Effect of Sustainable Supply Chain and Management Practices on Supply Chain Performance: The Mediating Roles of Ethical Dilemmas and Leadership Quality

The objective of this study is to examine the influence of Sustainable Supply Chain (SSC) and Supply Chain Management Practices (SCMP) on Supply Chain Performance (SCP). It seeks to explain how organizations might utilize SSC and SCMP to improve performance by promoting ethical practices and good leadership. An empirical analysis was performed utilizing data gathered from 350 respondents from enterprises across several industries in Bangladesh through a quota sampling strategy. We used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine the direct and indirect effects. Ethical Dilemma (ETD) and Leadership (LED) quality were used as mediating variables. The results indicate that SSC and SCMP have a beneficial effect on SCP, with LED quality as a significant mediator. However, less directly impactful, ETD creates an essential framework for ethical practices inside the supply chain. The Importance-Performance Map highlights LED quality and SCMP as critical elements to improving SCP, suggesting that firms must prioritize these areas for optimal performance. The study's weaknesses include its cross-sectional methodology and concentration on a small geographic area, which may impact generalization. Future research may investigate SSC's long-term effects on SCP and future technologies' influence on ethical decision-making in global supply chains. This work enhances SSC literature by highlighting the significance of LED quality and ETDs as mediators in the link between SSC, SCMP and SCP.