IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i11p5939-d561568.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Can Uptake the Sustainable Development Goals through a Cluster Management Organization: A Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Eduardo Jiménez

    (Doctoral Program in Economics and Business, National University of Distance Education (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Marta de la Cuesta-González

    (Department of Applied Economics, National University of Distance Education (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Montserrat Boronat-Navarro

    (Business Administration Department, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain)

Abstract

Even though many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) realize the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for their sustainable business development, they face difficulties when individually pursuing this target. This paper aims to provide cluster-based SMEs with a framework to facilitate the uptake of the SDGs through a cluster network model. By focusing on the case study of a furniture production Cluster Management Organization (CMO Habic a network-based approach to sustainability management is analyzed in order to integrate the SDGs framework into SMEs’ everyday language and day-to-day operations. Through a cluster model approach, industry-specific sustainability material issues are tackled jointly and with the aim of applying a common solution to a similar challenge, Lehi-ODS, an online sustainability management tool for SME self-evaluation, has been developed wherein the participating SMEs can gain an overarching knowledge about the UN 2030 Agenda, assess their own alignment with the SDGs and with respect to that of their peers, and prioritize initiatives to correctly deliver them. The main conclusion derived from the paper is that a CMO is deemed to be a valuable driver in identifying common sector-specific challenges of corporate sustainability and in addressing collectively the question of contributing to the SDGs.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduardo Jiménez & Marta de la Cuesta-González & Montserrat Boronat-Navarro, 2021. "How Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Can Uptake the Sustainable Development Goals through a Cluster Management Organization: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:5939-:d:561568
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/5939/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/5939/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aitziber Elola & Jesus M. Valdaliso & Susana Franco & Santiago M. López, 2017. "Public policies and cluster life cycles: insights from the Basque Country experience," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(3), pages 539-556, March.
    2. Ernestina Rubio-Mozos & Fernando Enrique García-Muiña & Laura Fuentes-Moraleda, 2019. "Rethinking 21st-Century Businesses: An Approach to Fourth Sector SMEs in Their Transition to a Sustainable Model Committed to SDGs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-23, October.
    3. Matthew P. Johnson, 2015. "Sustainability Management and Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises: Managers' Awareness and Implementation of Innovative Tools," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(5), pages 271-285, September.
    4. Stuart S. Rosenthal & William C. Strange, 2003. "Geography, Industrial Organization, and Agglomeration," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 85(2), pages 377-393, May.
    5. Mª Eugenia López‐Pérez & Iguácel Melero & F Javier Sese, 2017. "Management for Sustainable Development and Its Impact on Firm Value in the SME Context: Does Size Matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(7), pages 985-999, November.
    6. Ian Rankin Kerr, 2006. "Leadership strategies for sustainable SME operation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(1), pages 30-39, January.
    7. Inessa Laur & Magnus Klofsten & Dzamila Bienkowska, 2012. "Catching Regional Development Dreams: A Study of Cluster Initiatives as Intermediaries," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(11), pages 1909-1921, August.
    8. Heledd Jenkins, 2006. "Small Business Champions for Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 67(3), pages 241-256, September.
    9. Bikefe, Grace & Zubairu, Umaru & Araga, Simeon & Maitala, Faiza & Ediuku, Ekanem & Anyebe, Daniel, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by small and medium enterprises (SMEs): a systematic review," Small Business International Review, Asociación Española de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas - AECA, vol. 4(1), pages 16-33, January.
    10. James R. Wilson, 2019. "Cluster policy resilience: new challenges for a mature policy," International Journal of Business Environment, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(4), pages 371-382.
    11. Jerker Moodysson & Michaela Trippl & Elena Zukauskaite, 2017. "Policy learning and smart specialization: balancing policy change and continuity for new regional industrial paths," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 44(3), pages 382-391.
    12. Massimo Battaglia & Lara Bianchi & Marco Frey & Fabio Iraldo, 2010. "An innovative model to promote CSR among SMEs operating in industrial clusters: evidence from an EU project," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(3), pages 133-141, May.
    13. José M. Moneva & Julio Hernández-Pajares, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility performance and sustainability reporting in SMEs: an analysis of owner-managers' perceptions," International Journal of Sustainable Economy, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(4), pages 405-420.
    14. Áron Perényi & Miklós Losoncz, 2018. "A Systematic Review of International Entrepreneurship Special Issue Articles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-26, September.
    15. Hans Verboven & Lise Vanherck, 2016. "Sustainability management of SMEs and the UN Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 165-178, November.
    16. Wioleta Kucharska & Rafał Kowalczyk, 2019. "How to achieve sustainability?—Employee's point of view on company's culture and CSR practice," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 453-467, March.
    17. Cristina Aragón & Cristina Iturrioz & Francisco José Olarte & Mari Jose Aranguren & Miren Larrea, 2009. "A new step in cluster policy evaluation in the Basque Country," Working Papers 200901, Orkestra - Basque Institute of Competitiveness.
    18. Heidi Weltzien Høivik & Deepthi Shankar, 2011. "How Can SMEs in a Cluster Respond to Global Demands for Corporate Responsibility?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 101(2), pages 175-195, June.
    19. Borja Diez-Cañamero & Tania Bishara & Jose Ramon Otegi-Olaso & Rikardo Minguez & José María Fernández, 2020. "Measurement of Corporate Social Responsibility: A Review of Corporate Sustainability Indexes, Rankings and Ratings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-36, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Qinghua Fu & Muhammad Safdar Sial & Muhammad Zulqarnain Arshad & Ubaldo Comite & Phung Anh Thu & József Popp, 2021. "The Inter-Relationship between Innovation Capability and SME Performance: The Moderating Role of the External Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Alfonso Pellegrino & Masato Abe, 2023. "Leveraging Social Media for SMEs: Findings from a Bibliometric Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Lovlyn Ekeowa Kelvin-Iloafu & Francis Ezieshi Monyei & Wilfred Isioma Ukpere & Happiness Ozioma Obi-Anike & Phina Njideka Onyekwelu, 2023. "The Impact of Human Capital Development on the Sustainability and Innovativeness of Deposit Money Banks’ Workforces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Md Tasbirul Islam & Usha Iyer-Raniga, 2023. "Circular Business Model Value Dimension Canvas: Tool Redesign for Innovation and Validation through an Australian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-47, July.
    5. Patrycja Krawczyk, 2021. "Non-Financial Reporting—Standardization Options for SME Sector," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, September.
    6. María Garrido-Ruso & Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán & Albertina Paula Monteiro, 2022. "Businesses’ Role in the Fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-35, July.
    7. Renata Aguayo Lopes da Silva & Renato Cesar Gonçalves Robert & Thomas Purfürst, 2023. "How Is the Forest Sector’s Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Being Addressed? A Systematic Review of the Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-25, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Massimo Battaglia & Francesco Testa & Lara Bianchi & Fabio Iraldo & Marco Frey, 2014. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Competitiveness within SMEs of the Fashion Industry: Evidence from Italy and France," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Adelaide Martins & Manuel Castelo Branco & Pedro Novo Melo & Carolina Machado, 2022. "Sustainability in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-26, May.
    3. Dolores Gallardo-Vázquez & Luis Enrique Valdez-Juárez & Ángela María Castuera-Díaz, 2019. "Corporate Social Responsibility as an Antecedent of Innovation, Reputation, Performance, and Competitive Success: A Multiple Mediation Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-28, October.
    4. Mercedes Rubio‐Andrés & María del Mar Ramos‐González & Miguel Ángel Sastre‐Castillo & Ignacio Danvila‐del‐Valle, 2020. "Exploring sustainability, good governance, and social responsibility in small and medium enterprises," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 852-869, March.
    5. Xue Yang & Yuandi Wang & Die Hu & Yongqiang Gao, 2018. "How industry peers improve your sustainable development? The role of listed firms in environmental strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1313-1333, December.
    6. Matthew P. Johnson, 2015. "Sustainability Management and Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises: Managers' Awareness and Implementation of Innovative Tools," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(5), pages 271-285, September.
    7. David Talbot & Nicolas Raineri & Alain Daou, 2021. "Implementation of sustainability management tools: The contribution of awareness, external pressures, and stakeholder consultation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 71-81, January.
    8. Salina P. Siddique & Nick Sciulli, 2018. "Sustainable development of small companies: Investors' perspectives," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1258-1271, December.
    9. Asif Mahmood & Rana Tahir Naveed & Naveed Ahmad & Miklas Scholz & Muhammad Khalique & Mohammad Adnan, 2021. "Unleashing the Barriers to CSR Implementation in the SME Sector of a Developing Economy: A Thematic Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    10. 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.
    11. Guillén León, 2017. "Evaluation of the perception and application of social responsibility practices in micro, small and medium companies in Barranquilla. An analysis from the theory of Stakeholders," Estudios Gerenciales, Universidad Icesi, vol. 33(144), pages 261-270, August.
    12. Daniel RUSU, 2021. "PERFORMANCE AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN SMEs," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 15(1), pages 638-646, November.
    13. Herrera Madueño, Jesús & Larrán Jorge, Manuel & Lechuga Sancho, María Paula & Martínez-Martínez, Domingo, 2016. "Responsabilidad social en las pymes: análisis exploratorio de factores explicativos," Revista de Contabilidad - Spanish Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 31-44.
    14. Whitney O. Peake & Danielle Cooper & Margaret A. Fitzgerald & Glenn Muske, 2017. "Family Business Participation in Community Social Responsibility: The Moderating Effect of Gender," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(2), pages 325-343, May.
    15. Chege, Samwel Macharia & Wang, Daoping, 2020. "The influence of technology innovation on SME performance through environmental sustainability practices in Kenya," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    16. Heather Stewart & Rod Gapp, 2014. "Achieving Effective Sustainable Management: A Small‐Medium Enterprise Case Study," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(1), pages 52-64, January.
    17. Silvia Cantele & Alessandro Zardini, 2020. "What drives small and medium enterprises towards sustainability? Role of interactions between pressures, barriers, and benefits," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1), pages 126-136, January.
    18. Linda Westman & Christopher Luederitz & Aravind Kundurpi & Alexander Julian Mercado & Olaf Weber & Sarah Lynne Burch, 2019. "Conceptualizing businesses as social actors: A framework for understanding sustainability actions in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 388-402, February.
    19. Fouad Ben Abdelaziz & Houda Alaya & Prasanta Kumar Dey, 2020. "A multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm for business sustainability analysis of small and medium sized enterprises," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 293(2), pages 557-586, October.
    20. Tina Sendlhofer, 2020. "Decoupling from Moral Responsibility for CSR: Employees' Visionary Procrastination at a SME," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(2), pages 361-378, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:5939-:d:561568. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.