Awareness and Application of Sustainability Management Tools in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Authors

With the intention of supporting small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) managers improve their environmental and social performance, a steadily growing body of research proposes the application of various sustainability management tools, ranging from environmental audits, management systems and sustainability reports, and standards, e.g. UN Global Compact and Global Reporting Initiative. However, the application and long-term use of formal tools and standards is not self-evident for a majority SMEs. This paper builds upon prior research in this small but growing field. Taken from results of a recent survey with 1,000 SME managers, it investigates the applicability of 36 sustainability management tools. In particular, it examines the rates of awareness, rates of application, managers’ perceived effects from application and facilitating attributes of multiple tools. Even though the rates of awareness and application are low for most tools, a positive correlation exists between these two variables. Furthermore, the facilitating conditions to promote application are highlighted. As a result, this paper achieves a general overview of sustainability management tools applicable for SMEs, including the tools that are most frequently applied and the tools that have a potential for greater application.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAcademy of Management Proceedings : Organizations & The Natural Environment
Number of pages1
PublisherAcademy of Management (Briarcliff Manor, NY)
Publication date2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Event73rd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management - AOM 2013: Capitalism in Question - Lake Bueno Vista, Orlando, United States
Duration: 09.08.201313.08.2013
Conference number: 73.
http://aom.org/Events/2013-Annual-Meeting-of-the-Academy-of-Management.aspx

Bibliographical note

Aufsatz-Nr. 16036