Abstract of an investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

The said study is investigating the major factors that are affecting the various ethical processes within the functions of the supply chain managements. Ethical practices are the one of the most important and major factors by which the functions of the supply chain can perform in effective manners. In order to investigating these major factors the secondary source of data collection has been used in which the qualitative research method has been particularly employed. The interview is used as the instrument of the study to investigating the various ethical factors of the supply chain management. The well planned interviews have been used to analyzing the data. The interview is conducted from the 10 employees of the various organizations who are performing their duties in the supply chain departments. From all of these 10 participants the interview of only 5 participants has been published and explained in this research report. It has been observed that ethical practices are the good source to enhance the performance of the organization.     

Introduction of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

Numerous authors have been discussing the nature of ethical theory. The ancient Greek term ‘etikos’ derives the present word ‘ethics’ which means ‘the authority of custom and tradition’. If translated into Latin, it equates to the English word ‘moral’. Although there is a huge relationship between these two words; ethics and moral, still there is little agreement available upon the distinction between these two. Many authors use these words interchangeably. The “articulate shared valued and develop a vision for future” compile business ethics in general. It is the leader’s responsibility to make a company achieve fair and moral practices by providing an apparent and consistent culture and also foreseeing predicaments that may occur in future. Hence, it becomes necessary to make a balance between ethical practices and communal objectives.  (Yusuf, 2014).

It has been observed that supply chain has been taking on more strategic role in all corporative sector, over the past decade. While previously, the supply chain managers were only relied to derive cost and efficiency for the firm while today, supply chain makes the companies to stand out on the basis of unique strategic initiatives. The work of supply chain managers has become more about front facing than working in the back only and now they are very much into evaluating production, customer demands and speed of delivery.  (Bob, 2018).

The customers of today have become demanding in knowing all the aspects about the products they tend to buy as in the social, ethical and environmental factors in which the product has been made. This is mainly backed up by social media which not only provides the detailed product information but also shows the negative drawbacks that can directly affect purchase decisions. Millennial are particularly more concerned about these social and environmental factors and they enquire a lot about how the company adheres to such factors. (Boström, Jönsson, Lockie, Mol, & Oosterveer, 2015).

Consequently, the supply chain’s conduct about transparency and visibility undertake more significant meaning when it is applied to assure supply chain ethics, but even after the best practices, implication remains the same. While, it is the supply chain experts who are still being charged with the task. “It is an opportunity and not just a requirement to build ethical supply chain,” says Eshkenazi. “In fact, this is how supply chain professionals can exhibit their value to their organizations.”

The purpose of this study is to investigate and explore the idea of ethics applying in supply chain management. This study is to demonstrate the empirical relationship between ethical practices and performance and also to examine the supply chain ethical practices. The results prove a positive impact of ethical practices on performance of supply chain management. (Yusuf, Hawkins, Musa, & El-Berishy, 2014).

Background of an investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

A very famous futuris Gerd Leonhard presented his observations at a recent supply chain conference that the digitization of businesses has made supply chain to rely on technology while the customers are already very much into using the technological tools, now it is to time to think of the change that this technology can bring into our overall lives. He said that the companies will start caring about their customers only when they’ll be using their products and that is what we mean by ethics. But this statement raises many questions like is this why supply chain managers work for their organizations and do they value ethics while operating their businesses? If this is the case then where are they deploying their time and efforts and what do they actually mean by ethical supply chain?

These questions were raised in a meeting between co-authors of this research in  last summer and none of us had any reason to those questions which lead us to the project “better understand organizations”.  Loyola University Chicago’s Supply and Value Chain Center was also surveying about the same topic while we were designing our project and that assured us that we weren’t the only ones asking these questions.

To ensure operational efficiency, organizations require its supply chain management to be run effectively given a highly competitive business environment. Companies are required to make sure that they have a proper bondage among their supply chain partners like suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and end customers in order to ensure the performance efficiency  (Rai, 2006). While, supply chain management is the integration of fundamental business process from suppliers to end users in providing the products, service or information that adds value for customers and stakeholders in return (Kroes, 2010). A set of three or more entities combine to make a set and direct the ups and downs of products, services and other information to the customers. The old ideology of supply chain that was to construct close relationships between different organizational departments has taken over the traditional picture of supply chain as a collection of vertically organized operational units.  (Stadtler, 2005).

A crucial part in supply chain management is to manage professional ethics as many renowned companies use supply chains for long-term value added relationships and not just to reduce cost or complimenting the product. This enhances the stakeholder’s interest in social, ethical and environmental performance of government’s supply chain.  (Cao, 2011).

When employees make decisions to be judged as right or wrong, ethical or unethical, the phenomenon is called ethical decision making. While, the managerial decisions about individual ethics, organizational culture, compliance or codes of ethics compile up to make organizational ethics. There is an evolvement in the need for strategic coordination for ethical decision making and there are multiple factors that contribute to the importance of ethical issues in supply chain management. The extent of cross-functional integration required within, between and among organizations is the first requirement of successfully managing supply chains. (Burgess, 2006).

To integrate such factors, all the members of the supply chain should have same objectives that should be aligned to deliver required customer value. This dependency of control by functional areas as well as increased emphasis on relationship management, might lead to less formal and more trust reliant factors that may cuse willingness to collaborate.  (Van Hoek, 2001).

Ethical supply chain management consists of various elements and one of which is producing sustainable and environmental friendly products through different methods. Violation of the rules against wages and discrimination at the workplace contribute to ethical supply chain. (Ivanov, Tsipoulanidis, & Schönberger, 2017). Therefore, when an organization is running its business as per ethical supply chain, it is actually contributing to corporate social responsibility. (Busse, Meinlschmidt, & Foerstl, 2017). However, the adverse factors effecting the ethical supply chain still prevents many organizations in employing it. (Stadtler, 2015).

The research problem of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

Making supply chain management a success requires a change in management of individual functions into integrative activities using key supply chain processes. A collaboration between buyers and suppliers, combined product development, shared systems and information is required for successful supply chain business processes. (Larson & Halldorsson, 2004).

A constant flow of information among parties in supply chain is required for successful operations of integrated supply chain.

Research objectives of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

The purpose of this study was to determine ethical practices in supply chain performance. The study was guided by two objectives;

To determine ethical practices in supply chain performance

To establish the effect of ethical practices on supply chain management performance.

Ssignificance of the research of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

This study provides useful information for policy formulation and the construction of regulatory framework on ethics required in government offices for supply chain management. The findings of this study will help the government offices especially in Kenya like Kenya Revenue Authority in formulating policies regarding supply chain management to regulate and to promote professional ethics in their offices for their employees and the findings of this study will also help other public offices in Kenya in procurement of ethical practices. Not only the public offices but the official and managers will also find the study beneficial in teaching them the importance of ethics in supply chain management.

Literature Review of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

The literature for this study is reviewed from books, journals, newspapers, libraries, academic publications and other relevant sources and this chapter reviews and investigates the given problem statement.

Ethics of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

The moral principles that guide officials in their work aspects are called ethics. (Queensland Purchasing, Department of Public Works Crime and Misconduct Commission, 2006). Concepts such as honesty, integrity, probity, trust, fairness, diligence and respect combine to make ethical behavior. The conduct of supply chain practitioners is to be overseen by SC ethics. Ethics are an important part of supply chain management process which have a tendency to classify ethical issues, as viewed by Abela and Murphy (2008). The accountability of ethical decision making can surely be increased with true devotion to ethics as it has the tendency to classify various activities.

Actions that weaken ethical conduct should be avoided by supply chain management professionals as stated by the Institute of Supply Management (2014) in its principles of Ethical Supply 2 Conduct guideline. Perceived indecency can have same consequences as of an actual bad behavior. Institute of Supply Management (2014) has provided multiple guidelines to prevent indecent and improper behavior. The guidelines include maintenance of professionalism in all business communications including social media, discussing an actual or potential indecency with other managerial, working on unanticipated circumstances and avoiding such actions that might make you suspicious for any indecency within the organizational premises.

Supply Chain Performance of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

Organizations should have widespread instincts about supply chain performance to maximize competitive advantage. According to Croom and Johnson, the evaluation of supply chain management includes both tangible and intangible factors as cost and capacity utilization respectively, and this is called supply chain performance. (Presutti, 2003). In order to deliver phenomenal customer experience, the process 3 of quantifying the execution and efficiency of actions should be applied to achieve operational excellence. The overall proactive management of supply chains require organizations to know their inventory positions and not just that but delivery dates and fill rates as well. They should know how to optimize supply chain effectiveness for higher corporate results in accordance with the overall understanding of the impact of supply chain on cash or cost flows. This depends on the end-to-end knowledge of factors such as overall supply chain cost, cash to cash cycle time, or order fulfillment that ultimately drives performance. These factors also enable organizations to run their supply chain issues smoothly and they get awareness about all aspects of all operations to master the critical factors and to achieve high performance. (Oloruntoba, 2006).

Ethical Practices and Supply Chain Performance of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

Many researchers have already explored the competitiveness of supply chain management form many perspectives. The efficiency of the business transactions can be judged by transaction cost theory for production and transaction costs. These are the factors on which business partners adhere to and the more certain they become about each other’s values and their behaviors about lower transaction costs, the more they become sure about same values and the more they believe in fundamental ethical conditions and that leads to the lower the transaction costs. This is the reason why lack of ethics result in greater expense  (Walker, 2014).

In the longer run, business ethics and growth might coexist. There are substantial costs on organizations or even individuals who engage in unethical behavior as imposed by the markets and the same market forces even reward with incentives for ethical behavior.

There are several studies that inquire about the impact of ethics on supply chain management. For example, a study conducted by Levin in 2008 showed that even the global companies have no rules and infrastructures proper in hand to quickly overcome their ethical problems and to congtact their supply chain members and to communicate with their suppliers and other members on critical issues. (Levin, 2008). According to him, many companies around the world have already started making collaborations with other companies to create technology about ‘supplier ethics management (SEM) platforms’. A web-based SEM platform will be a fastest and easiest mode of collecting and maintaining information among all the suppliers and communicating with them about the critical ethics and observance information.  (Akkucuk, 2016).

According to Nair and Tsochas (2019), a model based on conceptual consideration has adaptive systems which are linked to various operations of supply chain and some of the aspects of that model have also obtained wide consideration to publish issues related to supple chain management like adaption, difficulty and emergent behaviour. The study also gives conceptual structure to accept the key factors obtained from CAS and to create profound awareness about relevant problems emerging in this field. In this study, we will discuss the significant and relevant issues as found by previous studies and we will highlight some special issues and will explain the connection of these articles with conceptual structures of the paper. Various methodologies will help in commuting significant approaches related to managerial theory; a cross-functional method (Syengo, 2015).

Green Supply Chain management is the collaboration of management as the main activity of any organization like planning, organizing, leading and controlling, then chain which means a linkage between main parts and lastly processing which includes processing of materials and products and services whereas green in the name refers to environmental friendly processing which consists of sequence of activities like processing, storage and distribution. (Chien & Shih, 2007; Malviya & Kant, 2015). Environmental issues are spreading on global level and now governments are taking measures for increased production and consumption level that result in environmental issues and these issues are being noticed by consumers more than ever before.  (Malviya, 2015).

In this has been described GS as the method in which it has been mentioned along with the approach of environmental which is the primary in SC development management. Despite from this some of the authors describe the same interest within the management of reusing Goods after achievement of utilized in order to preserve the atmosphere and hold advantage of capitals. As well as some of the authors suggested that it is a planning and ad been applied of the actions which has been presented in the organization along with the what could be well-suited with atmospheric problems and performances mainly while trading buyers and customers according to their deliberation  (Testa, 2010).

Company required to pay emphasis on the realizing some if the green actions which are capable to hold some of the Supply -chain modification and necessities. However, the green implementation decreases the manufacturing of life cycle and usage of things efficiently and effectively. Despite form this it has also been mentioned that lowering the usage of energy which is required for the manufacturing of products. As well as it has also been said that the significance of the GSC is in the decrease context of gases which has been obtained in the systematic transport, storage and procedure and some of the gas and carbon which has been presented moreover, expansion in their amount of profit which has been attain from organizations (Aseri, 2018). 

In this paragraph it has been stated that supportable supply chain management were now moving to attracted the expand interest from both sides as scholars and trainees in current eras. The consideration of trainees has been aroused by modification by highlighting from commercial consistency with the significant coatings of supply chain because of pressure which has been applied by worldwide and domestic regulations, as well as some of the non-governmental association’s consumer and some of the competitors  (Svensson, 2009).

Despite from this some of the growth which has been made in the universe of business an has been exaggerated the educational attention for the formation of theory and also for the growth of metric and survey mainly. Incorporation of these magnitudes will be extremely appreciated as the presence of previous studies which is associated with SSCM is relatively single-dimensional, along with the strong emphasis on the situation. Current phenomenon and inclosing exertions which will move toward various explanations of SSCM and dissimilar influence for academic research in many arenas (Turker, 2014).

Moreover, supply chain management has been involved as the sector of expansion of strategic significance which is because of worldwide competition as well as outsourcing of uncommon actions along with the growth countries and some of the shortage of product’s life cycle and time of density within the supply chain management.  Despite from this the ability to accomplish close on long term basis and their relationship with dealers and some of the other strategic associates are now become the critical factor in the formation of modest advantages  (Andersen, 2009).

Research design and methodology of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

This section of the research study explores the materials and methods that are particularly utilized in ay research study. It explains that particular methods that have been adopted in order to conduct the research and explores the phenomena of the research study. This section is the good ways to explain the briefing of any research to defining its materials and methods that are the key of nay research. From the both sources of the data collection as secondary and primary the secondary source of data collection has been utilized in the said study.

The secondary source of data collection leads towards the pre-existing data that has been used for kinds of the research related to the sustainability of the high rising building. The entire studies and data that are exploring the concepts of the sustainability and ethical practices can be referred as the secondary data for the said study. The primary source of data collection leads towards the new data that has been collected from various sources such as survey. The secondary source of data collection is best suited for this study because it can explains and follows the previous theories and research that are related to the topic and concepts of the sustainability.

From both of the research methods as qualitative and quantitative the qualitative research method has been used to conducting this study.

 The qualitative research method is particularly used for exploring the theories and concepts of the study meanwhile the quantitative research methods are used to exploring the statically and mathematical figures and concepts of any study. The qualitative research methods are good approach by which the concepts and views of the various authors, researchers and participants has been explored and explained. Under the qualitative research methods the interview approach is used to answers the participants and observer in effective manners. For interviewing the participants the preplanned questionnaires is used. 

The well planned questionnaire used to knowing their views related to the factors of the sustainability and ethics in the organization. The sample is the ten participants of various organizations that are engaged in the projects of the ethical practicies. From all of these 10 participants the interview of only 5 participants has been published and explained in this report to explain their views on this topic. Only 5 participant’s view has been published in order to reducing the chances of the similarity index and data confusion. The interviews has been conducted by considering the all of the ethical issues and perspectives of the respondents and no one participants has been forced to interview and answers the any questions.       

Results and Data analysis of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

The research study can be analysed in effective manners by conducting the interviews of the participants. There are ten participants from 10 different companies for conducting this interview. The interviews of these are participants are given below. From all of these 10 participants the interviews of only 5 participants has been explained in this study in order explores the views of these participants related to the ethics in supply chain management. 

Interview questions of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM
Participant 1

How would you describe the supply chain management culture at your place of employment?	In my organization supply chain is considered as the core of the business because the process from procurement to finish product is depends upon the SCM.
Do you feel that your organisation practises Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please provide an example of how.	Yes, this organization is practising the ethical supply chain management by simplifying processes; efficient planning; visibility into supplier action. All of these acts are the essential part of the ethical supply chain management
In supply chain management what factors are affecting the ethical procedures?	In the supply chain management one of the most important factors that is Professionalism is affecting the ethics. All participants of the supply chain process should exhibit a high standard of professionalism
Do you believe that Ethical supply chain management can effectively help companies to grow by following proper supplier contracts and codes of conduct? If yes, please explain why.	Yes, by adopting the ethical supply chai n management this organization can follows the smooth path and the productivity of the firms can enhance effectively.
Do you believe Ethical supply chain management can resolve the issues related to business interruption? Please indicate how.	By adopting the Ethical supply chain management the interruption of the business can resolve effectively. Because it can sustain the environment of the organization in good ways.
Do you believe that through Ethical supply chain management your company is avoiding issues related to the reputational damage? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, it is the good way to avoiding issues related to the reputational damage by enhancing the performance of the organization. An organization performance can enhance effectively.
Do you believe that through assuring supply chain ethics your company is marinating its transparency and visibility? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, the visibility and transparency of the organization can be marinated in good ways by enhancing its productivity and the entire performance in the market.
Do you believe that your company is retaining its worker force and improving its labour conditions by considering efficient practices of ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, the labour conditions and work force can improve in good way by adopting the efficient practices of the ethical supply chain management. It is the good way to impress the labours of the organization.
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is fighting against corruption example, bribery, and extortion? If yes, please explain how	Yes, ethics and ethical supply chain management and practices are the good source to control any kinds of the corruption with in the organization. The code conduct of the organization leads towards the good rules of the honesty.
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is making the better efforts to uphold environmental responsibility Please indicate how.	An environmental responsibility can be effectively implemented by adopting the accurate ways and forms of the ethical supply chain management.
Do you believe that your company is effectively defending human rights in through considering Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	In this organization an entire code of conducts are follows. There is the proper department for the employee fairs and problems. Meanwhile HR of the organization is so keening to apply and implement the practices of the Ethical supply chain management for defending the human rights.

Participant 2

How would you describe the supply chain management culture at your place of employment?	In this organization, the rules and regulation of the supply chain management are implemented properly. The complete and proper process of the procurement to end product is the part of the culture of the supply chain management.
Do you feel that your organisation practises Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please provide an example of how.	Yes, this organization is practicing ethical supply chain management by optimizing transportation routes to reduce fuel consumption; monitoring environmental risks. It also includes various other things of the ethical supply chain management.
In supply chain management what factors are affecting the ethical procedures?	The factors contributing to unhealthy decision making of companies are Growing demand for low cost products, fierce business competition, and easier availability of counterfeit products.
Do you believe that Ethical supply chain management can effectively help companies to grow by following proper supplier contracts and codes of conduct? If yes, please explain why.	It cannot be said that the ethical supply chain management is enough to help companies to grow by following proper supplier contracts and codes of conduct. It also needs the employees’ training program.
Do you believe Ethical supply chain management can resolve the issues related to business interruption? Please indicate how.	Yes, it can said that by adopting the ethical supply chain management the issues of the business interruption can be solved out because it offers the proper code of ethics for organization.
Do you believe that through Ethical supply chain management your company is avoiding issues related to the reputational damage? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, by using the ethical supply chain management the issues can be avoided related reputational damage that can come from human trafficking, forced labour, child labour, or other human rights abuses in its supply chain.
Do you believe that through assuring supply chain ethics your company is marinating its transparency and visibility? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, it is the good way to marinating its transparency and visibility. The entire organizations are seeking for this.
Do you believe that your company is retaining its worker force and improving its labour conditions by considering efficient practices of ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	No, it cannot be said that only by adopting the ethical supply chain management labour conditions can be improved.
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is fighting against corruption example, bribery, and extortion? If yes, please explain how	Yes, its good ways to control the bribery, and extortion. These are the good source for fighting against corruption because ethics offers the chance to improve the productivity of  the organization.
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is making the better efforts to uphold environmental responsibility Please indicate how.	Yes, implementing ethical supply chain management your company is making the better efforts to uphold environmental responsibility. It offers the good chance to improve the organization.
Do you believe that your company is effectively defending human rights in through considering Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, in this organization the entire code of conducts is follows effectively. Because this firm is really keening for their employees and their health related issues.

Participant 3

How would you describe the supply chain management culture at your place of employment?	Logistics providers are responsible for the movement of goods and face different cultural challenges in each region that these goods move. In this organization all of these rules are follows properly.
Do you feel that your organisation practises Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please provide an example of how.	Yes our organization is practising ethical supply chain by implementing technology in this organization. It includes IoT sensors, block chain, AI-driven bots and advanced real-time analytics can help detect risk, boost efficiency
In supply chain management what factors are affecting the ethical procedures?	There are several factors fierce business competition, easier availability of counterfeit products etc., are major drivers, according to companies.
Do you believe that Ethical supply chain management can effectively help companies to grow by following proper supplier contracts and codes of conduct? If yes, please explain why.	According to my views y, an ethical supply chain is good for business and those that don’t invest in it are at risk of being left behind. It is the positive tools for the practices of the supplier contracts
Do you believe Ethical supply chain management can resolve the issues related to business interruption? Please indicate how.	Yes, by offering the good rules and effective and authentic code of conduct the supply chain management can improve the performance of the organization
Do you believe that through Ethical supply chain management your company is avoiding issues related to the reputational damage? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, it can used to protect from the damage to the brand and the reputation of company is often more significant than potential penalties or other civil liability.
Do you believe that through assuring supply chain ethics your company is marinating its transparency and visibility? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, the visibility and transparency of the organization can be assured by adopting ethical supply chain management.
Do you believe that your company is retaining its worker force and improving its labour conditions by considering efficient practices of ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	It has been observed that 57% of the implementation of the ethical Supply chain management are monitoring labour condition
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is fighting against corruption example, bribery, and extortion? If yes, please explain how	It has been observed that 56% are fighting corruption (extortion, bribery) by adopting the ethical supply chain management.
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is making the better efforts to uphold environmental responsibility Please indicate how.	According to the statics of the report there are only 63% are making efforts to uphold environmental responsibility. 55% are deploying environmentally-friendly technologies
Do you believe that your company is effectively defending human rights in through considering Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, in our organization there are the proper practices for defending the human rights by considering ethical supply chain management.

Participant 4 of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

How would you describe the supply chain management culture at your place of employment?	In this organization all of the functions are solved according to the proper functions of the supply chain management. The supply chain management is practises in good way in this organization.
Do you feel that your organisation practises Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please provide an example of how.	Yes, the bottom line is that as an increasing number of consumers demand social responsibility from brands in exchange for loyalty.
In supply chain management what factors are affecting the ethical procedures?	Product innovation, cheaper but suitable alternatives of existing raw materials, effective supplier shortlisting process etc., are some of the measures a successful company adopts and practices.
Do you believe that Ethical supply chain management can effectively help companies to grow by following proper supplier contracts and codes of conduct? If yes, please explain why.	The supplier contracts can easily grow and promote by adopting the ethical supply chain managagent.
Do you believe Ethical supply chain management can resolve the issues related to business interruption? Please indicate how.	·         The issues related to the Personal Integrity, Transparency and accountability can resolve the business intrerupotion.
Do you believe that through Ethical supply chain management your company is avoiding issues related to the reputational damage? If yes, please explain how.	By adopting the ethical supply chain management, It can impact consumers, as well as investors, employees, applicants, and business partners.
Do you believe that through assuring supply chain ethics your company is marinating its transparency and visibility? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, visibility and transparency is marinated by the adopting the ethical supply chain management.
Do you believe that your company is retaining its worker force and improving its labour conditions by considering efficient practices of ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	The conditions of the labour and work force can improved effectively by adopting and using this ethical supply chain management and its good source to grow and improve the productivity of the oragnization.
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is fighting against corruption example, bribery, and extortion? If yes, please explain how	Yes, it is the good ways to control the corruption and bribery of the organization. An ethical supply chain management is considered as the effective source to omit the bribery from organization.
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is making the better efforts to uphold environmental responsibility Please indicate how.	The environment of the organization can be effective and good by adopting the ethical supply chain in the organization.
Do you believe that your company is effectively defending human rights in through considering Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, this organization is effectively implementing the rules and regulations for defending human rights in

Prticipant 5

How would you describe the supply chain management culture at your place of employment?	Supply chain management is the good source to running the organization. The ethical supply chain can easily protect and promote the organization.
Do you feel that your organisation practises Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please provide an example of how.	Yes, in this organization ethical supply chain management is practising by using various technologies. It includes AI-driven bots and advanced real-time analytics can help detect risk, boost efficiency, reduce redundancies and improve planning
In supply chain management what factors are affecting the ethical procedures?	Compliance and continuous improvement are considered as the major factors that are affecting the ethical procedures
Do you believe that Ethical supply chain management can effectively help companies to grow by following proper supplier contracts and codes of conduct? If yes, please explain why.	Yes, supplier contract and code of conducts are the good source for adopting the ethical supply chain management.
Do you believe Ethical supply chain management can resolve the issues related to business interruption? Please indicate how.	Yes, it can because it provides the source to perform the effective practices in the organization.
Do you believe that through Ethical supply chain management your company is avoiding issues related to the reputational damage? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, it can by considering the NGOs, the media, and others are actively investigating human rights abuses. These companies do not want them to find those abuses as part of their products or services.
Do you believe that through assuring supply chain ethics your company is marinating its transparency and visibility? If yes, please explain how.	Yes, the visibility and transparency is marinating by ethical supply chain management.
Do you believe that your company is retaining its worker force and improving its labour conditions by considering efficient practices of ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	By considering the effective work force and labour conditions are the good source for implementing this.
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is fighting against corruption example, bribery, and extortion? If yes, please explain how	Yes, it is the good source to control the corruption example, bribery, and extortion.
Do you believe that through implementing ethical supply chain management your company is making the better efforts to uphold environmental responsibility Please indicate how.	Yes, it can
Do you believe that your company is effectively defending human rights in through considering Ethical supply chain management? If yes, please explain how.	This firms is only considering the respects and defending the human rights.

Conclusion and recommendation of an investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM
Conclusion of an investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

By summing up entire discussion it has been concluded that there is numerous organizations that are engaged in implementing and adopting the ethical practices for their various functions. They are implementing ethical practices in the organization for the various great extents. There are the various kinds of the ethical practices that are adopted by the organizations. It includes; fairness, stewardships, fair remuneration, transparency, code of conduct, intellectual protection, and better working condition and CSR adherence.  There are numerous other ethical practices that are implemented in the organizations and it has been adopted in the particular places that include rules establishments that are related to accept the gifts from the governments as well as various other associates. It also includes the arrangements of the coverage of the insurance. It has been concluded that the performance of the supply chain is affected by the various ethical practices in effective manners and greater extent. The quality of the services and goods can be improved by the ethical practices. It also can improve quality of the services that are supplied to the organizations. The ethical practices are also leading to increase the efficiency of the organization in good ways.    

Recommendations of An investigation into the factors affecting ethical procedures within SCM

Under this section of the research study various recommendations are presented for the practices and policies that are linked to offering the suggestions for further studies.  It has been observed in this study that performance of the supply chain is affected in the greater extent by offering the various ethical practices that are adopted by the organization. It has been recommended that the organization must enhance the ethical practices to run their functions and business in smooth ways. The ethical practices in the supply chain of the organization ensure that all of the suppliers have equal rights and equal opportunity to bid. They have equal opportunity to supply the products and services in the organization.