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Sustainable development in small and medium enterprises: The role of entrepreneurial orientation in supply chain management

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  • Graça Miranda Silva
  • Paulo J. Gomes
  • Helena Carvalho
  • Vera Geraldes

Abstract

Organizations are under increased pressure to improve their sustainable performance through the adoption of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have lagged behind larger corporations due to a number of factors. Chief among these factors is the lack of resources and capabilities. In this study, we investigate whether entrepreneurial orientation as a distinctive firm‐level resource contributes to the successful implementation of GSCM practices within SMEs. We use primary data obtained from 316 manufacturing SMEs and analyze the data by using a fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Our findings show four equifinal configurations of GSCM practices and the components of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) that lead to high environmental performance. Two practices, “eco‐design” and “internal environmental management”, are present in all configurations, with the latter being the single core condition. The components of EO are present in all the configurations. Three distinct configurations lead to the simultaneous achievement of high environmental performance and high economic performance. Some noticeable differences appear in these configurations: “internal environmental management” is no longer a core condition, instead external practices (“green purchasing,” “cooperation with customers including environmental requirements,” and “investment recovery”) and “risk‐taking” become core conditions. We exptrapolate our findings into a set of propositions that expand theory on the link between entrepreneurial orientation and sustainable performance. Our study provides insights for managers who seek to infuse entrepreneurial thoughts and actions into their green supply chain initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Graça Miranda Silva & Paulo J. Gomes & Helena Carvalho & Vera Geraldes, 2021. "Sustainable development in small and medium enterprises: The role of entrepreneurial orientation in supply chain management," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3804-3820, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:30:y:2021:i:8:p:3804-3820
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2841
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    1. Luu Trong Tuan, 2023. "Fostering green product innovation through green entrepreneurial orientation: The roles of employee green creativity, green role identity, and organizational transactive memory system," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 639-653, January.
    2. 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.
    3. Silvia Cantele & Chiara Leardini & Luca Piubello Orsini, 2023. "Impactful B Corps: A configurational approach of organizational factors leading to high sustainability performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1104-1120, May.
    4. Smith, Hannah & Discetti, Roberta & Bellucci, Marco & Acuti, Diletta, 2022. "SMEs engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals: A power perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 112-122.
    5. Nadia Zahoor & Yong Kyu Lew, 2022. "Sustaining superior international performance: Strategic orientations and dynamic capability of environmentally concerned small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1002-1017, March.
    6. Samuel Foli & Susanne Durst & Lidia Davies & Serdal Temel, 2022. "Supply Chain Risk Management in Young and Mature SMEs," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, July.

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