A Statistical Framework For Sustainable Supply Chain Management In It Hardware Products
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66635/3wh6qd27Keywords:
Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Green Innovation, SMEs, Emerging MarketsAbstract
The growing urgency of environmental sustainability has compelled organizations across industries to redesign their supply chain operations. The IT hardware sector, characterized by rapid product obsolescence, complex global sourcing, and significant e-waste generation, presents unique sustainability challenges. This study proposes a quantitative Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) framework integrating environmental, social, and economic dimensions to evaluate sustainable supply chain performance. Using primary data collected from 245 respondents across IT hardware manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in India, the study employs Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and multiple regression analysis to validate the proposed Triple-Pillar SSCM Model. The findings reveal that environmental sustainability practices, particularly green procurement and reverse logistics, are the most significant predictors of sustainable supply chain performance, followed by economic and social sustainability practices. Supplier relationship quality partially mediates the sustainability-performance relationship, while regulatory compliance intensity strengthens the impact of economic sustainability practices. The model demonstrates strong explanatory power (R² = 0.81) and provides actionable insights for supply chain practitioners. The study further contributes to the literature on sustainable entrepreneurship by illustrating how sustainability-oriented supply chain practices can enable innovation-driven growth and competitive advantage, particularly in SME-dominated and entrepreneur-led sectors in emerging Asian economies such as India. The findings highlight the role of sustainability as a strategic driver of innovation and value creation beyond regulatory compliance.
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