The effect of social responsibility on supplier continuity after disruptions: An experiment with purchasing professionals

Abstract

Although emotions can affect the decision-making process of purchasing professionals, limited attention has been dedicated to how they shape the decision to maintain the relationship with suppliers when the latter behave in a socially irresponsible way. Considering this gap, we build on Appraisal Theory to analyze how guilt and trust affect the decision to continue working with a socially irresponsible supplier when a disruption occurs. We conducted a scenario-based experiment with 148 buyers, in which we simulated an extraordinary situation, and then analyzed the data using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that when a supplier is not socially responsible, buyers experience a feeling of guilt and trust them less, which has a negative impact on their decision to continue working with that supplier. The study also found that the effect of the guilt experienced by the purchasing professional is heightened when the purchased item is strategic. This study highlights the importance of paying attention to purchasers' emotional experiences with suppliers' practices during challenging times, as these can shape buyer-supplier relationships in socially responsible supply chains, select sustainable suppliers, and engage in socially responsible purchasing.