Social responsiveness within the Russian arctic supply chains : evidence from isolated communities through the anthropological view

Abstract

This chapter focuses on social responsiveness initiatives in supply chain management (SCM) and explores how local residents in the isolated northern settlements of the White Sea respond to social needs and develop socially responsible food supply chains in Arctic local communities. Data from 50 semi-structured and in-depth interviews with local respondents and authorities of 13 northern island and coastal settlements of the White Sea were interpreted through an anthropological approach. Our findings reveal that local residents’ social responsiveness is essentially a “response” to economic challenges and, as a rule, is advocated by the need for the adaptation and maintenance of mobility, which is initiated and carried out by residents or entrepreneurs, mostly without much support from local authorities. Further, commitment and trust play a powerful mediating role in integrating SCM practices and social exchange. Additionally, our findings show that social issues and cultural attributes can be both a challenge and a source of innovation and inspiration within existing SCM practices. Our study extends current knowledge regarding how social responsibility principles and responsiveness enable supply chains to contribute to the needs of local communities in terms of the values of the northern settlements’ society.