Impact of Social and Environmental Practices on SME Business Performance

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maitreyee Das

<p>Influence of social and environmental practices in driving business growth in case of big companies is evident. However for small and medium enterprises these aspects of business operations are grossly neglected. SMEs contribute immensely to the economic progress of a country. But a large percentage of the SMEs fail within few years of incorporation. In our paper we have tried to develop a model taking a sample of 200 SMEs from Indian leather and chemical sectors and find out how factors like collaborative approach of operation at industry level and government intervention at policy level impact their sustainability performance and how in turn their improved social and environmental performance help them to drive sustainable business growth. Empirical results of our study reveal that both government intervention and collaborative operation positively influence the firm’s sustainability performance and in turn company’s business performance is positively impacted by enhanced sustainability performance. Company size was found to have a moderating effect on this relationship</p>

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maitreyee Das

<p>Influence of social and environmental practices in driving business growth in case of big companies is evident. However for small and medium enterprises these aspects of business operations are grossly neglected. SMEs contribute immensely to the economic progress of a country. But a large percentage of the SMEs fail within few years of incorporation. In our paper we have tried to develop a model taking a sample of 200 SMEs from Indian leather and chemical sectors and find out how factors like collaborative approach of operation at industry level and government intervention at policy level impact their sustainability performance and how in turn their improved social and environmental performance help them to drive sustainable business growth. Empirical results of our study reveal that both government intervention and collaborative operation positively influence the firm’s sustainability performance and in turn company’s business performance is positively impacted by enhanced sustainability performance. Company size was found to have a moderating effect on this relationship</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maitreyee Das ◽  
Krishnamachari Rangarajan

Purpose The influence of sustainability practices, especially those related to the environment and society in driving business growth is evident from the annual sustainability reports of big corporations. Also, there has been a plethora of research relating sustainability performance to the financial performance of these companies. However, in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises, a very limited research study has been done so far considering the societal and environmental aspects of their business operations. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially those in the emerging economy have grossly neglected their responsibilities and obligations towards the environment and society. SMEs are considered as growth engines for any nation. However, literature has shown that a large percentage of SMEs across the world fail within a few years of their incorporation. This paper aims to verify the relationship between sustainability performance and business growth for SMEs in the developing economy. Design/methodology/approach In the paper, the authors have tried to develop a model taking a sample of 200 SMEs from Indian leather and chemical sectors and find out how the factors like collaborative synergy and government policy initiatives impact the sustainability performance of small and medium firms and how in turn, their improved sustainability performance helps them to drive sustainable business growth. Data were mainly collected through primary survey and also from the company websites. Findings Empirical results of the study reveal that both policy initiatives and collaborative synergy positively influence the firm’s sustainability performance and, in turn, the company’s business growth is positively impacted by their enhanced sustainability performance. Company size was found to have a moderating effect on this relationship. Originality/value There are theoretical and conceptual papers elaborating on the importance of adoption of sustainability practices in SME business operations but no empirical study has been conducted to mathematically relate the factors of sustainability and business growth. The authors have tried to build a model relating the factors of sustainability improvement with those of the business growth of the firm and also verified the influence of control variables like company size on the proposed relationship.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3824
Author(s):  
Carla Curado ◽  
António Mota

In this study, we explore the research published from 2015 to 2020 on the importance of family firms (FFs) to sustainability. Our results come from a content analysis of 28 studies on this topic. Further, they deal with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the construction industry in Italy and Spain. These studies mainly follow a quantitative approach with data from a survey. This study’s main contribution regards the identification of three sorts of aspects associated to sustainability in FFs which match the three pillars of the triple bottom line approach that supports sustainable business development: social inclusion, economic development, and environmental protection. Our findings show that the family’s religiosity, reputation, and image play relevant roles in the FFs’ adoption of sustainable practices. Moreover, the CEO and their successor’s choices also have consequences for sustainability. These studies demonstrate how the family’s control, its values, and the industry influence the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices. FFs go green by adopting eco-innovation to adapt to the constantly changing environment and market pressures. We acknowledge the limitations of the study. We offer advice to colleagues when developing future futures studies to address the influence of cultural differences between FFs and non-FFs and suggest they perform comparative analyses. This research could lead to further investigation of the effects of other variables that may influence sustainability in the context of FFs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1021
Author(s):  
Sara Scipioni ◽  
Meir Russ ◽  
Federico Niccolini

To contribute to small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) sustainable transition into the circular economy, the study proposes the activation of organizational learning (OL) processes—denoted here as multi-level knowledge creation, transfer, and retention processes—as a key phase in introducing circular business models (CBMs) at SME and supply chain (SC) level. The research employs a mixed-method approach, using the focus group methodology to identify contextual elements impacting on CBM-related OL processes, and a survey-based evaluation to single out the most frequently used OL processes inside Italian construction SMEs. As a main result, a CBM-oriented OL multi-level model offers a fine-grained understanding of contextual elements acting mutually as barriers and drivers for OL processes, as possible OL dynamics among them. The multi-level culture construct—composed of external stakeholders’, SC stakeholders’, and organizational culture—identify the key element to activate CBM-oriented OL processes. Main implications are related to the identification of cultural, structural, regulatory, and process contextual elements across the external, SC, and organizational levels, and their interrelation with applicable intraorganizational and interorganizational learning processes. The proposed model would contribute to an improved implementation of transitioning into the circular economy utilizing sustainable business models in the construction SMEs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Karim Kanaan Jebna ◽  
Ahmad Suhaimi Baharudin

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the main contributor toward prospering the Malaysian economy [1]. Despite the fact that Malaysia is a fast growing economy in South-East Asia, death of SMEs is unavoidable. An exploratory study was conducted to investigate the factors that have an impact on business performance and success in Malaysia. Interviews with SMEs from different industries were conducted. Several factors were found to contribute to the success of business. The factors are classified into financial and non-financial determinants. These factors include customer satisfaction, service quality, experience, business expansion, competitor orientation, solving problems, cash flow, and the amount of sales and revenue. Building on these interviews, a discussion and conclusion have been provided.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hindu Jibril Amin ◽  

Entrepreneurial Marketing (EM) Dimensions play a critical role in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) performance. The extant study explored the effect of EM dimensions on the performance of SMEs operating within Nasarawa State, Nigeria. EM was conceptualized as innovativeness, risk-taking, and value creation. The research population was 1979 registered SMEs in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. The sample size was 322 which was determined using Raosoft sample size calculator. Out of 322 sets of questionnaire distributed, 136 were validly filled and returned. The data collected were analyzed using Regression Analysis technique to test the study’s hypotheses using Statistical Product and Service Solutions software. Results specify that all three of the EM dimensions under study have significant effect on SME performance. In terms of contribution to the model, the explanatory variables were able to contribute 62.1 percent to the variable of interest (SME performance). On individual basis, innovativeness explained the most to the criterion variable. The findings of this study offer important insights for owners and managers of SMEs, researchers, and policymakers to further understand the effects of EM dimensions on SMEs’ performance. SMEs should be encouraged to embrace the entrepreneurial dimensions of innovativeness, risk taking, and value creation to increase business performance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-199
Author(s):  
Khasan Setiaji ◽  
Rifalatul Umi

The business performance is influenced by various factors such as marketing strategy and production factor. Both have important roles to improve business performance. However, the number of Troso weaving cloth decreased gradually from 2013 up to 2016. This study aims at knowing the impact of marketing strategy and production factor to the performance of small and medium enterprises on Troso weaving cloth simultaneously and partially.  The population was 180 owners of Troso weaving cloth with the sample of 64. The sample was determined by using proportionate random sampling. Then, the variables for this study consist of independent variables that are marketing strategy (X1) and production (X2) factor; and dependent variable that is business performance (Y). Based on the percentage descriptive analysis. The marketing strategy variable has influence as many as 73% with good category, while the production factor influences business performance, 61% with the moderate category. This study has found that marketing strategy and production factor have positive and significant impact partially and simultaneously to the business performance of small and medium enterprises on Troso weaving cloth.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document