SMEs & CR

Literature Review and Conceptual Framework for the Drivers and Barriers to imparting free environmental knowledge and training to SMEs
(Allen, Alastair)

When area becomes an enemy. CSR and SME’s international development strategies
(De Chiara, Alessandra)

CSR-Tools for SMEs – Comparative Analysis of Two Different Tools
(Gelbmann, Ulrike)

Supply Chain Environmental Management: A Case for Engagement with SMEs?
(Howarth, Richard)

Factors affecting the engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility of Small and Medium Enterprises in Taiwan
(Hsu, Jui-Ling & Cheng, Meng-Cheng)

Sustainable Entrepreneurship in SMEs: A Case Study Analysis
(Rodgers, Cheryl)

Corporate Responsibility as a Crucial Challenge for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises?
(Schenkel, Markus & Walther, Michel)

Practices of corporate social responsibility in the context of sustainable development – an empirical study on selected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia
(Siwar, Chamhuri; Bin Hossain, Tareq & Islam, MD Jahirul)

Literature Review and Conceptual Framework for the Drivers and Barriers to imparting free environmental knowledge and training to SMEs
(Allen, Alastair)

The author uses an extensive review of the SMEs, training and sustainable development literatures to develop a Conceptual Framework showing the Driving and Restraining Forces for imparting free environmental knowledge to SMEs.

The work confirms that SMEs are an important and vibrant sector of the economy and a very diverse and heterogeneous group differing in structure, style, processes and resources from the larger organisations at which environmental training is generally aimed. The work notes that there are many Governmental and non- Governmental bodies wishing to give free environmental assistance to the SME sector, but the assistance is not taken up for a variety of reasons such as lack of awareness of the assistance, a distrust of the providers or a perception that the assistance is inappropriate to them. Those that might be tempted to accept the assistance do not do so as they think that the costs will outweigh the benefits or that staff trained in this specialist field will defect to other companies.

This new Conceptual Framework reinforces the view that within SMEs the most important factor in decisionmaking is the owner/manager. Convincing this individual is key to imparting environmental knowledge and training. However the new Conceptual Framework also discovers that many Drivers such as legislation, financial concerns and the attitude to training can also be Restrainers dependent upon the view of the SME owner/manager, thus presenting providers of environmental assistance with the dichotomy that a 'selling point' for training can also be a obstacle.

(Click here to view the full paper [103 KB] ) (back to top)

When area becomes an enemy. CSR and SME’s international development strategies
(De Chiara, Alessandra)

Abstract

It is a common knowledge that the image of the production country leads consumer's behaviour in the purchase process, especially in the hypothesis in which he hasn't had any other experience of consume or when isn't able to value qualitative attributes of the product.

In the same time country is an important competition factor for SMEs. These companies are strongly integrated with local community, from which draw on resources, often not available. So the capacity to create consensus and trust around the firm and its projects becomes an essential element for the perpetuation of these companies' activities.

The consciousness that exists a reciprocal interdependence relationship among companies and communities that hold them, where firms' competitiveness derive from prosperity and competitiveness of the area, leads us to reflect on the possibility that the area convert itself from a friend in an enemy. There are several examples where the environment pollution, corruption and degradation image penalize local economy and SMEs operated in it.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the contribution of CSR's tools for improving SMEs' image and their international competitiveness. Theoretical framework will considerate approaches on comparative advantage, on impact of origin country (IPO), also known as made in, and on CSR and SMEs' international development strategies.

Empirical analysis will considerate some study cases of SMEs which operate in the South of Italy, in the "mozzarella" (fresh cheese) business and in the clothing business, but, in this last case, that have de-localize the production process in Cina.

(Click here to view the full paper [82 KB] ) (back to top)

CSR-Tools for SMEs – Comparative Analysis of Two Different Tools
(Gelbmann, Ulrike)

Abstract

CSR comprises a wide range of activities from single-issue-activities to integrative triple-bottom-line approaches. Even considering integrative approaches only provides a multitude of tools with differing intentions, qualities and foci of applicability. Several approaches have tried to structure the field (e.g. EC 2003, Garriga/Mele 2003).

This paper analyzes experiences from two processes of developing and implementing CSR tools in SMEs ISIS took part in (BLISS - BusinessguideLines Inducing Social Sustainability -, according to EC 2003 an enablerconcept), and an official Austrian CSR-Quality-Label, a so-called visibility signal. Goal was to identify criteria on which SME can select the appropriate integrative CSR-tool considering their status quo and intentions as to CSR, personnel and financial expenditures, time requirements, social, economic, and ecological risks and advantages, stakeholder-integration. The investigation was accomplished by analyzing project reports, tools, guidelines, and indicators derived during the project and feedback from our industry partners.

Comparison shows considerable differences between tools, as to application scope and stakeholder integration. Enabler concepts are more difficult to implement than visibility signals, but help enterprises gain the expertise to obtain a visibility signal. The more CSR has been mainstreamed within an enterprise, the more likely visibility tools will be sufficient.

Due to the inductive approach we cannot absolutely generalize these results. Large-scale surveys will have to provide more detailed information and will have to include other instruments as well. First surveys in Austrian waste industry, however, indicate that SMEs are still too short on experience with CSR tools to be able to judge these properly.

(Click here to view full paper [69 KB] ) (back to top)

Supply Chain Environmental Management: A Case for Engagement with SMEs?
(Howarth, Richard)

Abstract

Although not vast there is an existing body of literature which addresses and investigates Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and their environment related behaviour. This body of work regularly highlights the impact SMEs have on the environment and the current 'problem' of SMEs in this area (i.e. large overall/grouped impact and limited current activity).

In this context, and when considering the overall change process, much of the current literature (and theory) identifies the importance of external factors and pressure. Here, regulation, the supply-chain and support are regularly observed to have prominence and impact alongside, for some, internal factors such as resources, ethics and champions.

With the above in mind, and as a result of a specific knowledge transfer project (and case study), this paper engages with this overall area and debate and focuses specifically on the theory and practice of environmental supply-chain management (ESCM) and SME behaviour. In doing so the author considers the wider strategy and change context, potential tensions in current literature (ESCM v SME) and, having investigated the behaviour of SMEs within a specific supply-chain, outlines a framework of understanding and intervention.

(back to top)

Factors affecting the engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility of Small and Medium Enterprises in Taiwan
(Hsu, Jui-Ling & Cheng, Meng-Cheng)

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly popular in the West and recently is receiving more attention by corporations in Asia. Many large corporations or manufacturers have already make decisions to engage in CSR initiatives or done much to improve the social and environmental performances. However, researchers have paid much attention on study in the large companies. Actually, many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) may be doing CSR in some way or form, but don't call it "CSR" as such. There are few investigations about the situation of practices of CSR in SMEs. The total number of SMEs account for 97.63% of the whole business in Taiwan. And the employees of SMEs account for 79.13% in whole. SMEs, in fact, play an important role in CSR field. Consequently, there are urgent needs for academic researchers to study in the SMEs' engaging in CSR.

This study intends to apply the diffusion theory of Abrahamson (1991) to see the effect of 'copy degree' and 'external effect' on the will of implementing CSR. Then, the research applies the diffusion of innovation model (Roger, 1983) to test the effect of six frameworks, namely the comparative advantage, the tolerance degree, the complexity, the observable expectation, the image, and the non-voluntary will. Business ethicists must acknowledge that the large multinational firm is not a standard business form against which other types are benchmarked. This research intends to take a further examination of the influence factors of six frameworks that affecting the engaging in CSR of SMEs in Taiwan manufacture. The result will contribute to understanding the practices in SMEs of Taiwan manufacturing, also to the suggestion to Government concerning for CSR, and for those SMEs intending to engage in CSR in the future.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

(Click here to view the full paper [257 KB] ) (back to top)

Sustainable Entrepreneurship in SMEs: A Case Study Analysis
(Rodgers, Cheryl)

Abstract

Sustainability is oft thought of as the privilege of the large corporate - with sufficient funds to invest in anything from effective green PR to a stringent range of measures designed to improve its carbon footprint: witness Marks and Spencer's 'Plan A' Programme. What is perhaps less well-understood and documented is the range of activities undertaken by SMEs, including very small entrepreneurial startups, some of which base their entire business rationale around sustainable principles. As Schaper points out," green entrepreneurship …provides new opportunities for the nimble first movers." (Schaper, 2002. p27.) Such "ecopreneurship," defined roughly as "entrepreneurship through an environmental lens" (Schaltegger, 2002. p47) is still an emerging phenomenon with a developing literature base and definitions (see Linnanen, 2002. Pastakia, 1998. Schaltegger, 2002.) This paper uses a case study approach to explore the modus operandi of ecopreneurship and draws on both primary research and secondary data to develop and explore a model of sustainable entrepreneurship in the small and start-up business sector. Preliminary findings suggest that ecopreneurial SMEs are looking to other goals alongside financial ones and are prepared to go to significant lengths in their business measures to achieve such goals. Monetary measures are not, of course entirely absent, but are very strongly conditioned by the eco-conscious nature of the business. In short, sustainability imperatives remain paramount.

(Click here to view the full paper [231 KB] ) (back to top)

Corporate Responsibility as a Crucial Challenge for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises?
(Schenkel, Markus & Walther, Michel)

Abstract

Corporate Responsibility (CR) is of growing relevance for companies. Especially major enterprises increasingly align their business to social and ecological demands whereas SMEs recently and cautiously started dealing with CR. One reason is the significantly less stakeholder pressure they face. SMEs traditionally take above average responsibility for the local community and for their employees.

Responsibility expresses itself mainly in philanthropic activities (corporate giving, sponsoring) directed at these stakeholder groups (usually without there being any pressure). However CR-management in SMEs is less comprehensive than in major enterprises and not embedded within strategy and organisation. This is also based on the fewer resources SMEs (can) provide for CR. Problems arise out of this situation as the most relevant issues for the future (e.g. supply-chain responsibility) are hardly ever discussed and dealt with in SMEs. The strategic task for SMEs is twofold. First, CR could become a prerequisite for company success, not only for major enterprises but SMEs as well. At the moment it seems that SMEs are not sufficiently prepared and have to make up leeway. Second, CR could even be an opportunity for SMEs as they enjoy more public trust than major enterprises. That would need a different approach to CR than so far.

Possible (strategic) changes, path dependencies and path creation depend on the decisionmaker’s perceptions of CR and strategy. These are empirically examined in ongoing quantitative and qualitative studies. First results can be presented at the conference.

(Click here to view the full paper [118 KB] ) (back to top)

Practices of corporate social responsibility in the context of sustainable development – an empirical study on selected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia
(Siwar, Chamhuri; Bin Hossain, Tareq & Islam, MD Jahirul)

Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in an economy. SMEs are the engine of economic growth which also represents the key source of endogenous growth. SMEs constitute about 90% of enterprises and form between 50-60% of employment at a national level especially for developing countries. In Malaysia, 99.3% or 518,996 of business establishment are small and medium enterprises. According to the Ninth Malaysia Plan, SMEs will be developed to be more competitive and resilient enterprise, equipped with strong technical and innovative capacity, as well as managerial and business skills for the sustainable development of the country. To ensure the sustainable development, it is appropriate for SMEs to practice Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in their business field. Through CSR, the commitment of business towards sustainable economic development could be gauged.

This research intends to find-out the level of CSR practice in Malaysian SMEs. An open and close ended questionnaire has been developed and filled by 57 managers of selected SMEs in Malaysia. Result shows that the term CSR is new in Malaysia; but a good number of SMEs are practicing many of the functions of CSR.

Key word: CSR, SME, sustainable development

(Click here to view full paper [146 KB] ) (back to top)