Melissa & Formentini, Marco & Taticchi, Paolo & Tonelli, Flavio, 2024. "Unravelling and mapping the theoretical foundations of sustainable supply chains: A literature review and research agenda," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    7. El Baz, Jamal & Ruel, Salomée & Jebli, Fedwa, 2023. "Harnessing supply chain resilience and social performance through safety and health practices in the COVID-19 era: An investigation of normative pressures and adoption timing's role," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    8. Yuanling Li & Yu Zhang & Andrea Appolloni & Junqi Liu, 2025. "Linking Top Management Commitment and Circular Practice Through Human Resource Perspective: Do Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Make a Difference in Sustainability?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 2746-2768, March.
    9. Lu Jiao & Graeme Harrison & Maria Cadiz Dyball & Jinhua Chen, 2017. "CEO values, stakeholder culture, and stakeholder-based performance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 875-899, December.
    10. Jing An & Suicheng Li & Jianqi Qiao & Qingyun Yang, 2026. "The impact of smart supply chain management on supply chain transparency: a dynamic resource-based view," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 1-24, March.
    11. Chaudhuri, Ranjan & Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Gupta, Shivam & Kamble, Sachin, 2023. "Green supply chain technology and organization performance: Moderating role of environmental dynamism and product-service innovation capability," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    12. Wong, David T.W. & Ngai, Eric W.T., 2023. "The impact of advanced manufacturing technology, sensing and analytics capabilities, and planning comprehensiveness on sustained competitive advantage: The moderating role of environmental uncertainty," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    13. Mani, Venkatesh & Jabbour, Charbel Jose Chiappetta & Mani, Kavitha T.N., 2020. "Supply chain social sustainability in small and medium manufacturing enterprises and firms’ performance: Empirical evidence from an emerging Asian economy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    14. Tu Thanh Hoai & Nguyen Phong Nguyen, 2022. "Internal Control Systems and Performance of Emerging Market Firms: The Moderating Roles of Leadership Consistency and Quality," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    15. Jim Andersén, 2023. "Green resource orchestration: A critical appraisal of the use of resource orchestration in environmental management research, and a research agenda for future study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5506-5520, December.
    16. Chen, Clara Xiaoling & Lill, Jeremy B. & Lucianetti, Lorenzo, 2023. "Performance measurement system diversity and product innovation: Evidence from longitudinal survey data," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    17. Huei‐ting Tsai & Chia‐Ju Chuang, 2025. "The Generativity Mindsets of Corporations: A New Perspective on Ecological Responsiveness," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(5), pages 5141-5157, July.
    18. Md Maruf Hossan Chowdhury & Mohammad Tarikul Islam & Imran Ali & Mohammed Quaddus, 2024. "The role of social capital, resilience, and network complexity in attaining supply chain sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 2621-2639, March.
    19. Richa Goyal & Himani Sharma & Aarti Sharma, 2024. "A thorough examination of organizations from an ethical viewpoint: A bibliometric and content analysis of organizational virtuousness studies," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 129-144, January.
    20. Hussain Bux & Zhe Zhang & Adnan Ali, 2026. "Corporate social responsibility adoption for achieving economic, environmental, and social sustainability performance," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 4545-4575, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:292:y:2026:i:c:s092552732500310x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijpe .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.