Institutional complexity and sustainable supply chain management practices

Sayed, Maysara and Hendry, Linda Caroline and Bell, Marta (2017) Institutional complexity and sustainable supply chain management practices. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 22 (6). pp. 542-563. ISSN 1359-8546

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Abstract

Purpose: To empirically investigate the impact of: institutional pressures; institutional logics; and institutional complexity; on Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices across mixed public and private sector supply chains. Design/methodology/approach: Multi-case study data was collected from three tiers of food and catering supply chains: the customer/consumer tier; focal public sector UK Universities; and private sector suppliers / contractors. Findings: The findings indicate that: normative and mimetic pressures are more prevalent in focal Universities, compared to suppliers; there is typically no single dominant logic across these supply chains; and the multiplicity of institutional logics (e.g., sustainability logic versus financial logic) increases institutional complexity. Therefore, in the atypical case of homogeneity in terms of institutional pressures and logics, e.g. with a dominant sustainability logic throughout the supply chain, radical change in SSCM practices is facilitated. In contrast, in the more typical case when there is heterogeneity, with competing logics at different supply chain tiers, this limits SSCM to more incremental changes in practices. Research limitations/implications: This study is limited to three tiers of the food and catering supply chains of UK Universities. Practical implications: To aid in the successful implementation of SSCM, this study suggests a need for managers to develop an initial understanding of the prevailing institutional logics and pressures at different tiers of the supply chain. Social implications: A number of the SSCM practices studied address social sustainability. Originality/value: No previous studies have empirically investigated the impact of institutional complexity in the context of SSCM practices across supply chains, involving both mixed public and private sector organisations.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Supply Chain Management: An International Journal
Additional Information:
This article is (c)2017 Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1400/1408
Subjects:
?? sustainable supply chain managementinstitutional theoryinstitutional pressuresinstitutional logicsinstitutional complexitymulti-casestrategy and management ??
ID Code:
87977
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
06 Oct 2017 19:36
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
17 Feb 2024 00:50