Special Issue "Business Models for SME’s Sustainability"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2022.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Francesca Gennari
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Interests: corporate sustainability; corporate strategy; circular economy
Prof. Dr. Raffaella Cassano
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Interests: corporate sustainability; corporate strategy and risk management; circular economy
Prof. Dr. Fabio La Rosa
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Law, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Interests: corporate social responsibility; business ethics; corporate governance; SMEs; corporate crime; risk management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last 20 years, numerous scholars have focused on the importance of sustainable value creation by companies as a source of global competitive advantage. The latest crisis due to COVID-19 has accelerated the debate around the non-sustainability of the current business approach, pressing for new sustainable business models.

European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are recognized by the European Commission as the backbone of the European economy, constituting 99% of the total European business and 85% of total European employment (Eurostat, 2018). The transition toward a more sustainable development of companies requires a deep change in strategic thinking and in the ways that business is conducted. Unfortunately, SMEs are burdened by their limited resources and the various barriers that they face, all of which impede their transition to a sustainability which is consistent with their dimensions and the respective industries in which they operate. For this reason, the existing literature on SMEs must be extended to include studies related to SMEs’ contribution to sustainability.

Hence, in this Special Issue, we invite papers that address the challenges SMEs face when it comes to identifying paths to sustainable development that involve changes to their business models. Original theoretical research papers and case studies are welcome.

Topics may include but are not limited to:

- Sustainability business models

- Circular economy

- Sustainability performance assessment

- Sustainability and innovation

- Barriers to sustainability strategies in SMEs

Prof. Dr. Francesca Gennari
Prof. Dr. Raffaella Cassano
Prof. Dr. Fabio La Rosa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • SMEs
  • sustainability business model
  • circular economy
  • sustainability strategy

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

Article
Sustainable Growth Variables by Industry Sectors and Their Influence on Changes in Business Models of SMEs in the Era of Digital Transformation
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7114; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137114 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 482
Abstract
SMEs around the world are constantly under threats to their survival and sustainable growth. This study evaluated the variables influencing the sustainable growth of SMEs in the technological evolution of digital transformation. I propose a business model innovation strategy for the sustainable growth [...] Read more.
SMEs around the world are constantly under threats to their survival and sustainable growth. This study evaluated the variables influencing the sustainable growth of SMEs in the technological evolution of digital transformation. I propose a business model innovation strategy for the sustainable growth of SMEs. Furthermore, I evaluated the variables influencing growth by industry sector and present strategies for innovation in the business model. Data were collected from 205 CEOs in six sector industries in Korea, and I investigated the effect of variables that affected the company’s sustainability when introducing digital transformation. A partial least-squares regression was used for the statistical analysis and was performed using a data group analysis. I found that the SME performance varied by industry and that technological competency had a mediating effect. The variables that most affected the SME performance were management, technology, and technical competence in marketing and innovation. This research went beyond the limitations of studying only the effects of each of the previous literature variables through causal studies linking these variables. The variables affecting the performance of the industries were found to be different. By comparing the variables that led to a difference in performance in the industrial sector, I developed a business model innovation strategy that can affect the sustainable performance of SMEs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Business Models for SME’s Sustainability)
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Article
Sustainable Business Model Innovations in the Value Uncaptured Manufacturing Industry: Fitting Gains—Gain Creators
Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5647; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105647 - 18 May 2021
Viewed by 446
Abstract
Increased manufacturing activity has an impact on environmental quality degradation. Waste generated from manufacturing activities is one of the causes. Previous studies have referred to this waste as value uncaptured. Minimizing value uncaptured is a solution to improve environmental quality. This study aims [...] Read more.
Increased manufacturing activity has an impact on environmental quality degradation. Waste generated from manufacturing activities is one of the causes. Previous studies have referred to this waste as value uncaptured. Minimizing value uncaptured is a solution to improve environmental quality. This study aims to reduce value uncaptured by converting it into value captured. This process requires a value proposition design approach because of its advantages. One of the advantages of this approach is that it can improve existing or future products/services. To do so, this research uses a case study of a furniture company. To implement a converting process, a sustainable business model is proposed to solve this problem. This business model combines several methods: value proposition design, house of value and the product sustainability index matrix. Recently, the existing value proposition problem-solving has been using the value proposition design method. This research proposed implementing a house of value to replace the fitting process. The questionnaire is developed to obtain various value uncaptured in the company. To the weight of the value uncaptured, this research utilized the pairwise comparison method. Then, the weights could represent the importance of jobs. Based on the highest weight of these jobs, the alternative gains would be selected. To provide the weight of the gain creators and value captured, the house of value method is developed. Referring to three pillars of sustainability, the value captured should be considered. This research proposed implementing a product sustainability index which in turn produces eco-friendly products. This study produces “eco-friendly products” as sustainability value captured. The sustainability business model could be an alternative policy to minimize the existence of value uncaptured. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Business Models for SME’s Sustainability)
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