Translating Well-Being Data to Elucidate Workers’ Stories in Global Supply Chain Decision-Making: Evidence from Six Years, Eight Countries, and 15,000+ Respondents

Abstract Information: The global apparel industry relies heavily on the labor of millions of factory workers, primarily women, across the world. Historically, these workers have faced poor working conditions, low wages, and a lack of representation in decision-making processes. This presentation explores the power of workers’ well-being data for storytelling, and its potential impact on global supply chain decision-making. We draw upon a groundbreaking study conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Sustainability and Health Initiative for NetPositive Enterprise (SHINE) and Manaus, a social impact research consultancy, which examined the well-being of over 15,000 factory workers in apparel factories located in eight countries across four continents between 2016 and 2022.

In 2016, we started our research by defining well-being and creating a comprehensive survey tool to assess well-being within supply chains. Well-being at work is a positive state in which individuals can function at, or near, their optimal level, and is defined by workers who are happy, healthy, and engaged. Of the key workplace resources, or drivers, we found critical to well-being outcomes is a caring culture, which is one of trust, respect, and fairness. Where available, worker-level well-being drivers and outcomes are analyzed with individual and factory-level productivity (among other key business metrics) data to understand the correlated and causal relationships between well-being and business drivers and outcomes.

Our findings emphasize the importance of centering workers' voices and experiences in supply chain decision-making, as it not only contributes to improved well-being outcomes for these individuals, but also has significant implications for business success. By measuring well-being data through surveys and personal stories, we aim to shed light on the previously underrepresented perspectives of factory workers and demonstrate how their insights can inform decision-making at all levels of the supply chain.

The focus of our presentation will be on how the collection and analysis of well-being data enable decision-makers to better understand the experiences of factory workers and to make more informed decisions that positively impact both business and well-being outcomes. We will discuss our experiences using various methods to collect well-being data, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups, and share stories that highlight the importance of centering workers' voices in the decision-making process.

Through this research, we hope to demonstrate the importance of making supply chain decisions with workers at the center. By incorporating well-being data into supply chain decision-making, we can create a more equitable and sustainable industry that prioritizes the health, safety, and well-being of its workforce, the majority of whom are women.

Relevance Statement: The proposed conference paper holds substantial relevance and importance to the field of evaluation, as it addresses the need for an inclusive and equitable approach to decision-making within global supply chains, and particularly the apparel industry. The presentation highlights the significance of incorporating worker well-being data into decision-making processes, showcasing the potential impacts of centering well-being on both business outcomes and the well-being of factory workers worldwide.

Through the analysis of survey data and personal stories, our study brings to light the often-overlooked experiences of factory workers, and the ways in which their workplace experiences influence, and are influenced by larger factory-wide outcomes. Importantly, this research brings together previously divergent bodies of literature: those on well-being and health and those of productivity, efficiency, and business dynamics in management, industrial engineering and supply chain discourses.

There are a few key implications of our research for evaluation practice. First, it underscores the necessity of adopting a comprehensive approach that goes beyond traditional financial and operational metrics to incorporate the well-being of workers as a critical indicator of success. By utilizing well-being data, decision-makers can gain a more holistic understanding of the complex relationships between various factors, including working conditions, wages, and employee satisfaction, in shaping overall supply chain performance.

Second, our research highlights the importance of incorporating research subjects’ perspectives into the evaluation process. This inclusive approach to evaluation not only fosters greater equity within the industry but also serves to enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of evaluation practices.

By showcasing real-life stories from factory workers, we hope to inspire evaluators and other stakeholders to embrace an approach to evaluation that centers on the research subjects. This, in turn, can contribute to the development of more equitable and sustainable practices across apparel, and other industries by providing actionable recommendations responsive to the identified needs and experiences of workers themselves.

The proposed conference paper adheres to relevant standards of quality in evaluation theory, methods, and practice. All data was collected in accordance with institutional review board requirements, and great care was taken to ensure all respondents’ confidentiality, safety, and comfort throughout the data collection process. In each country, local partners, researchers, and translators were engaged to ensure everything was conducted in a culturally sensitive and relevant manner, and these partners were also engaged to analyze and contextualize the mixed-methods results across research activities.

The research was funded by the Levi Strauss Foundation. While one aspect of the research is to contribute to academic research, another aspect has been pragmatic - with a focus on providing actionable recommendations, based on workers’ experiences and input, for well-being and supply chain business improvements. Where possible, the results of the surveys have been made available to the workers, and workers have, in several countries, participated in focus group discussions to analyze and provide nuanced context for the evidence collected.