How does innovativeness foster sustainable supply chain management? A multiple case analysis

Abstract

Recent literature asks for more attention to be paid on the implementation of sustainability in supply chains and on its antecedents. Therefore, this research aims at moving a step forward toward the understanding of why companies adopt different approaches in managing supply chain sustainability. Although we simultaneously analyze the role of different antecedents, this paper mainly focuses on the role of firm innovativeness. The relatedness between innovation and sustainability is not completely new to the literature. Innovativeness has been recognized as an important organizational capability for an effective deployment of internal environmental practices and for the inception of SSCM practices. Nevertheless, it has not been theoretically or empirically described why it matters and how it contributes to the development of sustainability strategies and to the adoption of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices. To achieve our objective, a multiple case studies analysis was performed. This paper contributes by proposing a set of propositions and a new comprehensive framework, shedding further light on the role that innovativeness has in fostering SSCM. Specifically, we found that innovativeness has implication on how companies perceived and respond to external pressure from customers and government. It also facilitates the intra-inter organizational diffusion of environmental and social commitment, as well as the development of necessary strategic and supply management capabilities.