Title: Responding to direct and indirect regulatory pressure with sustainable supply chain practices

Authors: Yiming Zhuang; Frank Montabon

Addresses: Department of Management, College of Business, Engineering, and Computational and Mathematical Sciences, Frostburg State University, 101 Braddock Rd., Frostburg, MD 21532, USA ' Department of Supply Chain Management, Ivy College of Business, Iowa State University, 2167 Union Dr. Ames, IA 50011, USA

Abstract: Drawing on regulatory response theory and diffusion theory, this study develops a regulatory response framework for a firm's adoption of sustainable supply chain practices (SSCPs) using a conceptual deduction approach. Specifically, the framework highlights that it is important for firms to choose the appropriate temporal order of adoption of different types of SSCPs in response to direct and indirect regulatory pressure. Several propositions are offered to indicate the temporal adoption of various types of SSCPs. Our proposed framework guides practitioners in responding to regulatory pressures, strategically sequencing sustainable practices, and optimising resources for effective compliance and sustainability goal achievement. Moreover, policymakers, considering both direct and indirect regulatory pressures, should strategically design regulations to facilitate the sequential adoption of SSCPs, thereby enhancing widespread sustainable practices and achieving broader sustainability goals.

Keywords: sustainability; regulatory pressure; supply chain; adoption; theoretical study; sustainable supply chain practices; SSCPs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISM.2024.142779

International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, 2024 Vol.17 No.3/4, pp.209 - 238

Accepted: 28 Jan 2024
Published online: 21 Nov 2024 *

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