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Raising the ‘table stakes’? Ethnic minority businesses and supply chain relationships

Author

Listed:
  • Monder Ram

    (De Montfort University, UKÂ)

  • Kassa Woldesenbet

    (De Montfort University, UKÂ)

  • Trevor Jones

    (De Montfort University, UKÂ Â mram@dmu.ac.uk)

Abstract

This article examines the experiences of small ethnic minority-owned businesses (EMBs) engaged in supply chain relationships with large purchasing organizations (LPOs). Working with the complementary frameworks of Edwards et al. (2006) and Kloosterman et al. (1999), we assess the effects on the internal dynamics of EMB firms of a move into the LPO supply chain. Drawing on case study evidence from three sectors – business services, information and communication technology (ICT) and food manufacture - we focus on the experiences of workers, who have been neglected in extant debates. We find that move to supply LPOs is extremely challenging for EMBs. Although workers express satisfaction with working relationships, the power of LPOs contributes to a tightening of control over practices like recruitment, work organization and work hours.

Suggested Citation

  • Monder Ram & Kassa Woldesenbet & Trevor Jones, 2011. "Raising the ‘table stakes’? Ethnic minority businesses and supply chain relationships," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 25(2), pages 309-326, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:25:y:2011:i:2:p:309-326
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017011398896
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Edwards & Monder Ram, 2006. "Surviving on the Margins of the Economy: Working Relationships in Small, Low‐Wage Firms," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 895-916, June.
    2. Robert Kloosterman & Joanne Van Der Leun & Jan Rath, 1999. "Mixed Embeddedness: (In)formal Economic Activities and Immigrant Businesses in the Netherlands," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(2), pages 252-266, June.
    3. Laurie Hunter & Phil Beaumont & Diane Sinclair, 1996. "A ‘Partnership’ Route To Human Resource Management?," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 235-257, March.
    4. James Arrowsmith & Mark W. Gilman & Paul Edwards & Monder Ram, 2003. "The Impact of the National Minimum Wage in Small Firms," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 41(3), pages 435-456, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dimitratos, Pavlos & Buck, Trevor & Fletcher, Margaret & Li, Nicolas, 2016. "The motivation of international entrepreneurship: The case of Chinese transnational entrepreneurs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 1103-1113.
    2. Sara Carter & Samuel Mwaura, 2014. "The Financing of Diverse Enterprises: Evidence from the SME finance monitor," Research Papers 0018, Enterprise Research Centre.

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