THE ROLE OF SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT IN ACHIEVING SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY IN SAUDI ARABIA: A CASE STUDY OF ALMARAI CO

Abstract

This research explores the role of supplier relationship management to reduce CO2 emissions from suppliers to achieve origination sustainability goals. The study is an effort to explore this relationship with regards to the CO2 reduction goals of a selected organisation. The interpretivist epistemological position was used to explore the organisation’s supply chain management (SCM) point of views on the selected topic. Because the researcher is part of the organisation, the researcher is also involved in the efforts of the organisation and understands the complexity of the organisation’s supplier relationship management aimed at reducing CO2 emission from suppliers. Qualitative research methods and the inductive research approach are used in this research to explore the issues in-depth. Data is collected using semi-structured interviews from a sample of ten supply chain managers from the selected organisation in Saudi Arabia. Thematic analyses are employed to analyse the data. Four themes have been extracted from the data. Results show that a balanced implementation of the corporate economic and social responsibilities in the organisation plays a vital role in creating the best relationship with suppliers.