Purpose: This study examines the mediating and moderating effects of business regulatory compliance (BRC) on the association between sustainable supply chain management practices (SSCMP) and operational performance (PERFOP), and how corporate sustainability culture (CSC) serves as a boundary condition to BRC. Design/methodology/approach: This research draws data from 245 firms operating in multiple industries in Ghana. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) was employed to test the direct effects, while Hayes Process Macros was employed to test the indirect and conditional effects among the study variables using a structural equation modelling approach. Findings: The results showed that SSCMP has a direct positive effect on PERFOP. The study further revealed that BRC mediates the relationship between SSCMP and PERFOP. This study found that BRC negatively moderates the association between SSCMP and PERFOP, suggesting that high levels of BRC generate unintended adverse effect on the SSCMP- PERFOP link. However, the results revealed that CSC serves as a boundary condition to BRC. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that emphasizes how the resource-based view and regulatory focus theory interact to explain how different degrees of CSC and BRC impact SSCMP performance outcomes. This study advances research in the sustainability literature, in response to calls for further research in this domain. This study draws decision-makers attention on the need to make sustainability practices an integral part of corporate culture in order to set a business tone that stimulates easy compliance to sustainability requirements.

In response to escalating environmental constraints and resource pressure, transitioning to a sustainable circular economy is imperative for contemporary enterprises. Circular Supply Chain Management (CSCM) offers a systemic approach to minimise waste and advance regenerative practices. However, the role of Corporate Governance (CGOV) in this transformation remains underexplored, especially in emerging economies. To address this gap, this study develops and empirically tests a framework to examine how CGOV fosters CSCM using data from 381 manufacturing firms in Ghana. Structural equation modelling revealed that CGOV partially influences CSCM through the mediating role of Eco-Adaptive Organizational Culture (EAOC). While Leadership Eco-Innovation Willingness (LECOIN) significantly moderates the CGOV-EAOC relationship, its influence does not extend to impact CSCM outcomes. Importantly, this study identifies the Perceived Urgency for Circularity (PURGENCY) as a critical boundary condition that intensifies the indirect effect of CGOV on CSCM via EAOC when PURGENCY is high. These findings offer a novel theoretical contribution by elucidating the interdependent dynamics of governance, leadership disposition, cultural adaptability, and perceived urgency in enabling circular transition. Practically, this study provides actionable insights for corporate leaders, supply chain strategists, and policymakers seeking to realign governance mechanisms and leadership capabilities to accelerate circular economy implementation by communicating a sense of urgency that can accelerate systemic transitions toward circular economy adoption.

Purpose: This study explores the influence of supply chain digitisation on supply chain performance, from the perspectives of supply chain complexities, operational capabilities and top management team diversity. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 294 manufacturing firms in Ghana using validated multi-item scales. Structural equation modelling (AMOS v23) and Hayes’ PROCESS macro were used to examine the hypothesised direct, mediating, moderated and moderated mediation effects. The measures were sourced from previous studies and refined through expert review. Diagnostic tests confirmed that neither non-response bias nor common method bias compromised the data, thereby ensuring reliability and integrity of the empirical results. Findings: The findings suggest that supply chain digitisation (SCD) significantly improves supply chain performance (SCPERF) with operational capabilities (OPCAP) acting as essential mediators. This mediating effect is amplified in contexts of high supply chain complexity (SCCOMP) and further enhanced by the diversity of the top management team (TMTD). These results underscore the interdependence of digitisation, absorptive routines, environmental complexity and leadership diversity in advancing supply chain performance. Originality/value: This study distinctively integrates absorptive capacity theory with socio-technical systems Theory to conceptualise supply chain digitisation (SCD) as a co-evolving synthesis of digital technologies and organisational social systems. This combined perspective elucidates not only the mechanisms through which operational capabilities convert digital resources into quantifiable performance improvements but also how managerial diversity and environmental complexity enhance a firm’s ability to absorb, adapt and innovate. Consequently, it provides context-specific strategies for firms in developing economies to transform SCD into sustained competitive advantage in supply chains.