Discussion response

Sustainability Practices in Business-to-Business Markets

Huang, Surface, and Zhang (2022), examine the dynamics between companies and their supply chain partners, especially in regard to the distribution of their products. The authors completed a literature review from multiple disciplines within the field of business to develop an understanding of how corporate social responsibility and sustainability practices impact how products are distributed as well as how supply chain partners are chosen. The research concludes that a growing emphasis is being placed on social and environmental considerations when selecting supply chain partners and distributors, this emphasis is to lessen the likelihood of consumer backlash and show that companies are considering the future of the planet and growth of society in regard to human rights and equality. These factors must be coupled with the need for distributors to have the means and ability to get products in front of the intended target market for products to ensure value in the supply chain.

Customer-Driving Capabilities

Wang, Zhao, and Gu (2021), examine the dynamics between distributors and suppliers in direct sales to consumers. They look to understand how suppliers direct selling products to customers impacts their distributors sales for those products. The research suggests that, through their customer-driving capabilities, distributors build strong relationships within the market and tend to make up the majority of the sales of products even over the supplier. Research suggests that distributors tend develop stronger networks for developing sales within the market than the supplier is capable of developing, partially due to the fact that the distributor maintains attention on the market and sales channels, whereas the suppliers must focus energy and effort on developing and producing the products. The research also suggests that distributors which react by utilizing value creating methods see greater success in holding onto sales and maintaining a stronger market presence in the sale of products to end-users. The research suggests that most suppliers are aware of the market dynamic and tend to lean toward the use of distributors while still offering their products through direct sales channels.

Smart Contracts

Liang Guo (2025) examines the dynamics in supplier and distributor contracts, as well as how these contracts generate value throughout the supply chain. This research looks at how to develop supply chain contracts that generate wealth throughout the supply chain while still giving each party within the supply chain leverage in supply chain decisions. By allowing all parties within the supply chain to maintain some level of leverage within supply chain decisions it aids in ensuring that members of the supply chain can ensure that they are receiving profits for the surplus that is generated within the supply chain, this allows to ensure that all portions of the supply chain are compensated proportionately and it maintains the overall health of the supply chain.

Biblical Integration

Business relationships are like the relationships of the members of the church, 1 Corinthians 12:12 says "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body so it is with Christ" (New International Bible, 1978/2022, 1 Corinthians 12:12). In this verse Paul is pointing out to the church in Corinth, that God has blessed believers with differing spiritual gifts to ensure that the church can meet the many needs of people together. This verse can be applied to a supply chain as well, as seen in the research, differing points in the supply chain have differing abilities that when combined can deliver a product to a consumer in as efficient a manner as possible. This pushes businesses toward developing just and fair supply chains in which all parties receive their appropriate portion of the surplus generated. In Micah 6, God is telling of the transgressions of Israel in 6:8 he says "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (New International Bible, 1978/2022, Micah 6:8). God's calling to all of people is that they act justly and show mercy and compassion toward others, this should be applied to supply chains as well. Scripture further tells us that in dealings, people should always do what is honorable. In Romans 12:17, scripture says "Do not anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone" (New International Bible, 1978/2022, Romans 12:17). This scripture aligns with the sentiment of Micah 6:8, that people must treat others justly, but this scripture emphasizes that even in times that others act unjustly, people must remember that they are of Christ and are expected to act as Christ would.

Conclusion

The strategies emphasized by the current research illuminate how the teachings of the Bible should be applied to daily business dealings. Huang et al. (2022), aligns with the sentiment found in Micah 6:8, we are called to act justly to ensure the continued successes of our businesses as well other people. Guo (2025) aligns with the scripture verse in Romans 12:17, all members of a supply chain must emphasize the success within the rest of the supply chain, if members within the supply chain become greedy other portions will suffer causing the entire supply chain to fail. Finally, Wang et al. (2021), aligns with 1 Corinthians 12:12, it emphasizes the importance of the differing abilities of the members of the supply chain just as the verse emphasizes the importance of the differing spiritual gifts of believers. These all illustrate how intertwined scriptural teachings are into daily life and business interactions.

References

Guo, L. (2025). Smart contracts in supply chains. Journal of Marketing Research, 62(4), 721-739. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222437251314003

Huang, Y., Surface, D. L., & Zhang, C. (2022). Corporate social responsibility and sustainability practices in B2B markets: A review and research agenda. Industrial Marketing Management., 106, 219–239.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2022.08.016

New International Bible. (2022). Tyndale House Publishers. (Original work published 1978)

Wang, M., Zhao, D., & Gu, F. F. (2021). Distributors' customer-driving capability under supplier encroachment. Industrial Marketing Management, 94, 52-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2021.02.007