Examining anti-modern slavery practices in business relationships and networks: power consequences and social value creation perspectives

Purpose This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework linking exemplar anti-modern slavery practices and their anticipated desirable and undesirable power consequences for social value creation within business relationships and broader networks. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a conceptual approach to develop a comprehensive framework that integrates the theoretical concepts of social value, relationship competence development and power asymmetry. This framework serves as a foundation for examining anti-modern slavery practices within business relationships and identifying directions for future research. Findings This study outlines a five-phase process for developing resources and competencies within business relationships and networks by examining ten exemplar anti-modern slavery practices. The analysis places particular emphasis on the dynamics between power asymmetry and these practices, along with their implications for social value creation. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in establishing how exemplar anti-modern slavery practices, aligned with human rights due diligence principles, intersect with expected power dynamics and social value creation within business relationships and networks. The authors argue that dyadic and multi-actor business relationships represent the primary level of analysis for addressing modern slavery and promoting social value generation within business networks and broader society.