Title: Sustainable leadership and entrepreneurship for corporate sustainability in small enterprises: an empirical analysis

Authors: Suparak Suriyankietkaew

Addresses: College of Management, Mahidol University, 69 Viphavadee Rangsit Road, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Abstract: This paper empirically investigates leadership and management practices that the literature suggests to influence organisational performance and corporate sustainability in entrepreneurial firms, an area that is lacking to date. Survey data were gathered from the 357 small business leaders in Thailand. A sustainability research model and hypotheses were developed based on sustainable leadership's theoretical framework. Factor analysis revealed eight leadership and management factors, including enabling and trusting team, valuing people, empowerment, ethics, long-term orientation, quality, stakeholder consideration and innovation, which were postulated to significantly and positively predict superior financial performance and sustainability in small, entrepreneurial firms. Regression results indicated that innovation, high quality and stakeholder consideration were three significant drivers for enhanced long-term financial performance, thereby contributing to corporate sustainability. Therefore, small and entrepreneurial enterprises in Thailand and possibly in other Asian countries should consider adopting these strategic leadership and management practices to grow superior financial results and corporate sustainability.

Keywords: leadership; sustainable leadership; sustainability; sustainable entrepreneurship; small business; financial performance; innovation; high quality; stakeholder; Thailand.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2019.098463

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2019 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.256 - 275

Received: 25 Jan 2017
Accepted: 29 Mar 2017

Published online: 25 Mar 2019 *

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