Title: Sustainability for small and medium enterprises: an interpretive structural modelling approach

Authors: B. Uma Maheswari; D. Kavitha

Addresses: PSG Institute of Management, PB NO 1668, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore, India; PSG Institute of Management, India ' PSG Institute of Management, PB NO 1668, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore, India; PSG Institute of Management, India

Abstract: Sustainability symbolises an equitable world with responsible governments, businesses and people striving to protect the natural environment and social equity, at the same time not compromising their quest for economic growth. This empirical study on the sustainability scenario in SMEs is undertaken in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, South India. The sample for the study consisted of 220 SMEs drawn from the members of CODISSIA. This pioneering empirical research has identified the mutual influences amongst the drivers of sustainability. These variables were identified based on a literature review and a survey conducted among small and medium enterprises. The interpretive structural modelling analysis has been used to identify the interrelationships amongst the identified variables. Further, a MICMAC analysis was used to classify the variables as driver variables, linkage variables, autonomous variables and dependent variables. The results of the study provide insights on the appropriate factors that drive sustainability practices.

Keywords: sustainability; small and medium enterprises; India; interpretive structural modelling; MICMAC analysis; drivers; top management commitment; associations; networks; organisational ethics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2020.106367

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2020 Vol.20 No.3, pp.433 - 449

Received: 15 Mar 2018
Accepted: 19 Nov 2018

Published online: 03 Apr 2020 *

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