This dissertation investigates how network structures and relational dynamics shape environmental and operational outcomes, with a focus on supply chain systems in manufacturing and service industries. The first two essays examine manufacturing supply networks, emphasizing the role of interfirm relationships in influencing environmental performance and transparency. The first essay explores the impact of downstream firms on the environmental efficiency of upstream suppliers across multi-tier supply chains. Drawing on FactSet Revere and Trucost data from six manufacturing sectors, the analysis reveals that downstream firms’ environmental efficiency positively influences that of upstream partners – a relationship that intensifies under higher levels of financial dependence.The second essay examines the effect of buyer environmental disclosure on supplier disclosure, addressing concerns about potential supply chain leakage. Using data from FactSet Revere and Bloomberg environmental, social, and governance (ESG) covering the materials and pharmaceuticals sectors, the study finds no consistent evidence of a broad negative effect, suggesting that leakage may not be prevalent under voluntary disclosure regimes. However, the findings highlight key moderating dynamics. Structural social capital, reflected in shared network ties, plays a significant role: buyer–supplier pairs with weaker structural overlap are more likely to exhibit negative effects, while stronger overlap mitigates this risk. Similarly, cultural similarity moderates outcomes – greater cultural dissimilarity correlates with negative effects on supplier disclosure, whereas culturally aligned pairs show no significant effect. The third essay turns to service networks, specifically examining how airline network configurations influence the management of operational disruptions. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics across seven major U.S. airlines, the analysis demonstrates that the network structure of an airline plays a critical role in managing delays, cancellations, and baggage handling issues. Together, these three essays contribute to a deeper theoretical and practical understanding of how varying network contexts -- across both manufacturing and service domains -- affect firms’ environmental and operational performance.
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