TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this study is 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 were 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 typical 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.
VL  - 22
IS  - 6
SN  - 1359-8546
DO  - 10.1108/SCM-10-2016-0365
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-10-2016-0365
AU  - Sayed Maysara
AU  - Hendry Linda C.
AU  - Zorzini Bell Marta
PY  - 2017
Y1  - 2017/01/01
TI  - Institutional complexity and sustainable supply chain management practices
T2  - Supply Chain Management: An International Journal
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 542
EP  - 563
Y2  - 2024/04/20
ER  -