Answers:

Question A:

Different organizations are nowadays influenced by both the external and internal drivers to adopt the initiatives of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM). These drivers for SSCM can be stated as the influencers or motivators that can push or encourage organizations to implement sustainable initiatives throughout the process of supply chain management (Dubey et al. 2017). Different sorts of drivers are having an impact on the decisions of the supply chain to differing extents. For example, social media can influence the decision of purchasing, and shareholders can have more impact on the decision of logistics-related supply chain management. This part of the research will discuss External and Internal drivers as follows:

External Drivers Of SSCM:

Regulatory Pressures: these are important considerations to drive organizations to take the sustainability initiative. International regulators, regional and national regulators, along with certification bodies, trade associations and others, exert pressure that can have an impact on the organization to adopt sustainable practices in the supply chain. This legislation can help in increasing sustainability-related awareness and can influence companies to incorporate sustainable practices (Bhardwaj, 2016).

Market Pressures: to have a competitive advantage and to develop technologies with sustainability, different companies, and their supply chains face pressure from market factors such as suppliers and shareholders. The market related external drivers commonly deal with the issues of sustainability concerning the business performance of the organization with the betterment of the relationship. A different category that falls under market pressure is such as shareholders, competitors, investors, financial institutions, and the brand image of the organization (monolith, 2021).

Societal Pressures: different non-profit organizations such as social groups and NGOs along with communication channels such as press, and media is also can help an organization to increase public awareness (Tay et al. 2015). This market pressure unites efforts to influence the organization and their supply chain to make improve their sustainability practices. The media can disseminate sustainability-related information and different NGOs are also having the ability to unite and mobilize other stakeholders on different sustainability issues.

Internal Drivers Of SSCM:

Organizational culture: The poor corporate social responsibility and the deterioration of the environment have increased the demand and public awareness for sustainable services and products (Chatman and O’Reilly, 2016). The moral obligations of companies towards the community and society can meet the expectation of stakeholders which will influence the supply chain to achieve sustainability practices. The drivers related to organizational culture are health and safety issues, information dissemination, code of conduct of organization and innovativeness.

Corporate Strategy: the economical and operational related goals with SSCM can be gained by ensuring internal support within the organization and by setting a strategic target for sustainability targets (Govindan and Hasanagic, 2018). The corporate strategies are included with cost-related pressure, management commitment, operational performance, and the strategy of sustainability. The awareness of management towards sustainability is important for understanding the pressure from stakeholders. The intention and awareness of consumers about sustainability can encourage the organizations to adopt the corporate strategy.

Organizational resources: different organizations, due to the provision and scarcity of different natural, face pressure to undertake the initiatives of sustainability across the supply chain. The drivers related to organizational resources include organizational capabilities, human capital, physical capital and most importantly the workers (Wang et al. 2018).