IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/abaman/v24y2025i1d10.1057_s41291-025-00287-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Negotiating the ethical terrain in global value chains on the road towards the SDGs

Author

Listed:
  • Noemi Sinkovics

    (Newcastle University
    University of Vaasa)

  • Samia Ferdous Hoque

    (Manchester Metropolitan University)

  • Rudolf R. Sinkovics

    (Durham University
    LUT University)

  • Denanjalee Gunaratne

    (LUT University)

Abstract

This paper employs a pattern matching approach to explore the tensions arising from differences in the ethical dispositions of multinational enterprise (MNE) buyers and their suppliers within the Bangladeshi apparel manufacturing sector. It examines how varying ethical principles shape the development, implementation, and outcomes of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and labor standards. Our analysis resulted in the identification of four scenarios: legitimacy with friction, mitigated forced alignment, collaborative enhancement, and principled resistance. However, the scenario, principled resistance, is purely conceptual, as none of our empirical cases aligned with this category. We extend work highlighting the importance of ethical foundations for strategic decision making. This study advances the understanding of global value chain governance, particularly regarding MNEs’ contribution to the socially oriented Sustainable Development Goals. Our findings suggest that, out of the four scenarios, the combination of virtue ethics and consequentialist principles is most likely to facilitate a just transition to a more desirable state in contexts characterized by development challenges and institutional voids.

Suggested Citation

  • Noemi Sinkovics & Samia Ferdous Hoque & Rudolf R. Sinkovics & Denanjalee Gunaratne, 2025. "Negotiating the ethical terrain in global value chains on the road towards the SDGs," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(1), pages 55-96, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:24:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41291-025-00287-8
    DOI: 10.1057/s41291-025-00287-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41291-025-00287-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41291-025-00287-8?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 search for a different version of it.

    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:pal:abaman:v:24:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41291-025-00287-8. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    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.