Value conflicts and coping strategies among logistics managers in food supply chains: an empirical study

Research shows that food supply chains face persistent economic and ethical challenges, giving rise to problematic consequences including bad employee circumstances and violation of regulations. Managers play a crucial role in engaging with these challenges. This explorative study examines value conflicts underpinning these challenges and the coping strategies adopted by logistics managers. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with mid-level managers responsible for logistics processes such as warehousing and transportation. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis, following a systematic coding procedure to identify, structure and interpret recurring themes and value conflicts and coping strategies. Our findings show that logistics managers experience five different value conflicts and maintain differing coping strategies. Dilemmas occur in connection with the values of employee well-being , workload , sales , efficiency , effectiveness , lawfulness, and process optimization . The most used coping strategies consist of bias , casuistry , and incrementalism . Our findings will help managers to recognize the underpinning values of their day-to-day challenges and tensions in work practice. Our study may also help actors cultivate a better understanding of ethical challenges arising from supply chain dynamics. Such understanding may mitigate the risk of negative consequences in transportation and logistics operations including violation of regulations and excessive workload.