This paper facilitates an in-depth view of the transformation needed for the transition from traditional to sustainable supply chain management (SSCM)—by delineating its elemental aspects. Taking an organizational unit of analysis perspective, this conceptual review seeks to characterize the fundamental nature of complexities inherent in the transformation, and thereby seeks to explicate the elemental nature of organizational efforts responsible for shaping sustainable supply chains. The findings outline intriguing mechanisms for explaining the complex and endless nature of the transformation for organizations. This discourse also involves the proposition of two novel concepts applied in this context: the SSCM Force-field and Differential Efforts in SSCM. While the former represents the intricate interplay between organizational efforts and organizational complexities in absorbing SSCM practices in the supply chain routines of an organization, the latter reflects the value of additional efforts above and beyond what is required in existing supply chain routines, to facilitate the integration of a desired SSCM practice into routines. The findings show how the force-field impedes an organization's progress in SSCM and how differential effort allows an organization to overcome the force-field to extend theoretical frameworks and offering valuable guidance for practicing managers. Overall, the research strengthens the conceptual foundation of SSCM theory by explicating the under-explored aspects involved in an organization's progressive journey toward SSCM. Further, it is a first attempt to outline the organizational implications of the SSCM journey.

本文通过描述其基本方面，有助于深入了解从传统供应链管理向可持续供应链管理（SSCM）过渡所需的转型。以分析的组织单位为视角，此概念性审查旨在表征转型中固有的复杂性的基本性质，从而试图阐明负责塑造可持续供应链的组织工作的基本性质。研究结果概述了用于解释组织变革的复杂性和无穷无尽性质的有趣机制。该论述还涉及在此背景下应用的两个新颖概念的命题：SSCM力场和SSCM中的差异性努力。前者表示组织工作与组织复杂性在吸收组织的供应链例行程序中吸收SSCM做法之间的复杂相互作用，而后者则反映了超出现有供应链例行程序所需的额外工作的价值，以促进整合将所需的SSCM练习纳入例程。研究结果表明，力场如何阻碍组织在SSCM方面的进步，以及不同的努力如何使组织克服力场以扩展理论框架并为执业管理人员提供有价值的指导。总体而言，该研究通过阐明组织在迈向SSCM的渐进式旅程中涉及的未充分探索的方面，从而加强了SSCM理论的概念基础。进一步，