Stefan Weber has an academic background in international business and commercial law. Professionally he worked in various positions within Supply Chain Management in the industry and consulting. Stefan is currently a Senior Project Manager with a strong focus on Sustainable Supply Chain Management for a German consulting firm.
He will defend his Executive Doctorate in Business Administration (EDBA) in September 2023, on the theme “Implementation of Sustainable Procurement for German small and medium enterprises” under the supervision of Professor Birgit Hagen, associate professor at the University of Pavia.
Thesis Direction
Pr Birgit Hagen
Thesis Title
Introduction of Sustainable Procurement Management for German Medium-Sized Companies
Abstract
In a global context of mounting sustainability-related issues, such as climate change and resource scarcity, research in this field is increasingly focusing on supply chain management. As the basis of the value chain, procurement can play a particularly sig-nificant role in the promotion of sustainability in companies. However, to date, sus-tainable procurement has been insufficiently researched.
In this context, knowledge of and information about the implementation of sustainable procurement in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are lacking, even though such enterprises contribute significantly to global emissions. Initial indications are that SMEs do not simply adopt the same rationales for action as multinational compa-nies. Furthermore, little is known about the drivers and obstacles that are at play when sustainable procurement practices are introduced to ultimately achieve holistic, sus-tainable supply chain management.
In this study, the following main research question is the point of departure: ‘How can German SMEs implement sustainable procurement management?’ First, the current state of research is analyzed. The findings of this literature review then act as the foundation for qualitative empirical research, which takes the form of 30-minute, semi-structured expert interviews with 15 selected experts.
One of the significant findings of this study is that the engagement of top management is a necessary requirement for the successful implementation of sustainable procure-ment. Another is that a systematic approach is needed to promote sustainable pro-curement management as an integral part of sustainable supply chain management. In addition, there is a lack of understanding of the concept of sustainability and suitable measuring tools.
The key research findings and insights are used to formulate eight recommendations that support the successful implementation of sustainable procurement and sustainable supply chain management in German SMEs. In addition, this dissertation provides a practical guide that managers can use as a reference source when introducing sustaina-ble procurement management in their companies.