Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) are an emerging class of polymers that have the unique ability to recover to their original shape under the influence of the external stimulus after being deformed and fixed into a temporary shape. The original shape of the material is given by the initial processing (e.g. injection moulding or 3D printing), the temporary shape is determined by applying a process called programming. Potential applications for such materials can in active medical devices like the drug delivery systems, in tissue reconstruction (ligament or tendon), in robotics, in smart textiles, and in various types of sensor and actuators applications. The SMP parts can be produced by injection moulding process; they can also be produced by 3D printing. But a limited work has been done to understand the effects of moulding conditions and 3D printing process on the shape memory effect (SME) of the SMP. The aim of this research is to compare the share memory properties of SMPs based on the two different manufacturing routes. It investigates the influence of selected 3D printing and moulding parameters on the SME and presents a comparative scenario of the capabilities of the two processes to generate shape memory effect. The test samples were produced from Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) from BASF via injection moulding and 3D printing applying various process settings. To evaluate the shape recovery of the samples after a temporary deformation a Thermo-mechanical test was carried out. It is clear from the results that the injection moulded samples impart the better shape recovery compared to the 3D printed samples. The results from this work reveal that the shape memory effect is mostly governed by the molecular orientation of the polymer and the residual stresses induced by the processing of the material.