Supply Policy

In Chap. 2 it was argued that supply chain management, as we know it today, originates in firm-based, for-profit decision making, benefiting shareholders and other stakeholders in private sector firms’ financial success. This has perpetuated the dominance of an economic perspective to supply chain management, focused on reducing costs, improving competitive advantage, improving profitability and ultimately improving shareholder value. A framework is provided that differentiates between supply policy, strategy, management and operations. Supply policies may be aspirational or restrictive. Supply policies examined here include sustainability, ethical supply, working conditions, supply chain bullying, modern slavery and corruption. Public procurement can be used as a lever by governments to support implementation of government policies relating to innovation, entrepreneurship, industrial development of particular sectors and local economies, small business development, social outcomes, sustainability, supply market competition, corporate social responsibility, community benefits and emergency planning. Implementation of supply policies is impeded by governments’ focus on public policy formulation and not policy implementation. Global stewardship is required in some areas of supply policy, notably in humanitarian aid and also in global crises, such as pandemics. The academic field of SCM should join up research in the SCM specialisms of traditional, firm-based operations and supply chain management, purchasing and supply management, public procurement and humanitarian logistics and supply chain management.