The Effect of Perceived Compatibility on the Adoption of Sustainable Supply Chian Practices in Humanitarian Organizations in Mauritania

Abstract

This research investigates the effect of perceived compatibility on the adoption of Sustainable Supply Chain Practices (SSCP) among humanitarian organizations operating in Mauritania. Drawing on the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory and the Technology-Organization Environment (TOE) Framework, the study conceptualizes compatibility in three dimensions: organizational, collaborative, and technological. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, with data collected from 63 humanitarian organizations using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The regression analysis revealed that the model was statistically significant (F = 30.165, p < .001), explaining 76.4% of the variance in SSCP adoption (R² = 0.764, Adjusted R² = 0.738). Findings reveal that all three dimensions of compatibility significantly influence SSCP adoption. Organizational compatibility was the strongest predictor (β = 0.339, t = 8.852, p < 0.001), followed by collaborative compatibility (β = 0.287, t = 3.758, p < 0.001), showing stronger effects than technological compatibility. Specifically, alignment between sustainability goals and internal organizational culture, leadership, resources, staff, as well as external partnerships with donors, beneficiaries, NGOs and government agencies, emerged as key drivers of adoption. Technological compatibility, while statistically significant (β = 0.126, t = 2.891, p = 0.005, played a supportive rather than leading role, its enabling role is often dependent on foundational organizational and collaborative readiness. The type of NGO was found to significantly affect; INGOs showed a notable negative effect (β = -0.156, p = .026) compared to UN organizations, indicating that INGOs adopted SSCPs less than UN organizations, while local NGOs' negative relationship (B = -0.099, p = .147) was not statistically significant, while years of operation and sector of activity had no significant influence. The study contributes theoretically by extending the application of DOI and TOE frameworks to the underexplored context of humanitarian supply chains in developing countries. It also offers practical recommendations for NGOs, donors, and policymakers to foster internal alignment, strengthen collaboration, and improve technological readiness to accelerate sustainability integration. The study end with recommendations for further research, including longitudinal and qualitative approaches in order to gain better understanding of the dynamics of innovation adoption in humanitarian sector. Keywords: Sustainable supply chain practices, perceived compatibility, humanitarian organizations, Mauritania, DOI Theory, TOE Framework, sustainability.