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Proactive environmental and social strategies in a small‐ to medium‐sized company: A case study of a Japanese SME

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  • Gabriel Eweje

Abstract

There has been on‐going attention paid to small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) regarding how the sector manages their environmental and social impacts. This study examines the application of environmental and social sustainability practices in a Japanese SME because research on sustainability practices of such SMEs has been limited although SMEs in Japan contribute 70% of total employment and 20% of the gross national product. This study employed a qualitative case study approach based on responses from the CEO/owner of the case company and 123 employees. Using managerial discretion theory, this study found that the case company CEO/owner's decision‐making process, motivation, philosophy and determination to adapt sustainability practices played a major role in influencing employees' support for the company sustainability initiatives and contributed to positive staff turnover. This study found that if sustainability initiatives and practices are embedded into SMEs' business activities from the outset, their negative environmental and social impacts can be greatly reduced.

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  • Gabriel Eweje, 2020. "Proactive environmental and social strategies in a small‐ to medium‐sized company: A case study of a Japanese SME," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(7), pages 2927-2938, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:29:y:2020:i:7:p:2927-2938
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2582
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    2. Jannika Kutzschbach & Parvina Tanikulova & Rainer Lueg, 2021. "The Role of Top Managers in Implementing Corporate Sustainability—A Systematic Literature Review on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Laura Corazza & Maurizio Cisi & Greta Falavigna, 2022. "The enabling role of formalized corporate networks to drive small and medium‐sized enterprises toward sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 545-558, January.
    4. Charles H. Cho & Robin Jarvis & Julia Roloff & Amama Shaukat, 2021. "Environmental responsibility and disclosures by SMEs: Issues, challenges, and future directions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 739-740, January.
    5. Amna Farrukh & Sanjay Mathrani & Aymen Sajjad, 2022. "A natural resource and institutional theory‐based view of green‐lean‐six sigma drivers for environmental management," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1074-1090, March.
    6. Gabriel Eweje, 2020. "Sustainability discourse: Contemporary issues from different perspectives," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(7), pages 2893-2894, November.
    7. Junxiu Sun & Feng Wang & Haitao Yin & Rui Zhao, 2022. "Death or rebirth? How small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises respond to responsible investment," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1749-1762, May.
    8. Mai, Nhat Chi, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility in Small and Medium Enterprises in Vietnam," OSF Preprints acdm6, Center for Open Science.
    9. Maria Jesus Bonilla‐Priego & Juan‐José Nájera‐Sánchez & Xavier Font, 2022. "Beyond ethics: The transformational power of overlapping motivations in implementing strategic sustainability actions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 685-697, March.
    10. Villegas Pinuer, Francisco & Valenzuela Fernández, Leslier & Llonch Andreu, Joan & López Belbeze, Pilar, 2022. "Environmental sustainability and their factors in SMEs: A multiple case study of Spain and Chile," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).
    11. Kamalesh Kumar & Giacomo Boesso & Rishtee Batra & Jun Yao, 2021. "Cross‐national differences in stakeholder management: Applying institutional theory and comparative capitalism framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2354-2366, July.

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