Abstract:
This study investigates the impact of institutional pressures on sustainability
performance in the apparel industry in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. The research is
grounded in institutional theory, which suggests that organizations experience coercive,
mimetic, and normative pressures that influence their behavior and practices, including
fheir sustainability performance. The study aims to assess the levels of coercive,
mimetic, and normative pressures, as well as sustainability performance, among
employees in the apparel industry. It further examines the relationship between these
institutional pressures and sustainability performance, and investigates the individual
impacts of coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures on sustainability perfor-rnance.
The study employed a quantitative approach, collecting data through closed-ended
questionnaires from a sample of 300 employees in the apparel industry in Batticaloa
District. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS),
including reliability analysis, validity analysis, univariate analysis, correlation analysis,
and regression analysis.
The findings reveal high levels of coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures. as well
as high levels of sustainability performance, among the employees surveyed. The
results also indicate a strong positive relationship between institutional pressures and
sustainability performance. Furthermore, the regression analysis demonstrates that
coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures individually have a significant and positive
impact on sustainability performance.
The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the influence
of institutional pressures on sustainability performance in the apparel industry context'
The findings highlight the importance of considering institutional pressures in
enhancing sustainability practices and performance within organizations. The research
has implications for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academic researchers
interested in promoting sustainable practices in the apparel industry and other sectors.
Keywords: Institutional pressures, Coercive pressures, Mimetic pressures, Normative
pressures, Sustainability performance, Apparel industry, Batticaloa District.
