In their doctoral dissertation, M.Sc. (Tech.) Sepehr Ebrahimian Amiri examined how buying companies can promote social sustainability, such as fair labour conditions and respect for human rights, in their supply chains through their relationships with suppliers and through collective industry initiatives. The research shows that trust-based, well-managed buyer–supplier relationships and buyer-led industry collaborations are more effective than audits alone in driving meaningful social improvements across global supply chains. The findings are important because they explain why many current compliance-based approaches fall short and how relational and collective strategies can overcome power imbalances and resource constraints. The results benefit companies, suppliers, and policymakers by offering practical guidance on how to achieve more credible, scalable, and industry-wide improvements in business sustainability.
The doctoral dissertation of M.Sc. (Tech.) Sepehr Ebrahimian Amiri in the field of Business and Technology Management titled Managing Supplier Relationships – Performance, Social Sustainability, and Collective Action will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Management and Business at Tampere University on 23 January 2026.
The Opponent will be Dr Katri Kauppi from the Aalto University School of Business. The Custos will be Dr Mohammad Moshtari from the Faculty of Management and Business at Tampere University.