Abstract
Despite their critical role in economic development, small- and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) often lag large corporations in implementing sustainable performance measures.
This study investigates how institutional isomorphic pressures, and managerial attitudes
influence sustainable supply chain performance measures (SSCPM) in manufacturing
SMEs. Adopting a positivist paradigm and a quantitative research design, the study utilised a
structured questionnaire to gather data from manufacturing SMEs based in Cape Town,
South Africa. The results indicate that normative and mimetic institutional pressures
positively influence SSCPM, while coercive pressures have a negative effect. Furthermore,
managerial attitudes emerged as a significant determinant of sustainability performance in
SMEs. The findings underscore the need to extend institutional theory to better
accommodate the contextual institutional complexities encountered in developing
economies. The study highlights the importance of developing alternative, non-coercive
mechanisms to promote sustainable practices amongst SMEs, particularly in regions with
weak regulatory enforcement.