Trust, information sharing and uncertainty: An empirical investigation into their impact on sustainability in service supply chains in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

The idea of sustainability has yet to enjoy its due share in service supply chains. There has been a dearth of literature in this area, predominantly regarding assessing the impact of collaborative attributes on supply chain sustainability. An integrated supply chain model comprising trust, information sharing and uncertainty practices is proposed here to assess their impact on the sustainability of service supply chains in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study conducts a comprehensive literature review to develop constructs and their items. Social exchange theory is used to link these constructs/variables to sustainability. These variables are linked to sustainability through social exchange theory of behaviors. Structural equation modeling is used to test five hypotheses pertaining to the impact of those constructs on sustainability. The results of this study can help managers align and prioritize their investments while targeting sustainability in their partnerships with numerous stakeholders. Several implications and limitations of the study are also outlined at the end of the paper.