How can we measure supplier collaboration under the dominance of large buyers? The article by Assoc. Prof. Dariusz Siemieniako, Ph.D. (Kozminski University), proposes a validated measurement scale and a research model for social sustainability in supply chains. It offers a framework for further quantitative research on how smaller suppliers can improve performance through collaboration.
Power asymmetry – a starting point, not a problem to solve
Global supply chains are inherently complex and hierarchical. Large multinational enterprises (MNEs) exert strong influence over smaller local suppliers. This power asymmetry forms the context in which firms engage in activities supporting social sustainability.
In the article Linking Collaborative Supplier Social Sustainability Practices and Supplier Performance in Asymmetric Power Relationships with Buyers, published in the Journal of Business Economics and Management (2025), Assoc. Prof. Dariusz Siemieniako, Ph.D., explores what forms of collaboration smaller suppliers can adopt to make social sustainability beneficial—both relationally and economically.
Research question: what can smaller suppliers do?
The study poses a central research question:
Under conditions of power asymmetry between dominant buyers and weaker suppliers, what forms of collaboration in social sustainability can be effective and potentially serve as a source of competitive advantage?
Answering this question requires understanding how collaboration in social sustainability is defined, measured, and implemented in practice.
Previous research on social sustainability in supply chains has mainly focused on the role of large buyers. However, scholars increasingly emphasize the importance of active supplier participation, showing that even smaller firms can co-shape relationships and shared sustainability standards.
The literature distinguishes two main types of collaboration:
- Vertical collaboration (SCC – Supply Chain Collaboration) – between buyers, suppliers, and non-business organizations (e.g., NGOs),
- Horizontal collaboration (HC) – between companies within the same industry.
Both types can foster social sustainability, but a consistent measurement tool has been lacking so far.
Verifying the measurement scale
The article’s aim is to develop and verify a measurement scale enabling quantitative research on supplier collaboration in the area of social sustainability.
Based on a pilot study of 277 manufacturing firms in Poland, the author tested the reliability of indicators using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The analysis confirmed that the phenomenon can be described through two distinct, stable dimensions – SCC and HC.
This measurement tool can serve as a foundation for future research on supplier collaboration and performance.
Research model and hypotheses
Drawing on the verified scale, the author proposes a research model describing relationships between collaboration in social sustainability and supplier outcomes.
The article does not test these relationships yet but outlines hypotheses for future empirical studies, including:
- the positive impact of vertical collaboration (SCC) on supplier capability development,
- the role of horizontal collaboration (HC) in knowledge sharing and reputation building,
- the relationship between company size and the scope of social sustainability practices.
Directions for future research
The proposed model is a starting point for future quantitative and comparative studies. The next steps will test which hypotheses are confirmed in practice and whether collaboration in social sustainability translates into measurable supplier outcomes.
Source publication
This article is based on: Dariusz Siemieniako (2025), “Linking Collaborative Supplier Social Sustainability Practices and Supplier Performance in Asymmetric Power Relationships with Buyers,” Journal of Business Economics and Management, Vol. 26(3), pp. 763–782. DOI: 10.3846/jbem.2025.24424
The publication has a theoretical and methodological character and serves as a foundation for future empirical research on supplier collaboration in sustainable supply chains.
Summary
The article by Assoc. Prof. Dariusz Siemieniako, Ph.D., makes an important contribution to the study of social sustainability in B2B relations. Instead of focusing on results, it centers on measurement tools and a conceptual model of supplier collaboration, helping to better understand mechanisms operating under power asymmetry.
