Does Construct Multidimensionality Matter? A Nuanced Examination of the Relationship among Supply Chain Integration, Green Supply Chain Management, and Business Performance

Built on the idea that supply chain integration (SCI) and green supply chain management (GSCM) are both multidimensional constructs, this paper empirically investigates the impact of different dimensions of SCI on different practices of GSCM and the contribution of different practices of GSCM to business performance. The aim is to uncover the distinctive role of each dimension in achieving environmental sustainability along the supply chain. A conceptual model is proposed to link supplier and customer integration to both internal GSCM within the company and external GSCM with the suppliers as well as business performance. The study is based on a survey of Chinese manufacturing companies. The results show that integration with suppliers only supports external GSCM while integration with the customer supports both internal and external GSCM. It also finds that external GSCM has no positive relationship with business performance but supports internal GSCM, which positively influences companies' business performance. The results suggest that considering construct multidimensionality brings the opportunity of closely scrutinizing the relationships between SCI, GSCM, and business performance. Different dimensions have different effects in achieving environmental sustainability by integrating different partners along the supply chain. The separation of internal and external GSCM and the exploration of the result of the multidimensionality of the proposed constructs may be contributions to this field. The implications of supporting a green supply chain are explored.