Selection Criteria of Supply Chain Aspects for Green Management in Business - Ford Australia

This research study emphasizes on the aspect through which an organization can attain the green supply chain management. The research aims for identifying the different aspects of the supply chain where green management can be incorporated for better business outcome in automobile industry. The organization that is taken into consideration is Ford Australia and the proposal also intends to highlight the importance of adopting green supply chain management.

Running head: INTEGRATED BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROJECT
Integrated Business Management Project
Research topic: Selection criteria of supply chain aspects for green management in business-
Ford Australia
Name of the student
Name of the University

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Background of the study..............................................................................................................3
1.2 Problem Statement.......................................................................................................................3
1.3 Research aims..............................................................................................................................3
1.4 Research objectives.....................................................................................................................4
1.5 Research questions.......................................................................................................................4
2.0 Literature review..............................................................................................................................4
2.1 Drivers for greener supply chain management............................................................................4
2.1.1 Increase in the energy cost....................................................................................................4
2.1.2 Climate Change....................................................................................................................5
2.2 Benefits of green supply chain management...............................................................................5
2.2.1 Transportation route optimization........................................................................................5
2.2.2 Automation of transportation planning.................................................................................5
3.0 Methodology....................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Research philosophy....................................................................................................................5
3.2 Research approach.......................................................................................................................5
3.3 Research design...........................................................................................................................6
3.4 Data collection method................................................................................................................6
3.5 Sampling method and sampling size...........................................................................................6

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3.6 Data analysis technique...............................................................................................................6
3.7 Research ethical consideration....................................................................................................7
3.8 Timeline of the research..............................................................................................................7
4.0 Reference List..................................................................................................................................8

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1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
Green Jr et al. (2012) stated that integrating environmental thinking in the supply chain
management of the entire business process refers to as green supply chain management. Sarki
(2012) furthermore depict that effective supply chain helps in optimizing the business operation
in order to optimize the speed and efficacy of the entire business process. Thus, implementing
green technology in the supply chain will enhance the sustainability of the process and improve
commitment of the customers towards the brand. This research study will emphasize on the
aspect through which an organization can attain the green supply chain management.
1.2 Problem Statement
Zhu, Sarkis and Lai (2013) stated that people become more knowledgeable concerning
the issues of global warming and climate change. Thus, the chances for the consumer to ask the
company how effective are their technology for the environment. Tseng and Chiu (2013)
furthermore depicted that in traditional times, company focuses on the total quality management,
best services and optimum cost but in recent times, the company need to incorporate the
environmental idea not only for their products manufacturing but also for the service in the
supply chain. Thus, the aspect in which green technology or initiative can be taken for the
betterment of the supply chain process will be assessed in this research study.
1.3 Research aims
This research aims for identifying the different aspects of the supply chain where green
management can be incorporated for better business outcome in automobile industry. The

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organization that is taken into consideration is Ford Australia and the proposal also intends to
highlight the importance of adopting green supply chain management.
1.4 Research objectives
 To identify the importance of adopting green supply chain management in Ford Australia
 To investigate the aspects where green supply chain management can be implemented in
Ford Australia
 To recommend strategies for improving the green management in supply chain in Ford
Australia
1.5 Research questions
 What is the importance of adopting green supply chain management?
 What are the different aspects where green supply chain management can be
implemented?
2.0 Literature review
2.1 Drivers for greener supply chain management
2.1.1 Increase in the energy cost
In recent times, fuel costs along with cost of raw materials allowed the organization to
focus on more cost effective green alternative (Zhu, Sarkis and Lai 2012). Substitute energy
sources, low power consuming IT solutions and recycling are some of the aspect through which
greener supply chain management can be attained.

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2.1.2 Climate Change
Another inspiring factor for Green IT initiatives is to implement carbon credit obedience
so that the problem of the climate change and global warming can be obtained.
2.2 Benefits of green supply chain management
2.2.1 Transportation route optimization
Mathiyazhagan et al. (2013) stated that this will help the organization to ensure energy
and cost efficient way for transporting the goods from the manufacturing port to the retail outlets.
2.2.2 Automation of transportation planning
This aspect will help the organization to automating the inventory management process
which will reduce the utilization of many natural resources and help the company to achieve
paperless processes (Guang Shi et al. 2012).
3.0 Methodology
3.1 Research philosophy
The philosophy will be realism research philosophy as the data considered for gathering
the data are the employee of the Ford Australia and the other websites articles and sites of the
green initiatives in the supply chain taken by Ford. This process will help in addressing all the
formulated research questions for the study.
3.2 Research approach
The research approach for the study will be deductive as all the research questions will be
answered based on the findings of the literature review and no new theories will be formulated.

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The aspect found from the literature and the outcome from the analysis will be used to assess the
objectives.
3.3 Research design
The research deign proposed for the research study is descriptive, which means that the
answer to each research question will be given based on the findings and outcome and no new
direction will be find after the research.
3.4 Data collection method
The primary and secondary data collection will be adopted. Through the primary
research, the perception of the employee on the different aspect of the supply chain management
in which green initiative can be incorporated will be gathered. The secondary research will be
conducted to find the greener initiative in the supply chain management taken by Ford in other
nations. This will help the company Ford Australia to implement the similar technology based on
the Australian requirement in their Australian company.
3.5 Sampling method and sampling size
Probability sampling technique will be utilized for selecting the employees from the Ford
Australia; while, noon-probability sampling technique will be used for selecting the report and
websites articles based on the green supply chain management in the automobile industry.
3.6 Data analysis technique
In this research study, both the quantitative and qualitative data analysis will be used. The
primary data will be analyzed quantitatively; while, qualitative data analysis to assess the
findings from the secondary data. The quantitative data analysis will be done through correlation
method to identify the most significant aspects for implementing green supply chain

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management in automobile industry. The secondary qualitative data analysis will be analyzed
through thematic analysis.
3.7 Research ethical consideration
All the respondents are provided with consent form which is duly signed by them and not
respondent will be forced to change their answer during the survey process. All the data will be
protected under the legislation Data Protection Act 1998. In case of secondary data, all the
research scholars will be properly credited through the citation in case any quotation or concept
from their research paper will be considered to develop the research study.
3.8 Timeline of the research
Main activities/ stages 1st-2nd
Week
3rd- 4th
Week
5th- 6th
Week
7th-8th
Week
9th- 10th
Week
11th- 12th
Week
Topic Selection
Framing layout of the research
Literature review
Selection of the appropriate
research techniques
Primary data collection
Secondary data collection
Analysis & Interpretation of Data
Collection
Conclusion of the Study
Submission of Final Work
Table 1: Timeline of the research
(Source: Created by Author)

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Dear student,
Kindly note that the requirement file that you have sent for the assignment comprised of 4 tasks:
1. Research Proposal
2. Literature Review
3. Presentation of Findings
4. Research Report
You have escalated regarding the statement of research and the recommended research approach
based on the topic. Kindly note that all these things has been fulfilled in the file ‘Research
proposal’ that has been sent to you. You have also send us some images files on which your
mentor

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4.0 Reference List
Green Jr, K.W., Zelbst, P.J., Meacham, J. and Bhadauria, V.S., 2012. Green supply chain
management practices: impact on performance. Supply Chain Management: An International
Journal, 17(3), pp.290-305.
Guang Shi, V., Lenny Koh, S.C., Baldwin, J. and Cucchiella, F., 2012. Natural resource based
green supply chain management. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 17(1),
pp.54-67.
Mathiyazhagan, K., Govindan, K., NoorulHaq, A. and Geng, Y., 2013. An ISM approach for the
barrier analysis in implementing green supply chain management. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 47, pp.283-297.
Sarkis, J., 2012. A boundaries and flows perspective of green supply chain management. Supply
chain management: an international journal, 17(2), pp.202-216.
Tseng, M.L. and Chiu, A.S., 2013. Evaluating firm's green supply chain management in
linguistic preferences. Journal of cleaner production, 40, pp.22-31.
Zhu, Q., Sarkis, J. and Lai, K.H., 2012. Examining the effects of green supply chain management
practices and their mediations on performance improvements. International journal of
production research, 50(5), pp.1377-1394.