Title: The relationship between sustainable business management and competitiveness: research trends and challenge

Authors: Gennaro Iasevoli; Marta Massi

Addresses: LUMSA University, Borgo Sant'Angelo 13, 00193, Rome, Italy. ' Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, Canada

Abstract: The paper provides a classification for the literature on the relationship between sustainable business management and competitiveness. The researchers analysed journal articles published from 1999 to 2010 and found that they address the competitive advantages of sustainable business management not only in terms of innovation and economic performance (e.g., cost saving and profitability), but also of eco-efficiency. Using the multidimensional scaling approach, the researchers identified three main semantic dimensions: a) the operational dimension; b) the market dimension; c) the environmental dimension. Based on this representation, the environmental and the operational dimensions are distant from the area including market advantages for the firm. It is arguable that the approach used to analyse sustainable business management and competitiveness will be more and more tri-dimensional and multidisciplinary in the future.

Keywords: sustainable development; sustainable business management; innovation; competitiveness; eco-efficiency; market advantage; sustainability; literature review; economic performance; cost saving; profitability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2012.045787

International Journal of Technology Management, 2012 Vol.58 No.1/2, pp.32 - 48

Published online: 06 Apr 2013 *

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