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How Do European SME Owner–Managers Make Sense of 'Stakeholder Management'? : Insights from a Cross-National Study

Author

Listed:
  • Hans-Jörg Schlierer

    (EM - EMLyon Business School)

  • Andrea Werner
  • Silvana Signori
  • Elisabeth Garriga
  • Heidi von Weltzien Hoivik
  • Annick van Rossem
  • Yves Fassin

Abstract

The vast majority of empirical research on stakeholder management has traditionally focused on multinational corporations. Only in recent years, scholars have begun to pay attention to the stakeholder management concept in relation to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The few existing studies in this area, however, discuss SMEs as a context free category or remain focused on single country analysis. This cross-national empirical research investigates SME owner–managers' perceptions of stakeholder management in six European countries. The comparative analysis is followed by a discussion of how institutional, cultural and linguistic contexts can influence owner–managers' sensemaking of stakeholder management. Our study questions the universality of specific management terms and proposes that more attention should be paid to the institutional, cultural and linguistic environments that shape economic activity in different parts of Europe.

Suggested Citation

  • Hans-Jörg Schlierer & Andrea Werner & Silvana Signori & Elisabeth Garriga & Heidi von Weltzien Hoivik & Annick van Rossem & Yves Fassin, 2012. "How Do European SME Owner–Managers Make Sense of 'Stakeholder Management'? : Insights from a Cross-National Study," Post-Print hal-02312832, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02312832
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    5. Skruibytė Izolda, 2020. "The Problems of the Assessment of Corporate Social Responsibility in the International Context," Management of Organizations: Systematic Research, Sciendo, vol. 83(1), pages 93-112, June.
    6. Montserrat Manzaneque-Lizano & Esteban Alfaro-Cortés & Alba María Priego de la Cruz, 2019. "Stakeholders and Long-Term Sustainability of SMEs. Who Really Matters in Crisis Contexts, and When," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-27, November.
    7. Williams, Christopher & Spielmann, Nathalie, 2019. "Institutional pressures and international market orientation in SMEs: Insights from the French wine industry," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 1-1.
    8. Leon Guillén & Afcha Sergio & Chu Manuel, 2022. "Research on social responsibility of small and medium enterprises: a bibliometric analysis," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(3), pages 857-909, September.
    9. Matt Statler & David Oliver, 2016. "The Moral of the Story: Re-framing Ethical Codes of Conduct as Narrative Processes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(1), pages 89-100, June.
    10. Obey Dzomonda & Olawale Fatoki, 2017. "The Impact of Ethical Practices on the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 9(5), pages 209-218.
    11. Monfardini, Patrizio & Barretta, Antonio D. & Ruggiero, Pasquale, 2013. "Seeking legitimacy: Social reporting in the healthcare sector," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 54-66.

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