Examining stakeholders’ influence on environmental responsibility of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and its outcomes

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 2021-2043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehran Nejati ◽  
Azlan Amran ◽  
Noor Hazlina Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Environmental Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Framework

Purpose – Given the uprising interest in the environmental responsibility issues among small businesses, the purpose of this paper is to design to probe into the relationship between stakeholders’ influence and environmental responsibility of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), and its consequent outcomes in an emerging economy. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 110 MSME owners participated in this study. Data were collected by means of questionnaire designed to measure the 12 constructs of focus. In order to test the hypotheses and examine the relationships proposed in the research framework, structural equation modelling was performed using SmartPLS. Findings – This study revealed that among the primary stakeholders, only employees and customers significantly influenced environmental responsibility practices of MSMEs. Besides, it was found that environmental responsibility results in financial improvements and better relations with employees and customers. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to MSMEs in Malaysia. Despite the relatively low response rate, which is common in MSME research, the geographic and sector distribution of samples provides a basis for generalizability of the results. Practical implications – Since many MSME owners/managers are sceptical about the benefits of environmental practices, the findings of this study provided empirical support from an emerging economy about the positive outcomes of environmental practices. Social implications – By examining the key determinants that foster environmental practices in MSMEs, the current study provides important insights for policy makers to encourage MSMEs to initiate such responsible practices, which can lead to environmental preservation. Originality/value – Other than enriching a systems-based view of firms’ environmental behaviour, this study empirically tests a research framework on role of stakeholders in determining environmental responsibility of small firms and their outcomes on firms’ performance.

scholarly journals The effects of luxury restaurant environments on diners’ emotions and loyalty

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Chen ◽  
Norman Peng ◽  
Kuang-peng Hung
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumption Behavior ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Different Levels

Purpose – This paper aims to examine diners’ luxury restaurant consumption behavior by incorporating diner expectations into a modified Mehrabian–Russell model. Consumers dine at luxury restaurants for reasons beyond fulfilling basic needs. However, little is known about the factors that contribute to diners’ emotions and loyalty toward luxury restaurants. Design/methodology/approach – To examine the proposed six hypotheses, qualitative and quantitative studies were performed. Following exploratory qualitative research, 310 consumers who dined at Taiwan’s five-star hotel restaurants were recruited for the main study. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings – The results show that restaurants’ stimuli influence diners’ positive and negative emotions (organisms), which, in turn, affect their loyalty toward luxury restaurants (responses). Furthermore, customers with different levels of expectation react differently to stimuli. Practical implications – This study offers new empirical support for the proposition that diner expectation plays a role in building customer loyalty and, thereby, shades both theoretical and managerial understanding of the luxury restaurant consumption process. Originality/value – This study conceptualizes diners’ loyalty toward luxury restaurants (e.g. revisiting and recommending luxury restaurants) by examining the influence of restaurants’ stimuli, diners’ emotions and customers’ expectations toward luxury restaurants. Additionally, this study offers some managerial implications for practitioners.

Strategic networking and small firm growth in an emerging economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Acquah Obeng
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Small Firm ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Firm Growth ◽  
Firm Strategy ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Resources

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the sources and use of social capital on small firm growth in an emerging economy. The study also examines the relationship between small firms’ human capital, internal resources and strategy on social capital sources used, and their impact on small firms’ growth in employment.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses logistics regression and structural equation modelling to analyse data gathered from 441 small firms located in six regions of Ghana where approximately 81 per cent of all businesses are found.FindingsAmong the 16 sources of social capital examined, customers were found to be the most used source and the only social capital source that showed significant statistical association with firm growth in employment. Also, the study revealed that human capital, firm resources and strategy variables such as educational level of the owner-manager, firm size, location, firm involvement in internalisation and innovation are statistically significant with social capital sources such as accountants, banks, solicitors, business associates and chamber of commerce.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of the study have implications for policy and practice in situations where government and private sector institutions mandated to support enterprise development appear to be the least social capital sources used by small firms. The findings also provide a better understanding of the use and impact of social capital sources on small firm growth in an emerging economy in Africa.Originality/valueThis study appears to be the first known research on small firms’ social capital that has examined 16 different social capital sources and shown how human capital, internal resources and firm strategy have influenced the use of social capital sources by small firms in an emerging economy.

Revisiting control aversion: the role of financiers in connecting entrepreneurs to the marketplace

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Silver ◽  
Nicolaus Lundahl ◽  
Björn Berggren
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Market Failure ◽  
Credit Rationing ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of small business entrepreneurs’ relinquishment of control aversion and the impact of their interaction with external financiers on market connection. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires were sent to the chief executive officers of small businesses in the manufacturing and professional services sectors. A total of 459 valid responses were analyzed in a structural equation model. Findings – The attitude of small business entrepreneurs in relying on financiers’ advice is marked by control aversion. This fear of losing control creates information asymmetry, which in itself leads to decreased financing opportunities for small business entrepreneurs. The results of the study suggest that small firms seeking the aid of financiers will be provided with substantial additional information about the market. Issues pertaining to supply seem to be less relevant than those relating to demand, thus indicating that greater focus should be placed on the investment readiness of small businesses. Originality/value – This study emphasizes the importance of the role of attitudes among SMEs in understanding capital market failure and credit rationing.

scholarly journals The Impact of Coercive Pressures on Sustainability Practices of Small Businesses in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reginald Masocha ◽  
Olawale Fatoki
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Sustainability Practices ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Isomorphic Pressures

The study sought to examine the role that coercive isomorphic pressures play in the sustainable development practices by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The survey research approach was utilised in the research through 222 self-administered questionnaires distributed to SME owners and managers. The structural equation modelling (SEM) method was utilised to analyse the data through the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method in Amos Version 24 software. Major findings in this study are that coercive isomorphic pressures have a significant impact on all the three dimensions of sustainable development which are economic, environmental and social. The implications are that government, environmental pressure groups and other stakeholders need to take into consideration the coercive pressures such as laws and regulations in pressuring small businesses to enhance sustainability practices. The research contributes by unearthing the extent to which coercive pressures impact the behaviour and practices of SMEs in sustainability practices. The study indicates that eventually small firms are expected to behave the same when it comes to adopting sustainability practices due to coercive isomorphism. The findings of this study further contribute toward understanding the concept of sustainable development in practice and theory.

The quicker, the better? The antecedents and consequences of response timing strategy in the aftermath of a corporate crisis

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nengzhi (Chris) Yao ◽  
Jiuchang Wei ◽  
Weiwei Zhu ◽  
Alexander Bondar
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
Firm Value ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Response Timing ◽  
Buffering Effects

Purpose The conclusions on the importance of corporate response timing to a crisis have remained inconsistent. Some studies suggest that active response may reduce negative impacts, whereas managers argue that issuing official response frustrates stakeholders and thus decreases the firm value. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of external media in the response timing strategy and the consequent stock market reaction. Design/methodology/approach Based on 130 corporate crises that befell publicly listed firms in China from 2007 to 2014, this paper uses the Baidu News Search Engine and Chinese Lexical Analysis System to construct the variables of the media characteristics. A structural equation model is established to test the hypotheses. Findings The results of this paper suggest that media coverage drives response timing after a crisis. Although an official response is a burden for firms, the timing strategy has multidimensional benefits including effectively alleviating negative effects (defined as buffering effects) and repairing the market (defined as restoring effects). Moreover, the buffering effects of response timing are stronger when completeness of response is low. Originality/value This study mainly contributes to crisis communication literature by introducing the role of media in prompting managers to make timing decisions. The findings of this study provide empirical support for the importance of timing response strategy.

Confronting the unprecedented: micro and small businesses in the age of coronavirus disease 2019

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Bressan ◽  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Seng Kiat Kok
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behaviour ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand how micro and small firms are navigating through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat, and the alternatives they are implementing to coexist with the ongoing crisis. To this end, Italy's socioeconomically and traditionally significant wine industry is examined. The study considers insights of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and develops a theoretical framework, which proposes various emerging theoretical dimensions, including proactiveness, support-reliance and resourcefulness.Design/methodology/approachWinery owners–managers were contacted and invited to partake in the study completing an online questionnaire. Overall, 167 useable responses were collected.FindingsWhile facing the loss of vital income through decreasing demand and exports, participants resort to exploiting various initiatives, including “reinventing” their firms. Their observations also recognise the vital supporting role of various key stakeholders, first and foremost family members, as well as clients and staff. Concerning how owners-managers envision managing their firm post-COVID-19, two predominant groups are identified, one strongly favouring modern-day alternatives, and the second committing to the firm's traditional business model. Overall, the different predictors of the TPB, namely attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control emerged.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first that empirically analyses micro and small firms in a socioeconomically and traditionally significant industry during an unprecedented event. In addition, the proposed theoretical framework provides a roadmap and guide to examine, understand and assimilate the entrepreneurial journey through a devastating event.

Transformational leadership, career adaptability, job embeddedness and perceived career success: a serial mediation model

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 993-1013
Author(s):  
Basheer M. Al-Ghazali
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Career Success ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Job Embeddedness ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Career Adaptability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Career Construction Theory ◽  
Serial Mediation

PurposeBased on career construction theory and job embeddedness theory, the aim of the present study is to give insights into the interplay between transformational leadership and perceived career success by examining the indirect effects through serial mediation of career adaptability and job embeddedness, respectively.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was used for this study. Data were gathered from 469 nurses working in government hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results show that transformational leaders enhance perceived career success. Moreover, the relationship between transformational leadership and perceived career success is serially mediated by career adaptability and job embeddedness.Originality/valueThe role of leadership in promoting employee's perceived career success has been seldom studied in the literature. This is the first study of its kind to examine the effect of transformational leadership on nurses' perceived career success along with the mediating roles of career adaptability and job embeddedness.

scholarly journals Supporting SMEs’ internationalisation through a deeper understanding of human and technology barriers

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Mendy ◽  
Mahfuzur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) internationalisation from an emerging market perspective. It explores and applies human resource management (HRM) processes to small businesses’ internationalisation efforts in order to ascertain the extent to which human- and technology-oriented barriers to internationalisation can be better understood and their processes better managed by SMEs. Design/methodology/approach The data collection and analysis involved a mixed method technique so as to identify the two dominant barriers faced by SMEs at the employer and employee levels. By using primary survey data obtained from 212 Bangladeshi SMEs, a partial least square based structural equation model was successfully validated and its development enhanced the comparison of processes involved in managing people and technology-type barriers. Findings The research results highlight the importance of HRM processes in the proper management of both human and technology-type barriers, which are equally as significant to SMEs’ internationalisation. Practical implications The results highlight the urgent need for governments in emerging economies to prioritise SMEs’ internationalisation and to dedicate resources and processes in order to effectively optimise economic and social dividends. The practical, theoretical and methodological implications of the paper raise opportunities for further research in SMEs’ internationalisation and people management processes and practices as well as new policy guidelines. Originality/value The examination of the link between humans and technology is a much under-represented area in developing countries and the actual contribution of effective HRM processes in the context of SMEs’ internationalisation is missing. Applying HRM processes to these aspects serves to deepen the knowledge of small businesses’ internationalisation efforts and the contributed model enhances professional practice and theory development in these disciplines and in emerging economies.

A study of goal frames shaping pro-environmental behaviour in university students

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 1291-1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arpita Chakraborty ◽  
Manvendra Pratap Singh ◽  
Mousumi Roy
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Environmental Practices ◽  
Environmental Behaviour ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Goal Framing ◽  
Education In India ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of university in shaping pro-environmental behaviour in students. Design/methodology/approach The paper used goal-framing theory to investigate the relationship between goals and pro-environmental behaviour by comparing the responses of entry- and exit-level students. Structural equation modeling, one-way analysis of variance and other standard statistical analysis have been used to analyse the data collected through questionnaire survey in a central university offering technical education in India. Findings Pro-environmental intention in students increases with a strong normative goal. The direct and indirect effects indicate hedonic goal and gain goal via normative goal leads to better pro-environmental behaviour. Higher values for normative goal in exit-level students substantiates the role of university. Practical implications The paper provides scope to improvise and incorporate environmental practices into the habits of the students by aligning their goals and university dimensions including curriculum, campus operations, research and outreach activities. Originality/value The results make an important contribution in establishing a sustained green culture by offering a new university paradigm.

A structural equation model for knowledge sharing behavior in an emerging economy

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 925-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Youssef ◽  
Washika Haak-Saheem ◽  
Eyad M. Youssef
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Reward System ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Top Management Support ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Knowledge sharing behaviour is becoming one of the main priorities in organizations operating in emerging economies, as knowledge sharing behaviour may impact their competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of: openness and trust; top management support; and the reward system on knowledge sharing behaviour. In addition, the paper investigates how knowledge sharing behaviour impacts firm’s competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach The analyses in this paper were based on data from more than 230 companies operating in five industries in an emerging economy in the Gulf area. Structural equation modelling (SEM) methodology was used to test the impact of the three independent latent variables of openness and trust, top management support and the reward system on the knowledge sharing behaviour as well as the impact of the later on firm’s competitiveness. Findings Exploratory factor as well as confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess the five dimensions of knowledge sharing behaviour and firm’s competitiveness. SEM was used to test the four main hypotheses in this study and to assess the structural relationships among these five latent variables. There was a moderate relationship between the knowledge sharing behaviour and the three independent latent variables of openness and trust; top management support; and the reward system. There was a strong positive association between knowledge sharing behaviour and firm’s competitiveness. Practical implications For academics, the paper offers an opportunity to further study knowledge sharing behaviour in other emerging economies. Academics who are interested in examining this issue further may extend our study in many directions. For practitioners, our findings should motivate practitioners to place emphasis on top management support, openness and trust and the reward system to create a proper culture for knowledge creation and sharing. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt in its purpose and design to study knowledge sharing behaviour in multiple industries in an emerging economy such as that of Saudi Arabia.

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