INFORMAL LABOR INTERMEDIATION IN GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS: A VALUE INTERMEDIATION PERSPECTIVE

Vivek Soundararajan, Andrew Crane, Michael Bloomfield, Laura J. Spence, Genevieve Lebaron

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceedingChapter in a published conference proceeding

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

The majority of the existing literature portrays informal labor intermediation as irresponsible. Still, it remains an important route through which lower-tier suppliers in global supply chains recruit workers. There is only a limited understanding of the activities through which informal labor intermediation is performed and how these activities can be responsible. We address this gap through in-depth qualitative research of informal labor intermediation activities through which workers obtain employment in factories in a South Indian knitwear garment exporting cluster. We build on an economic-sociological understanding of value and value intermediation. Our findings demonstrate that local supply-side (worker community) and demand-side (suppliers) actors define responsible informal intermediation activities as those offering plural forms of value, namely transparency, accessibility, safety, autonomy, and boundary spanning. We find four mundane value intermediation activities through which responsible informal labor intermediation is performed, namely informal scoping, informal distributing, informal matchmaking, and informal consulting. Our study contributes to research on sustainable supply chains, labor governance in supply chains, and value intermediation.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAcademy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings
PublisherAcademy of Management
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Jul 2021
Event81st Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management 2021: Bringing the Manager Back in Management, AoM 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 29 Jul 20214 Aug 2021

Conference

Conference81st Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management 2021: Bringing the Manager Back in Management, AoM 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period29/07/214/08/21

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Industrial relations
  • Management Information Systems
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

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