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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 11, No. 2.2

Publication Date: February 25, 2024

DOI:10.14738/assrj.112.2.16423.

Mokhtar, A. R. M., Sundram, V. P. K., & Shahrom, M. (2024). Sustainable Supply Chain Management Education: Employing Artificial

Intelligence, Augmented Reality, and Gamification for Effective Learning. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(2.2).

437-451.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Sustainable Supply Chain Management Education: Employing

Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, and Gamification for

Effective Learning

Ahmad Rais Mohamad Mokhtar

*Corresponding Author: ahmadraismm@uitm.edu.my

Sustainable Supply Chain Logistics Research Initiative Group, Faculty of Business

and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Malaysia

and Department of Technology and Supply Chain Management, Faculty of

Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus,

Malaysia

Veera Pandiyan Kaliani Sundram

veera692@uitm.edu.my

Sustainable Supply Chain Logistics Research Initiative Group, Faculty of Business

and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Malaysia

and Department of Technology and Supply Chain Management, Faculty of

Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus,

Malaysia

Melissa Shahrom

melissa@uitm.edu.my

Department of Technology and Supply Chain Management, Faculty of Business

and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Sustainable supply chain management education has assumed critical importance

in today's context of evolving environmental, economic, and social sustainability

objectives. The growing complexity of supply chain management underscores the

necessity for acquiring new competencies to navigate these challenges.

Furthermore, as businesses are compelled to enhance their practices with

heightened awareness of environmental issues, the imperative for sustainable

management becomes increasingly evident. Future business leaders or supply

chain managers, particularly higher learning institution’s students, should be able

to demonstrate the ability to navigate and harness the collective environmental

intelligence within their supply networks, promoting the principles of

environmental sustainability. This study aims to examine the impact of immersive

learning (artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and gamification) towards

education, in the context of understanding sustainable supply chain management

(SSCM) practices and concepts. The study used a cross-sectional survey approach

with a purposive sampling technique to collect data from 204 respondents. The

findings of this study suggest that immersive learning techniques are significant

and positive factors that contribute to SSCM education. The evidence presented

suggests that artificial intelligence and gamification serve as transformative tools,

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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 11, Issue 2.2, February-2024

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

enhancing students' comprehension of SSCM concepts and fostering a genuine

interest in adopting more sustainable business practices. In essence, this research

reinforces the indispensability of sustainable supply chain education in equipping

future business leaders with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the

complexities of contemporary SC management while championing environmental,

economic, and social sustainability goals.

Keywords: sustainability, supply chain, immersive learning, artificial intelligence,

augmented reality, gamification, education

INTRODUCTION

Sustainability has evolved into a pervasive theme within both the contemporary business

sphere and broader society, emerging as a ubiquitous and crucial topic. The salience of the

sustainability concept is manifest through its recurrent representation in scholarly discourse,

wherein scholarly publications and business literature consistently feature discussions on

responsible consumption and production practices (such as sustainable procurement) [1]. This

heightened awareness of environmental issues can be attributed to various catalysts, including

the evolving dynamics of energy consumption, a deeper comprehension of climate science, and

an escalating demand for transparency in the environmental and social actions of organizations

[2].

Businesses must recognise that sustainability challenges are not only topics of discussion, but

rather have substantial importance. Stakeholders are increasingly expecting organisations to

acknowledge and actively handle the environmental and social effects resulting from their

activities [3]. Among these stakeholders are customers, regulatory bodies, non-governmental

organizations, and employees, all of whom exert pressure on organizations to adopt

responsible practices [4]. Supply chain managers, positioned at a pivotal nexus, wield

considerable influence over environmental and social performance through strategic decisions

such as supplier selection, supplier development, modal and carrier choices, vehicle routing,

location decisions, and packaging selections [5].

However, the journey towards a sustainable supply chain is fraught with challenges for supply

chain managers. Pressures from various stakeholders present formidable hurdles as they seek

to integrate sustainable practices into the intricacies of supply chain management [6], [7]. A

truly sustainable supply chain demands a multifaceted approach encompassing

environmentally friendly packaging, the facilitation of end-of-life product returns, eco-friendly

handling of returns, robust recycling processes, remanufacturing initiatives, and the

implementation of proper waste disposal strategies.

Furthermore, a critical impediment, particularly pronounced in emerging economies, lies in the

limited education and exposure to the principles and practices of sustainable supply chain

management (SSCM) [8]. Bridging this educational gap becomes imperative for fostering

widespread adoption of sustainable practices. Education equips future supply chain managers

with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of sustainable supply

chain management, ensuring that they can make informed decisions that align with

environmental and social sustainability goals [9]. Moreover, education plays a pivotal role in

instilling a culture of sustainability within organizations, inspiring a mindset shift towards

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Mokhtar, A. R. M., Sundram, V. P. K., & Shahrom, M. (2024). Sustainable Supply Chain Management Education: Employing Artificial Intelligence,

Augmented Reality, and Gamification for Effective Learning. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(2.2). 437-451.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.112.2.16423

responsible and environmentally conscious practices throughout the entire supply chain. In

essence, education emerges as a linchpin in cultivating the awareness, understanding, and

commitment needed to drive the integration of sustainable practices, thereby fostering resilient

and ethically grounded global supply chains [8], [10].

In fostering SSCM education, immersive learning technologies hold considerable

transformative potential. This technological suite presents innovative pathways for educational

and training endeavours, facilitating a more profound grasp of SSCM principles and instilling a

forward-thinking approach to sustainable practices in the minds of upcoming business leaders.

While extensive research has been conducted on immersive learning and education, the

literature lacks a single study adequately describing its impact on supply chain education,

particularly from the perspective of higher learning institutions [11]. Despite the recent

emerging interest in the concept of immersive learning, existing studies predominantly focus

on conventional courses in the business and management domain, such as finance and

economics. This study aims to examine a research framework for the integration of three main

techniques in immersive learning to enhance students' understanding of the SSCM concept and

practices. To achieve the objective of this study, the following questions have been formulated:

“Do immersive learning has a positive influence on SSCM education?”

The proposed research framework aims to contribute to the existing literature by integrating

three technologies of immersive learning and examining their impact on SSCM education. The

framework will highlight the interplay between these three variables and the positive influence

they can exert on improving students’ understanding and comprehension. This paper is

organized as follows: Section 2 provides a literature review discussing the role of immersive

learning in fostering SSCM education, including theoretical arguments and proposed

hypotheses. Employed research methods are presented in Section 3, while findings are

illustrated in Section 4 and discussed in Section 5. Section 6 concludes the paper with a

discussion of potential opportunities for future research.

LITERATURE REVIEW AND HYPOTHESES DEVELOPMENT

Education and Sustainable Supply Chain Management

The complex field of supply chain management is permeated by the necessity of sustainability,

which is characterised by the deliberate integration of environmental, economic, and social

goals simultaneously [12], [13]. There has been a substantial paradigm change brought about

by sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), which is characterised by the planned and

transparent orchestration of activities along the supply chain. Within the context of the modern

business climate, companies operating in a variety of sectors are required to behave

responsibly. This requires them to make a commitment to the preservation of the environment

and to the openness of their operations, all while pursuing strategies that maximise profits [14].

Organisations that include sustainability across their supply chains not only establish

themselves as organisations that do not engage in exploitative tactics, but they also position

themselves as prospective outperformers in comparison to competitors that are less sensitive

to responsible practices. It is a purposeful effort to create a harmonic balance between

economic success, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship, and the application of

SSCM principles symbolises that intentional effort. This effort is directed both inside the limits

of the organisation and throughout the supply networks that are interrelated.