5. Conclusion and Future research
This study makes a number of theoretical contributions to SSCM in developing countries. First, it is the first literature review (to the best of our knowledge) that examines existing literature addressing SSCM with a focus on developing countries for both, social and environmental sustainability using a systematic approach. Previous reviews have focused either on the definition of SSCM (Seuring and Müller, 2008) or examples for either environmental or social sustainability (Fahimnia et al., 2015; Yawar and Seuring, 2015; Zorzini et al., 2015). We found that there is little research based on private sectors in developing countries, with the extant research largely spread across different journals and disciplines. Case studies tend to be documented in journals with a regional or local remit. Second, this paper provides a comprehensive conceptual framework integrating drivers, barriers, mechanisms and outcomes for both buying firms from developed countries sourcing from developing economies and supplying companies in developing countries. In this framework, drivers are classified using institutional theory foundations. The division of ex ante and ex post barriers present novel ways of examining barriers while implementing a sustainability effort. The classification of instruments according to their compulsory/collaborative nature, as well as the inclusion of economic, social and environmental outcomes provides a comprehensive framework for future research and reference. Third, based on the literature review a number of actionable directions for future research, linked to the aforementioned research themes, are suggested for researchers to address in the future.
