Stakeholder pressure and green supply chain management: a configuration approach

Abstract

Research indicates that stakeholder pressures influence the adoption of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices; however, our understanding of the heterogeneity between different stakeholder groups remains limited. Drawing upon stakeholder theory, we identify the heterogeneity between five stakeholder groups: supplier, customer, community, competitor and government with relation to the adoption of GSCM practices. Empirically, we test how this heterogeneity affects GSCM practices by a configuration approach with 418 responses from Chinese manufacturing sector. Our results suggest that varying stakeholders are related to varying levels of the adoption of GSCM practices for Chinese manufacturers. Specifically, the results from cluster analysis categories three Chinese manufacturers with respect to the level in responding to the stakeholder pressures: sensible, cognizant and conscious manufacturers. Moreover, further ANOVA results show overall stakeholder pressures relates to the adoption of GSCM practice with customer rather than supplier. This research contributes to stakeholder theory at a more detailed level than before in the related literature, as well as study the relationship with the adoption of GSCM practices, which has not been done before. By doing so, this research represents an important step toward refining the stakeholder theory and the adoption of GSCM practice in manufacturing companies in emerging economies.