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Examining the influence of customers, suppliers and regulators on environmental practices of SMEs: evidence from the United Arab Emirates.

Sawang, Sukanlaya; Ng, Poh Yen; Kivits, Robbert Anton; Dsilva, Jacinta; Locke, Jasmina

Authors

Sukanlaya Sawang

Robbert Anton Kivits

Jacinta Dsilva

Jasmina Locke



Abstract

This study explores which stakeholders have more substantial influence than others and which combinations of stakeholders will have the greatest impact on small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises' environmental practices. A quantitative survey of 150 manager‐owners of SMEs found that while customers and suppliers significantly influence SMEs' sustainability behaviors, the demands and expectations set by regulatory bodies have a more substantial impact on how SMEs shape their environmental practices. Further, the presence of regulatory pressures does more than directly influence SMEs. Pressure from regulatory bodies also amplifies the effect of other forces on SMEs' environmental practices. In other words, when regulatory pressures exist, the impact of customer and supplier pressures on SMEs' sustainability behaviors becomes even more substantial. This synergistic effect underscores the pivotal role of regulatory pressures in shaping and enhancing SMEs' commitment to environmental sustainability.

Citation

SAWANG, S., NG, P.Y., KIVITS, R.A., DSILVA, J. and LOCKE, J. [2024]. Examining the influence of customers, suppliers and regulators on environmental practices of SMEs: evidence from the United Arab Emirates. Business strategy and the environment [online], Early View. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3831

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 18, 2024
Online Publication Date Jun 2, 2024
Deposit Date Jun 4, 2024
Publicly Available Date Jun 14, 2024
Journal Business strategy and the environment
Print ISSN 0964-4733
Electronic ISSN 1099-0836
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3831
Keywords Environmental sustainability; Regulatory; Institutional theory; Stakeholder pressure; SMEs
Public URL https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2343717
Publisher URL https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/bse.3831

Files

SAWANG 2024 Examining the influence of customers (VOR) (1.5 Mb)
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Publisher Licence URL
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Author(s). Business Strategy and The Environment published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Version
Early View VOR uploaded 2024.06.14




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