Nachhaltigkeit und Resilienz in der Supply Chain von österreichischen Industrieunternehmen

  • Barbara Fürthner

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

This thesis deals with the joint investigation of sustainability and resilience in the supply chains (SC) of Austrian industrial companies. Using a multiple case study, the thesis presents how sustainability is implemented in the SC and which factors can promote or inhibit the implementation of sustainability in the SC. Based on 18 expert interviews conducted between May and July 2024 with sustainability and SC managers from twelve different Austrian industrial companies, the study also aims to show how a synergy between sustainability and resilience can be designed in order to successfully overcome potential external crises. The results of the case study reveal that industrial companies often lack a unified definition of sustainability, making its integration into corporate strategy challenging. The study also confirms the need for a strong organisational anchoring of sustainability, as companies often have sustainability departments or interdisciplinary teams entrusted with the predominantly ecological sustainability measures. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the top management, which emphasises the strategic importance of sustainability. The case study also shows that the commitment of the top management, the legal requirements and employee involvement are perceived by the interviewed experts as key factors facilitating the implementation of sustainability. In contrast, the interview participants identified significant barriers, including the lack of customer willingness to pay, cost pressure, internal resistance, and the absence of qualified employees. Moreover, the case study indicates that resilience is associated with the ability to maintain business operations despite crises. In this context, the development of redundancies, diversification of suppliers, risk management, and the creation of transparency along the SC play a crucial role. In addition, the interaction between sustainability and resilience in the SC is predominantly described as positive, with sustainability often depicted as the foundation of resilience. In particular, local sourcing and long-term partnerships with suppliers can particularly enhance the adaptability and flexibility of the SC. However, potential areas of conflict can also be identified, such as in terms of costs or the temporal alignment of the two concepts. By identifying potential areas of conflict and leveraging synergies, companies can strengthen both sustainability and resilience within the SC, thereby improving their ability to respond to external crisis.
Date of Award2024
Original languageGerman (Austria)
SupervisorMichael Kuttner (Supervisor)

Cite this

'