Volume 12, Issue 2 (12-2025)
J Entrepreneurial Strategies Agric 2025, 12(2): 60-75 |
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Abdili Salem N, Pashazadeh Y. (2025). The Impact of Sustainable and Customer-Oriented Supply Chains and Social Capital on the Financial Performance of Startups and Active Companies in the Agricultural Secto. J Entrepreneurial Strategies Agric. 12(2), 60-75. doi:10.61882/jea.2025.412
URL: http://jea.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-412-en.html
URL: http://jea.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-412-en.html
1- Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Management, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Abstract: (165 Views)
Background: Considering the importance of the agricultural supply chain in promoting the production and processing of products, this sector has not played its actual role in Iran's economy. Additionally, agriculture is one of the main sources of employment and income, and its sustainability contributes to the stability of rural economies and environmental health within agricultural systems and rural communities. One of the key factors influencing this is social capital, as achieving sustainable development is not possible without increased participation, trust, and cohesion. Given the significance of these issues, the present study aims to examine the impact of the sustainable supply chain strategy, customer-centric sourcing, and second-order social capital of customers and suppliers on the financial performance of startups and active companies in Iran's agricultural sector and agro-industries.
Methods: This applied research in terms of the purpose is a descriptive-survey study regarding the implementation method. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad and the Agricultural Startups Association, the studied statistical population included 200 new and active companies in the agricultural sector. According to the Krejci-Morgan table, 127 companies were selected as a sample in 2024, and questionnaires were distributed to participants through social networks and e-mails. The sample members were selected using the simple random sampling method. The measurement instruments included a second-order social capital questionnaire, supply chain (sustainable, customer-oriented), green innovation, and financial performance, for all of which Cronbach's alpha coefficients were above 0.7. SPSS26. SmartPLS4 software was used for data analysis.
Results: The analyzed data of the research showed that the sustainable and customer-oriented supply chain strategy could positively and significantly affect green innovation and the company's financial performance. Moreover, the relationship between sustainable and customer-oriented supply chain and financial performance was confirmed through the effect of green innovation as the mediator variable. However, the effect of suppliers' social capital was confirmed on green innovation, while it was not confirmed on financial performance. In addition, green innovation showed a positive and significant effect on financial performance. Finally, the direct effect of customers' social capital on financial performance and its indirect effect with the mediator role of green innovation were not significant and were not confirmed.
Conclusion: The research findings show that adopting an appropriate supply chain strategy with a sustainability and customer-oriented approach plays a key and vital role in improving the financial status of startup and active companies in the agricultural sector. The findings also indicate that second-order social capital, which leads to stronger connections between startup companies, customers, and suppliers, can improve the company's financial performance. Therefore, by examining the findings of the present study and past research, it can be concluded that, given the dynamic and complex environmental conditions, startup companies need to employ effective and appropriate strategies in developing and improving their supply chain management to continue their activities; in this regard, they can emphasize and rely on a sustainability and customer-centric strategy. On the other hand, with the increasing importance of environmental issues and the expansion of the number of companies, an increase is witnessed in options for customers and challenges in the selling and supplying process of products, as well as in improving the financial performance of companies. In order for companies to continue their activities and growth in these conditions, it is necessary to adopt specific strategies to deal with environmental challenges. Supply chain variables and social capital are the variables that can help companies improve their financial performance and achieve these goals. Companies active in the agricultural sector play a vital role in environmental protection and sustainable development, and paying attention to this sector can also help improve the environmental status of society and people’s quality of life. Furthermore, using a sustainable supply chain and meeting diverse customer needs to maintain market share, along with developing social capital, can optimize the solution of financial and operational problems of companies. Therefore, the second-order social capital variable, which includes wider networks than the first-order social capital, can provide access to resources and information necessary to deal with environmental challenges through these networks, which has not been considered by researchers in previous studies. In addition, the research findings show that green innovation is recognized as a vital tool for the supply chain in the field of sustainability and plays the role of a mediating variable in the relationship between the supply chain and social capital with the financial performance of startups.
Methods: This applied research in terms of the purpose is a descriptive-survey study regarding the implementation method. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad and the Agricultural Startups Association, the studied statistical population included 200 new and active companies in the agricultural sector. According to the Krejci-Morgan table, 127 companies were selected as a sample in 2024, and questionnaires were distributed to participants through social networks and e-mails. The sample members were selected using the simple random sampling method. The measurement instruments included a second-order social capital questionnaire, supply chain (sustainable, customer-oriented), green innovation, and financial performance, for all of which Cronbach's alpha coefficients were above 0.7. SPSS26. SmartPLS4 software was used for data analysis.
Results: The analyzed data of the research showed that the sustainable and customer-oriented supply chain strategy could positively and significantly affect green innovation and the company's financial performance. Moreover, the relationship between sustainable and customer-oriented supply chain and financial performance was confirmed through the effect of green innovation as the mediator variable. However, the effect of suppliers' social capital was confirmed on green innovation, while it was not confirmed on financial performance. In addition, green innovation showed a positive and significant effect on financial performance. Finally, the direct effect of customers' social capital on financial performance and its indirect effect with the mediator role of green innovation were not significant and were not confirmed.
Conclusion: The research findings show that adopting an appropriate supply chain strategy with a sustainability and customer-oriented approach plays a key and vital role in improving the financial status of startup and active companies in the agricultural sector. The findings also indicate that second-order social capital, which leads to stronger connections between startup companies, customers, and suppliers, can improve the company's financial performance. Therefore, by examining the findings of the present study and past research, it can be concluded that, given the dynamic and complex environmental conditions, startup companies need to employ effective and appropriate strategies in developing and improving their supply chain management to continue their activities; in this regard, they can emphasize and rely on a sustainability and customer-centric strategy. On the other hand, with the increasing importance of environmental issues and the expansion of the number of companies, an increase is witnessed in options for customers and challenges in the selling and supplying process of products, as well as in improving the financial performance of companies. In order for companies to continue their activities and growth in these conditions, it is necessary to adopt specific strategies to deal with environmental challenges. Supply chain variables and social capital are the variables that can help companies improve their financial performance and achieve these goals. Companies active in the agricultural sector play a vital role in environmental protection and sustainable development, and paying attention to this sector can also help improve the environmental status of society and people’s quality of life. Furthermore, using a sustainable supply chain and meeting diverse customer needs to maintain market share, along with developing social capital, can optimize the solution of financial and operational problems of companies. Therefore, the second-order social capital variable, which includes wider networks than the first-order social capital, can provide access to resources and information necessary to deal with environmental challenges through these networks, which has not been considered by researchers in previous studies. In addition, the research findings show that green innovation is recognized as a vital tool for the supply chain in the field of sustainability and plays the role of a mediating variable in the relationship between the supply chain and social capital with the financial performance of startups.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
تحقیق و توسعه و نوآوری
Received: 2025/01/21 | Accepted: 2025/05/26
Received: 2025/01/21 | Accepted: 2025/05/26
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