Exploring the Nexus Between Internationalization and Sustainable Supply Chain Management Among UK SMEs
通过对15位英国中小企业主和供应链经理的访谈，研究国际化程度如何影响可持续供应链管理的态度与实践，发现不同国际化水平下利益相关者的作用不同。
ABSTRACT This study investigates the interplay between internationalization and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices among UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Drawing on 15 semistructured interviews with SME owner‐managers and supply chain managers across industries in the United Kingdom, we examine the relationships among SMEs' international orientation, SSCM attitude, and practices. Interestingly, we find that stakeholders influence shifts with international orientation: Suppliers emerge as key barriers at the low level of international orientation, whereas customers become influential drivers at the medium level, and government regulations and diverse sustainability awareness present significant challenges at the high level. Notably, international orientation does not consistently influence SSCM attitude or determine the priorities in SSCM environmental and social practices. Some SMEs report that SSCM practices influence their international strategies, particularly in supply chain localization, supplier selection, and marketing approaches. This research contributes to understanding the complex relationship between international orientation and sustainability in SMEs, offering insights for practitioners managing international supply chains and policymakers supporting SME sustainability initiatives.