Search Results (26)

Digital transformation is increasingly recognized as an important enabler of sustainable development and competitiveness in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, evidence on how different dimensions of digital transformation relate to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains limited. This study explores the relationship between digital transformation and selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, in which quantitative findings informed the subsequent qualitative exploration and interpretation of managerial perspectives. The quantitative phase combined data from Eurostat’s ICT Usage Survey (2020–2024), including 60 sustainability-related indicators, with an analysis of the relationship between the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and selected SDG indicators across 27 EU member states using Spearman’s rank correlation. The quantitative analysis suggests that Slovenia performs close to the EU average in overall digitalization, while significant associations were identified between digitalization and SDG 9. The qualitative phase consisted of semi-structured interviews with managers from ten Slovenian SMEs from different sectors. The findings indicate that managers perceive digital technologies, process digitalization, data-driven decision-making, and employee digital competencies as important contributors to sustainability-related outcomes, particularly in relation to SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12, and SDG 13. The study contributes to the literature on sustainability-oriented digital transformation in SMEs by integrating quantitative benchmarking with managerial perspectives. The findings highlight the importance of organizational capabilities, digital competencies, and strategic alignment in translating digital transformation initiatives into sustainability-related outcomes. The results provide practical implications for SMEs and policymakers seeking to support sustainable and digitally enabled business development. Full article

Morocco has developed one of the most comprehensive sustainability governance architectures among middle-income emerging economies, yet the relationship between its formal regulatory ambition and on-the-ground implementation effectiveness remains poorly understood. This narrative literature review provides an integrated, critically analytical account of Morocco’s sustainability governance system, organised around three interlocking dimensions: (i) a progressively strengthened legislative corpus anchored by the 2011 Constitution and Framework Law 99-12; (ii) a portfolio of national sustainability strategies aligning domestic policy with Paris Agreement commitments, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and (iii) corporate sustainability practices driven by regulatory obligations, international supply chain pressures, and ESG disclosure norms. Drawing on 124 sources, comprising 62 peer-reviewed articles, 38 legislative texts, and 24 institutional reports, and applying institutional isomorphism theory as an integrating analytical lens, the review advances three theoretical propositions concerning the conditions under which formal governance architectures translate into effective sustainability outcomes. It further proposes a validated conceptual framework and develops a comparative positioning of Morocco against peer economies (Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa, and Turkey). Critical implementation gaps are identified in enforcement capacity, SME integration, sustainability data infrastructure, and green finance, contributing a balanced and evidence-grounded assessment of Morocco’s sustainability transition. These findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, regulators, and business leaders operating in the Moroccan and broader African context. Full article

Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) and traditional word of mouth (WOM-T) are key information channels in consumer decisions, but there are still gaps in integrative models that analyze both channels simultaneously in emerging contexts. This exploratory, theory-informed study proposes a conceptual model that articulates five antecedents—satisfaction, trust, emotional bond, openness to novelty, and perceived social influence—two mediators—consumer engagement and recommendation intention—and two outcome behaviors—eWOM and traditional WOM—to examine how these variables are associated with the generation of recommendations among young/internet-connected consumers of SME services in the Lambayeque Region, Peru. Using PLS-SEM with 380 participants, 25 structural hypotheses were evaluated, including direct effects and simple and sequential mediations. In this non-probability sample, the hypothesized associations were statistically supported: antecedents were positively associated with engagement, which was positively associated with recommendation intention, which in turn predicted both online and offline WOM behaviors. Emotional bond and trust showed particularly strong effects. The model explained between 49% and 64% of the variance in endogenous variables. The findings contribute to understanding word-of-mouth dynamics in emerging markets for the studied segment of digitally connected consumers, with implications for relational marketing strategies and SDGs 8 and 12. Importantly, the contribution to SDG 12 is conditional: word-of-mouth can also amplify unsustainable consumption when recommendations are not linked to responsible practices; this caveat should be considered when interpreting the sustainability implications of these findings. Full article

Sustainable environmental performance (SEP) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has attracted researchers and practitioners’ attention. The achievement of sustainable environmental performance has been largely dependent on the prevailing external ecosystem conditions. Yet in emerging economies such as Ghana, there is limited research and evidence on the extent to which external ecosystem resources influence sustainable environmental performance. This study aims to investigate how external entrepreneurial ecosystem resources including policy, access to finance, market availability, institutional support, human capital and culture influence the sustainable environmental performance (SEP) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using sample data from Ghana. A total of 386 SME manufacturing and service firms were sampled to participate. Structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) tested a multi-theory framework grounded in the Resource-based View (RBV), Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) and Stakeholder Theory. The results indicate that policy, finance, institutional support, and markets exert significant positive effects on SMEs’ SEP. Culture and human capital were found to have a weaker contribution to SMEs’ SEP. The novelty of this study lies in empirically demonstrating the primacy of ecosystem structural levers over softer ecosystem factors in driving SME sustainable environmental performance, thereby offering a new explanatory hierarchy of ecosystem drivers for sustainability in developing economies. We advance the RBV, RDT and the Stakeholder Theory by showing that external ecosystem resources act as critical environmental enablers for SMEs in developing economies. The findings offer globally relevant policy insights for advancing SDGs 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action) through targeted ecosystem interventions. Full article

Given the aggregated potential impact of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), this study analyzes the disclosure of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among companies located in the municipality in Portugal, awarded the ‘SMEs Excellence’ certification by the Institute for the Support of Small and Medium Enterprises (IAPMEI) in 2022. Given the limited empirical evidence on SDG disclosure among high-performing, non-listed SMEs in Portugal, the study adopts a hybrid exploratory–descriptive research design to provide new empirical insights on the sustainability disclosure practices of firms holding this certification. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 51 ‘SMEs Excellence’ located in the municipality of Águeda, district of Aveiro, yielding 24 responses. The findings are interpreted through the lenses of stakeholder, legitimacy, and signaling theories. Results indicate that only 42% of the companies recognize the importance of the SDGs, prioritizing decent work, innovation, and responsible consumption (SDGs 8, 9, and 12). However, only 12.5% formally disclose their SDG engagement. The main barriers to disclosure include limited institutional support, time constraints, and insufficient knowledge. Among firms that do disclose SDG-related initiatives, the primary motivations are image enhancement and stakeholder recognition. Respondents also highlight the importance of financial incentives, examples of best practices from other companies, and targeted training as key factors in supporting and expanding SDG disclosure among SMEs. This study contributes to the literature by providing one of the first empirical analyses of SDG disclosure among financially robust SMEs in Portugal, highlighting how stakeholder pressure, legitimacy concerns, and signaling incentives shape disclosure behavior. Full article

Wildlife-based commodities increasingly contribute to regional development across the Global South, yet their governance frequently remains fragmented and weakly aligned with sustainable development objectives. The swiftlet nest trade is one of Indonesia’s most valuable wildlife-derived export sectors, generating substantial local income while raising regulatory, ecological, and sanitation challenges. This study examines how local governance arrangements shape sustainable development outcomes in the swiftlet nest trade in Kapuas District, Indonesia, with reference to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Using a prospective policy analysis framework, the research applies the MULTIPOL (Multi-Policy Evaluation) method to evaluate the performance of alternative policy actions under three governance scenarios: regulatory strengthening, investment facilitation, and literacy and capacity building. Empirical data were generated through structured expert judgment and focus group deliberations involving local government authorities, quarantine agencies, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), swiftlet farmers, and exporters. The results show strong stakeholder convergence around regulatory strengthening as the most influential policy lever, particularly in improving compliance reliability, institutional coordination, and resource sustainability. Investment facilitation and literacy programs emerge as complementary interventions that become effective when regulatory coherence is established. These findings demonstrate that institutional coordination and policy sequencing play a critical role in aligning wildlife-based regional economies with sustainable development pathways. Full article

The topic of sustainability reporting by SMEs is gaining significant importance in European contexts such as Italy. However, recent regulations, constantly evolving in terms of legal requirements and practical standards, do not yet provide solid foundations to guide small and medium-sized enterprises. This study aims to examine how Italian listed SMEs address sustainability issues in terms of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their sustainability reports, in light of the recent requirements set out in European directives (i.e., Directive 2022/2464/EU—Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Directive 2025/794/EU—Stop the Clock). The analysis is based on a content review of 17 sustainability reports published in 2023 by Italian SMEs listed on Euronext Growth Milan of Borsa Italiana. The research protocol was structured around the key SDG themes found in the reports, using Python 3.14.2 libraries including Pandas, NumPy, NLTK, and Matplotlib. The findings highlight heterogeneous approaches to sustainability. Most firms adopt symbolic approaches based on formal narrative disclosures without addressing sustainability reporting’s substantive dimensions. They overlook both the principle of double materiality, actually recommended by the CSR Directive, and the provision of assurance statements on reports. Although mandatory sustainability reporting is not imminent, particularly in light of the “Stop the Clock” measure, this research offers significant insights into both theoretical and practical implications. From a theoretical standpoint, it contributes to the growing body of literature on sustainability practices among SMEs. From a managerial standpoint, it underscores the importance of designing tailored reporting practices for SMEs that avoid administrative costs and overload issues, at the same time fostering a substantive approach to disclosure able to convey meaningful information to stakeholders. Full article

This research experimentally investigates the association between multidimensional risk factors and economic growth, quantified by GDP as a partial indicator of advancement towards economically relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This research experimentally investigates the correlation between multidimensional risk variables and economic growth, quantified by GDP as a partial indicator of advancement towards economically relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Saudi Arabia, particularly in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. This study utilizes annual data from 1990 to 2024 and employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to examine the short-run and long-run relationships between economic growth, as measured by GDP, and five key risk dimensions: governance effectiveness, financial development, environmental pressure, human capital, and oil price volatility, which act as proxies for risk dimensions. The main contribution of this study is the integration of these governance, financial, environmental, human capital, and oil price risk factors into a single ARDL framework for Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2024, using GDP growth as a proxy for progress toward SDGs within the Saudi Vision 2030 context, addressing gaps in prior studies that focus on individual determinants. The empirical evidence indicates a long-term cointegration relationship among the variables. Our findings indicate that government effectiveness and investment in human capital are important positive factors associated with long-term economic growth, thereby validating the importance of institutional improvements and educational expenditures. In contrast, fluctuations in oil prices and environmental pressures are linked to adverse association, highlighting issues related to resource dependency and ecological degradation. Financial development exhibits a negative long-run association, indicating potential inefficiencies or diminishing returns in loan distribution. The study offers essential policy recommendations, such as expediting digital governance reforms, allocating financial resources to non-oil SMEs (SDG 8), aligning educational curricula with labor market demands, and implementing stricter environmental regulations to separate economic growth from emissions. Full article

Contract manufacturing is a pivotal strategy for brand owners, yet small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies struggle to evolve beyond transactional roles into sustainable strategic partners. This study addresses this gap by empirically validating and refining the Mahove–Matope Sustainable Contract Manufacturing Company Maturity Model (SCMC-MM), a novel framework designed to guide SMEs through a holistic transformation. Through a seven-month longitudinal case study grounded in design science research approach within a South African food manufacturing SME, the model was implemented and evaluated using structured assessments, in-depth interviews, and longitudinal operational data. The application catalysed a system-wide transformation, yielding significant results, including a 133% increase in revenue, ISO 22000 certification, and perfect delivery reliability. Furthermore, the study theoretically refines the framework by identifying and incorporating novel critical success factors for contract manufacturing companies, such as industrial clustering and transformational leadership. The results demonstrate that the SCMC-MM offers a practical, actionable, and scalable tool for building resilient supply chain partnerships. It provides a structured pathway for SMEs to achieve simultaneous gains in economic performance, social equity through enhanced workforce capability and ethical practices, and environmental stewardship via formalised safety, health, and environmental and risk management systems, thereby contributing directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 9 in emerging markets. Full article

Gender equality and sustainability remain critical global agendas emphasized in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015. Women entrepreneurs in emerging economies, despite facing structural constraints, hold strategic potential to advance inclusive and sustainable growth. Building on this context, the present study develops and empirically tests an integrative framework that explains how gendered entrepreneurial cognition (GEC) influences sustainable performance (SP) through the mediating roles of women’s intellectual capital (WIC) and women’s social capital (WSC). A sequential explanatory mixed-method design was employed, combining survey data from 653 women entrepreneurs with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative results demonstrate that GEC significantly enhances WIC and WSC, which in turn strengthen SP, while the direct effect of GEC on SP is weaker. Qualitative insights reinforce these findings by revealing how women mobilize adaptive knowledge, experiential learning, and trust-based networks to achieve economic, social, and environmental objectives. Theoretically, this study advances an innovative multitheoretical integration of the resource-based view, knowledge-based view, and social capital theory, positioning GEC as a gendered cognitive microfoundation for the creation of intangible resources. Practically, the findings highlight that strengthening women’s entrepreneurial capital—represented by the synergy of WIC and WSC—is crucial for enhancing resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability among women-led SMEs in emerging economies. Overall, this study contributes novel evidence from Indonesia by demonstrating that women’s cognition, knowledge, and social networks operate as interconnected pathways toward sustainable entrepreneurial performance. Full article

This article explores the current state of collaboration between higher education institutions (HEIs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on advancing the achievements of SDG 9. Using two bibliometric analyses, in Scopus and Web of the Science, this study examines resilient infrastructure, innovation, information and communication technology, and financial services as fundamental concepts within SDG 9’s targets to investigate how SMEs can contribute to meeting SDG 9 and what can be expected from higher education institutions to generate knowledge that supports SMEs’ efforts. The bibliometric analysis revealed trends and patterns that shape the state of the art regarding HEIs-SMEs collaboration for SDG 9. There is a subtle yet significant partnership between higher education institutions and SMEs centered around the key aspect of innovation within SDG 9. Even more significant is the insight into various mechanisms for strengthening knowledge transfer from higher education institutions to SMEs, as they substantially enhance the capabilities and skills of their workforce to innovate primarily through information and communication technologies. This suggests that higher education institutions emerge as strategic partners for SMEs to progress toward, if not all, some of the targets of SDG 9, which is essential for their sustainable future readiness. Full article

The intersection of digitalization and sustainability is reshaping the tourism industry, with digital platforms playing a transformative role in optimizing travel experiences while simultaneously influencing economic inclusivity, labor dynamics, and environmental responsibility. This paper explores how Industry 4.0 technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, blockchain, virtual reality (VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT)—are integrated into digital tourism platforms, assessing their dual impact on sustainability and market structures. The study develops a conceptual framework around five key dimensions: market power and digital dependency, AI-driven automation and workforce transformation, innovation and digital inclusion, sustainability innovations, and data security and governance. While digital platforms enhance personalization, operational efficiency, and eco-conscious travel, they also reinforce economic disparities, monopolization, and regulatory challenges, raising concerns related to SDGs such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption, and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The study highlights the need for equitable governance frameworks to mitigate risks associated with AI-driven monopolization, algorithmic bias, and data privacy violations while ensuring digital accessibility for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The findings contribute to ongoing discussions on platform economics, digital governance, and sustainable tourism transformation, offering policy and managerial implications for fostering an inclusive and environmentally responsible tourism industry. Full article

Green innovation is essential for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), as it fosters environmental and social benefits while also creating new economic opportunities. Despite previous studies actively conducting empirical analyses on green innovation, research on guiding the green innovation process through artificial intelligence remains scarce. This study aims to explore key variables that affect green innovation, thereby promoting the sustainable development of organizations, and to investigate the incentive mechanisms behind it. By uncovering the internal and external factors that drive green innovation and their interactions, we can better understand and optimize the process of fostering green innovation. Unlike previous studies, this research not only explores variables and verifies main effects but also provides and validates a research model related to the occurrence of green innovation. Additionally, this study determines the extent to which artificial intelligence management influences green innovation through knowledge sharing and examines whether an innovative culture moderates the impact of artificial intelligence management and knowledge sharing on green innovation, as well as whether it moderates the mediating effect of knowledge sharing within the model. Therefore, this study collected data from 331 adult employees of SMEs across 23 provinces, cities, and districts in China and conducted empirical analyses, including confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability analysis. The results indicate that artificial intelligence management directly affects green innovation and indirectly affects it through the partial mediating role of knowledge sharing. Furthermore, an innovative culture significantly moderates the mediating role of knowledge sharing between artificial intelligence management and green innovation. In exploring the variables of green innovation, this study established an adjusted mediating model and verified its significance. In summary, the causal relationship between artificial intelligence management and green innovation, as demonstrated through this process, contributes to the expansion of the research field and the advancement of SDGs, specifically Goals 9 and 12. The study’s findings highlight the importance of integrating artificial intelligence management to enhance green innovation, which is vital for the sustainable development and economic growth outlined in the SDGs. Full article

Policymakers, governments, and Islamic financial institutions are increasingly focusing on sustainable development, leading to an in-depth examination of current sustainable finance practices, projects, and product portfolios. This study examines the role of Islamic sustainable finance (ISF) in promoting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to avert financial risk in the management of Islamic Finance Products (ISFP). Through qualitative analysis, the study conducts a critical literature review (CLR) that incorporates conceptual, theoretical, and empirical perspectives on ISF and SDGs and addresses two specific research questions. Our study examines over 48 journals from 2010 to 2024 and provides insights into how ISF advances the SDGs across all environmental, social, and economic dimensions. It also highlights that ISF promotes green entrepreneurship by investing in sustainable projects, supporting SMEs, and offering alternative financing. ISF also promotes financial stability, justice, and growth and is consistent with the principles of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. Key ISF mechanisms that promote the SDGs include Islamic Green Sukuk, Socially Responsible Investment Funds, Islamic Microfinance, and Islamic Impact Investing. Integrating Islamic ethical principles into financial activities is crucial for inclusive and sustainable economic development. These qualitative insights are critical for policymakers, Islamic financial institutions, Halal entrepreneurs, environmentalists, and investors to understand the potential of Islamic social finance (ISF) to support sustainable practices, projects, and portfolios. Furthermore, the ISFs alignment with Maqasid al-Shari’ah highlights its importance in promoting sustainable development while mitigating financial risk in ISFPs management. The study offers robust contributions to the existing literature to provide comprehensive insights into how ISF can be effectively used to promote SDGs. Full article

This paper investigates the incorporation of sustainable development within the Portuguese agri-food sector amid global environmental and resource challenges. It underscores the role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in steering businesses towards sustainable practices. Through qualitative analysis, in-depth interviews with managers and experts explored sustainable business model adoption, highlighting SMEs’ unique challenges. The study reveals a divergence in sustainability practice maturity, advocating for integration into organizational culture and strategy. It points out SMEs’ reactive stance due to resource constraints and external pressures, contrasting with larger firms’ proactive approaches. The research supports a strategic reevaluation of business models for sustainability, emphasizing innovation, leadership, organizational commitment, and transparent communication. Practical contributions include embedding sustainability into core operations, enhancing competitiveness, fostering sustainable organizational culture, prioritizing employee well-being, and leveraging innovative marketing for sustainability communication. Recognizing its limitations, this study advocates exploring blockchain and AI for transparency, leadership’s role in sustainable models, and the importance of marketing in the agri-food sector for sustainable management. Insights indicate that innovation and strategic partnerships are crucial for enhancing organizational sustainability and achieving the SDGs. Full article