The Influence of External and Internal Stakeholder Pressures on the Implementation of Upstream Environmental Supply Chain Practices. Issue 2 (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Graham, Stephanie
• Other Names: Barney Jay B. guest-editor.; Harrison Jeffrey S. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Business and society. Volume 59:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 351
• Page End: 383
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: competitive pressure -- environmental practices -- proactive strategy -- stakeholder theory; Industries -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Industrial sociology -- Periodicals; Business ethics -- Periodicals; 306.3
• DOI: 10.1177/0007650317745636
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-6503

Abstract

This study examines the independent and combined influences of internal and external antecedents to upstream environmental practices. Proactive environmental strategy is considered as an internal antecedent and competitive pressure as an external antecedent. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis is used to test the hypothesized relationships using data from a sample of 149 manufacturing companies located within the U.K. food industry. The results suggest that proactive strategy and competitive pressure exert both independent and combined influences on environmental supply chain practices. Proactive strategy appears to be a stronger driver of these practices, suggesting that internal stakeholders such as directors, managers, and employees may be more influential in the adoption of certain practices than external stakeholder pressures. This article builds upon the recent wave of research highlighting the potential for internal and external factors to generate a combined influence on the adoption of environmental practices within companies and their supply chains.