Sustainable sourcing framework for medium-sized enterprises : antecedents and configuration dimensions

Procurement organizations have long prioritized the profit dimension of the triple bottom line and are now pressured to integrate the social and environmental dimension by their internal and external stakeholders. This causes conflicting interests and results in performing tensions towards the supply side. The paper analyzes these tensions and identifies positive management strategies. A two-step research process is applied including a focus group, expert interviews, and case studies. The results show two main performing tensions: social/environmental vs. financial objectives and short- vs. long-term financial objectives. They demonstrate how splitting and integrating practices are applied in the context of sustainable procurement.