524 research outputs found

    An empirical investigation of the relationship between integration, dynamic capabilities and performance in supply chains

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    This research aimed to develop an empirical understanding of the relationships between integration, dynamic capabilities and performance in the supply chain domain, based on which, two conceptual frameworks were constructed to advance the field. The core motivation for the research was that, at the stage of writing the thesis, the combined relationship between the three concepts had not yet been examined, although their interrelationships have been studied individually. To achieve this aim, deductive and inductive reasoning logics were utilised to guide the qualitative study, which was undertaken via multiple case studies to investigate lines of enquiry that would address the research questions formulated. This is consistent with the author’s philosophical adoption of the ontology of relativism and the epistemology of constructionism, which was considered appropriate to address the research questions. Empirical data and evidence were collected, and various triangulation techniques were employed to ensure their credibility. Some key features of grounded theory coding techniques were drawn upon for data coding and analysis, generating two levels of findings. These revealed that whilst integration and dynamic capabilities were crucial in improving performance, the performance also informed the former. This reflects a cyclical and iterative approach rather than one purely based on linearity. Adopting a holistic approach towards the relationship was key in producing complementary strategies that can deliver sustainable supply chain performance. The research makes theoretical, methodological and practical contributions to the field of supply chain management. The theoretical contribution includes the development of two emerging conceptual frameworks at the micro and macro levels. The former provides greater specificity, as it allows meta-analytic evaluation of the three concepts and their dimensions, providing a detailed insight into their correlations. The latter gives a holistic view of their relationships and how they are connected, reflecting a middle-range theory that bridges theory and practice. The methodological contribution lies in presenting models that address gaps associated with the inconsistent use of terminologies in philosophical assumptions, and lack of rigor in deploying case study research methods. In terms of its practical contribution, this research offers insights that practitioners could adopt to enhance their performance. They can do so without necessarily having to forgo certain desired outcomes using targeted integrative strategies and drawing on their dynamic capabilities

    Systemic Circular Economy Solutions for Fiber Reinforced Composites

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    This open access book provides an overview of the work undertaken within the FiberEUse project, which developed solutions enhancing the profitability of composite recycling and reuse in value-added products, with a cross-sectorial approach. Glass and carbon fiber reinforced polymers, or composites, are increasingly used as structural materials in many manufacturing sectors like transport, constructions and energy due to their better lightweight and corrosion resistance compared to metals. However, composite recycling is still a challenge since no significant added value in the recycling and reprocessing of composites is demonstrated. FiberEUse developed innovative solutions and business models towards sustainable Circular Economy solutions for post-use composite-made products. Three strategies are presented, namely mechanical recycling of short fibers, thermal recycling of long fibers and modular car parts design for sustainable disassembly and remanufacturing. The validation of the FiberEUse approach within eight industrial demonstrators shows the potentials towards new Circular Economy value-chains for composite materials

    Adapting omnichannel strategies to answer post-pandemic consumers' evolved in-store shopping expectations

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    Technology-infused omnichannel strategies have solidified their role in the turbulent environment of retailing. The advantages of such retailing approaches have been recognised during the interminable rise of e-commerce in the past decades, but the physical resurgence of consumers after the global pandemic evolved omnichannel expectations to new standards. Now, consumers desire a blend of online convenience in physical stores, driving retailers to adapt their technological capabilities to ensure seamless in-store shopping experiences. Because omnichanneling has become a necessity, retailers need to possess the understanding of providing valuable customer journeys. To offer insights and perspectives around the novel shift in physical retailing, this thesis was conducted as a two-case study, examining two retail giants that have emerged from opposite sides, the physical-first Target and online-dominant Amazon. To gain recent knowledge from the two companies, mainly qualitative secondary data was collected from diverse online sources, which were scrutinised employing content analysis and thematic synthesis. The longitudinal time horizon allowed for a progressive viewpoint to be constructed regarding the evolving dynamics between online and offline channels, and the role of technological implementations. The results of this thesis firstly sum up the expectations of consumers that have evolved pre- and post-pandemic, mainly the pursuit of convenience, continuity, and hedonistic aspects. Furthermore, this thesis explores various innovative technological features and how they can be integrated into physical stores to support seamless omnichannel expectations. In line with the results, the thesis suggests that most widely adapted technologies within case companies are scattered between the many phases of the shopping journey, either designed to complement the shopping experience by enhancing the favoured attributes, make the in-store interactions and steps more autonomous, or automate back-end operations. These technologies can be joined as a part of cohesive omnichannel experiences to contribute to borderless channel integration, all-inclusive offerings, and personalisation. The findings demonstrate that both case companies have explicit connections with theoretical frameworks. Along with the findings and synthesis, this thesis reinforces the discourse of post- pandemic omnichannel experiences and supplies real-life examples of diverse strategic uses of in-store technologies.Teknologiapohjaiset omnikanavastrategiat ovat vakiinnuttaneet asemansa vähittäiskaupan epävakaassa ympäristössä. Tällaisten vähittäismyyntitapojen edut ovat tiedostettu viime vuosikymmeninä verkkokaupankäynnin jatkuvan nousun aikana, mutta kuluttajien fyysinen palaaminen maailmanlaajuisen pandemian jälkeen nosti omnikanavaodotukset uusiin standardeihin. Nykyään kuluttajat mielivät yhdistelmiä verkkokaupan etuja fyysisissä myymälöissä, mikä ajaa vähittäismyyjiä mukauttamaan teknologisia valmiuksiaan varmistaakseen saumattoman ostoskokemuksen myymälässä. Koska omnikanavointi on muodostunut välttämättömyydeksi, vähittäismyyjien on ymmärrettävä, miten tarjota arvokkaita asiakasmatkoja. Tarjotakseen näkemyksiä ja perspektiivejä fyysisen vähittäiskaupan tuoreesta muutoksesta, tämä pro gradu -tutkielma toteutettiin tapaustutkimuksena tarkastellen kahta vastakkaiset lähtökohdat omaavaa vähittäiskaupan jättiläistä, kivijalkalähtöistä Targetia ja verkkovaltaista Amazonia. Molemmista yrityksistä hankittiin ajantasaista tietoa, pääasiassa laadullista sekundääridataa monipuolisista verkkolähteistä, jotka tarkasteltiin sisällönanalyysin ja teemasynteesin avulla. Pitkittäistutkimuksen aikajänne mahdollisti progressiivisen näkökulman muodostamisen verkkokanavien ja fyysisten kanavien välillä muuttuvista dynamiikoista ja toteutettujen teknologioiden roolista. Tämän tutkielman tulokset tiivistävät kuluttajien odotukset, jotka ovat kehittyneet ennen ja jälkeen pandemian, pääasiassa mukavuuden, jatkuvuuden ja hedonististen näkökohtien osalta. Lisäksi tutkielma tutustuu erilaisiin innovatiivisiin teknologiaominaisuuksiin ja siihen, miten niitä voidaan integroida fyysisiin myymälöihin edesauttamaan saumattomia omnikanavaodotuksia. Tulosten mukaisesti tutkielma ehdottaa, että tapaustutkimusyritysten laajimmin omaksutut teknologiat ovat hajallaan monissa ostosmatkan vaiheissa, joko suunniteltu täydentämään ostoskokemusta korostamalla haluttuja piirteitä, itsenäistämään myymälässä tapahtuvat vuorovaikutukset ja ostovaiheet tai automatisoimaan taustaprosesseja. Nämä teknologiat voidaan yhdistää osaksi yhtenäisiä omnikanavakokemuksia edistämään saumattomia kanavaintegraatioita, kaiken kattavaa tarjontaa ja personointia. Tutkimuksen löydökset osoittavat, että molemmilla tapaustutkimusyrityksillä on selviä yhteyksiä teoreettisiin viitekehyksiin. Löydösten ja synteesin ohella tämä tutkielma vahvistaa pandemian jälkeistä omnikanavakokemuksia koskevaa keskustelua ja tarjoaa todellisia esimerkkejä erilaisten myymäläteknologioiden strategisista käyttötavoista

    Co-development of home energy management solutions in Finnish virtual communities

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    The increased use of renewable energy sources sets requirements for more flexible demand-side solutions with their intermittent production. The electricity network is getting smarter and approaching a level of a smart grid where the consumption can be optimized and kept in balance with the production. Since electricity consumption takes place within residential consumers’ homes as a part of their daily life its optimization is a personal subject that should be studied to be able to understand the best practices. It has also been found that it is common for active users to create their own solutions. All of these aspects together create opportunities for co-development between the consumers and commercial solution providers. The aim of this study was to bring clarity to the contemporary topics of home energy management and co-development via virtual communities. The research objective was set to first describe the processes of developing home energy management solutions in Finnish virtual communities and the solutions developed by consumers. Second part of the objective was to describe the solution providers and discuss ways of co-development between consumers and solution providers. Research questions were set accordingly to the research objective. First question was divided into two and it asked how the solutions are developed and what kinds of solutions are developed. The second question was divided into two as well and it asked what kinds of solutions are commercially available already and how the solution providers can participate in solution development in virtual communities. The phases of the research process were literature review, data collection using semi-structured interviews, qualitative data analysis, and synthesis. The findings of the literature review about consumers were that they can have more influence on consumption with smart home solutions and microgeneration. Innovative lead users were considered important in co-development. The concepts of smart grid and demand-side management were also discussed as well as virtual communities and knowledge sharing. A framework was constructed of the interaction of users and solution providers in virtual communities. Semi-structured interviews were chosen as the data collection method to collect interviewees’ experiences in various details. Seven consumers and seven solution providers were interviewed during the process. The chosen data analysis method was thematic analysis which was conducted with the help of computer-aided qualitative data analysis software. The results of the interviews revealed that there were lead users and user innovators who discussed solutions actively in virtual communities. Part of frequent interaction is knowledge sharing and helping out other community members. The virtual communities had tens of thousands of members. The recent growth in member amount seemed to lower the level of professionality and knowledge in the communities. Users had created mostly software based solutions, but also some hardware and behavioral were found. The most important benefits for users were monetary and information benefits. Among interviewed solution providers the most common business model was to provide home energy management systems as a service. With a subscription the customers get price-based consumption optimization. The providers were using virtual community platforms to some extent. Ideas for improvement include smaller pilot groups and discussion involving consumers. This study contributed to research fields of home energy management, user innovation, and virtual communities. Future research could include quantitative data from social media analysis.Uusiutuvien energianlähteiden lisääntynyt käyttö asettaa vaatimuksia joustavammille kuluttajapuolen ratkaisuille niiden jaksottaisesta tuotannosta johtuen. Sähköverkko kehittyy älykkäämmäksi ja lähestyy älykkään verkon tasoa, jossa kulutusta voidaan optimoida ja pitää tasapainossa tuotannon kanssa. Sähkön kulutus tapahtuu kotitalouskuluttajien kodeissa osana heidän jokapäiväistä elämäänsä, joten sen optimointi on henkilökohtainenkin asia, jota tulee tutkia sen parhaiden toimintatapojen ymmärtämiseksi. Lisäksi tutkimuksista on selvinnyt, että aktiiviset käyttäjät luovat omia ratkaisujaan melko yleisesti. Kaikki nämä näkökohdat yhdessä luovat mahdollisuuksia yhteiskehittämiselle kuluttajien ja kaupallisten ratkaisujen toimittajien välillä. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selventää kodin energianhallinnan ja virtuaaliyhteisöjen välityksellä tapahtuvan yhteiskehittämisen ajankohtaisia aiheita. Tutkimuksen tavoitteeksi asetettiin ensinnäkin suomalaisissa virtuaaliyhteisöissä tapahtuvan energianhallintaratkaisujen kehitysprosessien sekä kuluttajien kehittämien ratkaisujen kuvailu. Toisena osana tavoitetta oli kuvailla ratkaisuntarjoajia ja pohtia yhteiskehittämisen tapoja kuluttajien ja ratkaisuntarjoajien välillä. Tutkimuskysymykset asetettiin tutkimuksen tavoitteen mukaisesti. Ensimmäinen kysymys jaettiin kahteen osaan, joissa kysyttiin, kuinka ratkaisuja kehitetään, sekä millaisia ratkaisuja kehitetään. Toinen kysymys jaettiin niin ikään kahteen osaan, joissa kysyttiin, millaisia ratkaisuja on kaupallisesti tarjolla, sekä miten ratkaisuntarjoajat voivat osallistua ratkaisujen kehitykseen virtuaalisissa yhteisöissä. Tutkimusprosessin vaiheita olivat kirjallisuuskatsaus, tiedonkeruu teemahaastatteluilla, laadullinen data-analyysi, ja synteesi. Kirjallisuuskatsauksen löydökset kuluttajiin liittyen olivat, että heillä on paremmat mahdollisuudet vaikuttaa kulutukseen älykotiratkaisuilla sekä mikrotuotannolla. Kiinnostuneilla ja innovatiivisilla käyttäjillä on merkittävää arvoa yhteiskehittämisessä. Älykkään sähköverkon ja kysynnän hallinnan konseptit käsiteltiin katsauksessa virtuaalisten yhteisöjen ja tietämyksen jakamisen lisäksi. Tutkimuksessa koottiin myös viitekehys käyttäjien ja ratkaisuntarjoajien vuorovaikutuksesta virtuaalisissa yhteisöissä. Teemahaastattelut valittiin tiedonkeruumenetelmäksi, jotta haastateltavien kokemukset saatiin kerättyä monipuolisin yksityiskohdin. Prosessin aikana haastateltiin seitsemää kuluttajaa ja seitsemää ratkaisuntarjoajaa. Data-analyysi menetelmäksi valittiin aihekohtainen analyysi, joka toteutettiin tietokoneavusteisen laadullisen data-analyysin ohjelmiston avulla. Haastattelujen tulokset paljastivat, että lead user -tyyppiset käyttäjät ja innovaattorit keskustelivat ratkaisuista aktiivisesti virtuaalisissa yhteisöissä. Osana jatkuvaa vuorovaikutusta on tiedon jakaminen ja muiden yhteisön jäsenten auttaminen. Virtuaalisissa yhteisöissä oli kymmeniä tuhansia jäseniä. Viimeaikainen kasvu jäsenten määrässä vaikutti vähentävän ammattimaisuutta ja laskevan tietämyksen tasoa. Käyttäjät loivat enimmäkseen ohjelmistopohjaisia ratkaisuja, mutta myös joitakin laitteistoon ja käyttäytymiseen perustuvia ratkaisuja löydettiin. Tärkeimmät hyödyt käyttäjille olivat rahalliset ja tietohyödyt. Haastateltujen ratkaisuntarjoajien joukossa yleisin liiketoimintamalli oli tarjota kodin energianhallintajärjestelmää palveluna. Tilaamalla palvelun asiakkaat saavat hintaan perustuvan kulutuksen optimointipalvelun. Palveluntarjoajat käyttivät virtuaalisten yhteisöjen alustoja jossain määrin. Kehitysehdotuksiin sisältyy pienten testiryhmien käyttö ja asiakkaiden osallistaminen. Tämä tutkimus edesauttoi tutkimusta kodin energianhallinasta, käyttäjäinnovaatiosta, ja virtuaalisista yhteisöistä. Tuleva tutkimus voisi sisältää sosiaalisen median kvantitatiivista analyysiä

    Scaling through investment in medium-sized SaaS enterprises

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    The concept of scaling has become a closely followed and interesting topic in the SaaS industry in the context of growth, which indicates a need for additional research on scaling up companies, and especially what to strive for and how to execute plans regarding scaling. This study has attempted to contribute to existing literature and provide practical applications and managerial implications for any SaaS company trying to scale up their business, especially from the new sales and revenue generation perspective. This thesis aims to fill the research gaps, especially on the process of scaling and how to achieve scalable growth. The approach can be condensed into the main research question “How are medium-sized SaaS businesses scaling up after investment?” and the two sub-questions “What are the processes behind scaling up medium-sized SaaS businesses?” and “What is the role of investment in scaling up medium-sized SaaS businesses?” These research questions are answered through the combination of reviewing existing literature on the subject and data collected by interviewing industry experts on the phenomenon of scaling up SaaS businesses. The research process begins with a review of existing academic literature, which will then be used to create a theoretical framework. The findings from the review and the creation of the framework guide the planning and generation of the interview questions, and the framework is also used when presenting and discussing findings from the collected data. The theoretical framework is a result of an iterative parsimony effort, where an existing framework on scaling is modified to better fit the process of scaling up SaaS businesses. The modified drivers represent four key elements in scaling up SaaS businesses after receiving investment: Creation of value propositions, investor value-added, access to new markets and institutionalized rules and norms. The collected data is examined through the perspective of the four drivers. The main finding of this thesis is the process a SaaS company can utilize when aiming to scale up after receiving external investment. The process includes getting to understand how the market and company are developing, evaluating if the efforts and resources should be focused on existing customers and the processes associated with maintaining and growing customer relationships or if the focus can be on growing the customer base through the actions of sales and marketing. The conclusions and managerial implications provide additional detail to how initiatives should be attempted and what kinds of ways can be evaluated when deciding on the proper approach to scaling up a SaaS company. In addition to this, the thesis contributes to defining the term scaling, which is yet to enjoy a commonly agreed upon definition. The thesis is evaluated from a critical perspective and certain limitations are identified and presented, alongside suggestions for future research. The main suggestions revolve around the data collection phase, namely the selection and number of interviewees.Skaalautuvuuden käsitteestä on tullut tiiviisti seurattu ja mielenkiintoinen aihe SaaS-toimialalla, mikä on osoittanut tarvetta tutkimukselle yritysten skaalaamisesta ja erityisesti siitä, mihin skaalaussuunnitelmilla kannattaa pyrkiä ja miten niitä kannattaa toteuttaa. Tällä tutkimuksella on pyritty täydentämään olemassa olevaa kirjallisuutta ja tarjoamaan käytännön sovelluksia SaaS-yrityksille, jotka yrittävät laajentaa liiketoimintaansa, erityisesti asiakashankinnan näkökulmasta. Tämän opinnäytetyön tavoitteena on täyttää tutkimusaukot erityisesti skaalausprosessin ja skaalautuvan kasvun saavuttamisen osalta. Lähestymistapa voidaan tiivistää päätutkimuskysymykseen ”Kuinka keskisuuret SaaS-yritykset skaalautuvat investoinnin jälkeen?” ja kahteen alakysymyksen "Mitkä prosessit ovat keskisuurten SaaS-yritysten skaalaamisessa tärkeimpiä?" ja "Mikä on investointien rooli keskisuurten SaaS-yritysten skaalaamisessa?" Näihin tutkimuskysymyksiin vastataan tarkastelemalla aiempaa kirjallisuutta ja alan asiantuntijoita haastattelemalla kerättyä tietoa SaaS-liiketoiminnan laajentamisesta. Tutkimusprosessi alkaa akateemisen kirjallisuuden katsauksella, jota käytetään teoreettisen viitekehyksen luomiseen. Katsauksen havainnot ja viitekehyksen luominen ohjaavat haastattelukysymysten suunnittelua ja viitekehystä käytetään myös esiteltäessä ja keskusteltaessa kerätystä datasta saatuja tuloksia. Teoreettinen viitekehys on iteratiivisen prosessin tulos, jossa olemassa olevaa skaalautuvuuteen liittyvää viitekehystä muutetaan sopimaan paremmin SaaS-yritysten skaalausprosessiin. Muokatut ajurit edustavat neljää keskeistä elementtiä SaaS-liiketoiminnan laajentamisessa investoinnin jälkeen: arvolupausten luominen, sijoittajavetoinen arvonlisäys, pääsy uusille markkinoille sekä institutionalisoidut säännöt ja normit. Kerättyä dataa tarkastellaan näiden neljän ajurin näkökulmasta. Tämän opinnäytetyön tärkein löydös on prosessi, jota SaaS-yritys voi hyödyntää pyrkiessään laajentamaan toimintaansa investoinnin jälkeen. Prosessi sisältää markkinoiden ja tarkastelun alla olevan yrityksen kehittymisen ymmärtämisen, arvioinnin siitä pitäisikö panostukset ja resurssit keskittää olemassa oleviin asiakkaisiin, asiakassuhteiden ylläpitämiseen ja kasvattamiseen liittyviin prosesseihin vai kannattaako keskittyä asiakaskunnan kasvattamiseen. Tämän lisäksi opinnäytetyö myötävaikuttaa termin ”skaalaaminen” määrittelyyn. Tutkimusta arvioidaan myös kriittisesti, tiettyjä rajoituksia tunnistetaan ja esitellään, joiden lisäksi tarjotaan jatkotutkimusehdotuksia. Tärkeimmät jatkotutkimusehdotukset liittyvät tiedonkeruuvaiheeseen, tarkemmin haastateltavien valintaan ja määrään

    Optimizing Product-Market Fit: A Digital Marketing Approach for Performance Measurement

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    In today's digital economy, digital marketing has grown in scope and now acts as a liaison connecting digital interactions and key start-up activities. The low investment and dynamic elements of digital marketing favor the start-up environment and enable a flexible match between digital interactions and start-up growth. However, start-ups are usually unfamiliar with all the possibilities digital marketing offers and connect its influence solely with marketing and sales. Digital marketing, powered by data analytics, can support start-ups in different key activities such as testing and experimentation, customer education, and others. This thesis first explores how digital marketing impacts start-up development within a set of growth drivers supporting different key activities and associated areas. Through a systematic literature review, the Macro- dynamic Framework was developed to identify and connect fifteen growth drivers and digital marketing impact for achieving start-up growth in four different areas. Secondly, as Product-Market fit is identified as one of the key drivers of start-up growth, this research focused on investigating how can product-market fit be influenced through digital marketing. One of the major challenges start-ups have in this perspective is measuring digital marketing performance and interpreting the collected data. As Product-Market fit and performance measurement both largely rely on the provided digital marketing analytics and received feedback, the DM_Optima framework is developed to connect the touchpoints of both areas. Through multiple case study research with nine start-ups, the thesis demonstrates this Framework application. The DM_Optima Framework is developed with a Balanced Scorecard and enables start-ups to test their ability to optimize product-market fit through digital marketing and performance measurement. The results of DM_Optima help start-up founders and managers to achieve or maintain their product-market fit and establish efficient practices of digital marketing performance measurement from an internal organizational perspective.Na economia digital de hoje, o marketing digital cresceu no seu âmbito e actua agora como um elo de ligação entre as interacções digitais e as principais actividades de arranque. O baixo investimento e os elementos dinâmicos do marketing digital favorecem o ambiente de arranque e permitem uma combinação flexível entre as interacções digitais e o crescimento de arranque. Contudo, as start-ups não estão normalmente familiarizadas com todas as possibilidades que o marketing digital oferece e ligam a sua influência apenas ao marketing e às vendas. O marketing digital, impulsionado pela análise de dados, pode apoiar start-ups em diferentes actividades chave como testes e experimentação, educação de clientes, e outras. Esta tese explora primeiro como o marketing digital tem impacto no desenvolvimento inicial dentro de um conjunto de factores de crescimento que apoiam diferentes actividades e áreas associadas. Através de uma revisão sistemática da literatura, a Estrutura Macrodinâmica foi desenvolvida para identificar e ligar quinze motores de crescimento e marketing digital para alcançar o crescimento inicial em quatro áreas diferentes. Em segundo lugar, uma vez que o ajuste Produto-Mercado é identificado como um dos principais motores do crescimento inicial, esta investigação centrou-se na investigação de como pode o ajuste produto-mercado ser influenciado através do marketing digital. Um dos maiores desafios que as novas empresas têm nesta perspectiva é medir o desempenho do marketing digital e interpretar os dados recolhidos. Uma vez que a adequação e a medição do desempenho do produto ao mercado dependem largamente da análise de marketing digital fornecida e do feedback recebido, a estrutura DM_Optima é desenvolvida para ligar os pontos de contacto de ambas as áreas. Através de múltiplos estudos de caso com nove start-ups, a tese demonstra esta aplicação da estrutura. A estrutura DM_Optima é desenvolvida com um Balanced Scorecard e permite às start-ups testar a sua capacidade de optimizar a adequação do produto ao mercado através do marketing digital e da medição do desempenho. Os resultados da DM_Optima ajudam os fundadores e gestores em fase de arranque a alcançar ou manter a sua adequação ao mercado de produtos e a estabelecer práticas eficientes de medição do desempenho do marketing digital de uma perspectiva organizacional interna

    Business sustainability: understanding the influence of managers and stakeholders on adopting sustainability practices in Nigerian SMEs

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    A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.The importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in any economy must be balanced, yet hardly the sector attracts the needed attention for sustainability. This has led to unacceptable high mortality rates for the sector, especially in emerging contexts. Nevertheless, SMEs and sustainability agenda share significant melting pots of disrupting large-scale extreme poverty, among other benefits. Numerous literature supports this and acknowledges SMEs' potential for national employment, investment stimulation and gross domestic growth (GDP). This study aimed to unveil the impacts of managerial characteristics and stakeholders on Nigerian SME sustainability practices to understand SME business sustainability practices in developing countries. To fully investigate these impacts, three research questions enabled the navigation of this project. Firstly, to ascertain the current antecedents influencing SME sustainability practices. Secondly, we quizzed the relationship between the manager's characteristics and Nigerian SME sustainability practices. Furthermore, finally, we sort out how stakeholders influence SMEs' sustainability practices in Nigeria. A qualitative research approach was adopted within an interpretivist philosophical paradigm to construct participants narrated perspectives of sustainability practices. Data were collected from twenty-two (22) Nigerian SME owners/managers and nine (9) stakeholders in semi-structured interviews, virtually. Participants' information was inductively condensed, analysed and thematically framed using the Upper Echelon and Stakeholder concepts. The findings were dimensionally extracted using Gioia's step/order analysis to develop a data structure for each research question. The findings for the current antecedence include the political and governance dimension, the cultural and societal dimension, the economic dimension, and the business orientation dimension. In contrast, the findings for the relationship between managerial characteristics and sustainability practices include observable dimensions and cognitive values. The finding for stakeholder influence on sustainability practices includes the managerial alignment dimension and the dimension of stakeholders’ intervention. Asides from the contribution to knowledge, the result presented national, organisational and managerial practical implications. Diverse organisational and regulatory policy implications were also presented with future research directions
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