From inactive to proactive: examining social sustainability approaches and relational dynamics in procurement from a social capital perspective

This study investigates how social sustainable procurement is characterised in terms of relational dynamics and its impact on social sustainability outcomes. Adopting qualitative research with a focus on the social capital lens, 21 semi-structured interviews with 30 respondents were conducted in the Swedish hospitality sector. Our findings point towards four distinct social sustainability approaches: inactive, reactive, active, and proactive. These approaches are influenced by the relational dynamics, encompassing dialogue, goal and cultural value congruence, and frequency of interaction. The study highlights the pivotal role of dialogue as a catalyst for transitioning from an inactive to a proactive approach. This research contributes to the development of a theoretical framework rooted in social capital theory, examining how relational dynamics influence the selection of social sustainability strategies. Furthermore, it provides valuable managerial insights, offering a social sustainability-procurement trajectory model that assists managers in assessing their strategic standing and guides them to specific improvements.