Corporate Responsibility in Scandinavian Supply Chains

Journal of Business Ethics · 2009 · Volume 85 · Issue 1

Abstract

This article examines corporate responsibility in the supply chains of four of the largest Scandinavian multinational corporations – IKEA, Nokia, Novo Nordisk, and StatoilHydro – and offers two key findings. First, these Scandinavian companies have all implemented responsible supply chain practices where suppliers in developing nations, and the communities of these suppliers, are engaged as key stakeholders and treated as partners. Second, these supply chain practices all share the common bond of having honesty and the establishment of trust-based relationships at their foundation. As a result, these Scandinavian companies have developed a “cooperative advantage” in their ability to form successful, long-term partnerships in their respective supply chains.

Keywords

cooperative advantage, corporate responsibility, CSR, partnerships, Scandinavia, supply chain, sustainability

Enable JavaScript for citation tools and additional paper interactions.