2. Business ethics. At the 2011 APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting, the ministers emphasized the importance of business ethics as a means of combating corruption. During tendering processes with large corporations, SMEs are being asked more about their social and environmental policies. Establishing and implementing a code of ethics can signi"cantly boost a SME’s competitiveness.

Small and medium enterprises

A structural model of the impact of green intellectual capital on sustainable performance

This study investigates the influence of investment in key intangible resources and capabilities of firms, including intellectual capital (IC), financial capability (FC), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) and firm performance (FP) in an emerging country, Pakistan. The research model and its pertinent hypotheses are tested on a sample of 329 Pakistani small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by a structural equation model (SEM). The results exhibited a significant influence of the aforesaid factors on FP. However, SCA fully mediates the relationship between FC and FP and between CSR and FP, whereas SCA partially mediates the relationship between IC and FP. Taken together, the findings suggest the role of CSR and FC in indirectly spurring FP through SCA. Despite the limitations of this study, the results have several practical and theoretical implications for owners, managers, and policymakers.

Investment in intangible resources and capabilities spurs sustainable competitive advantage and firm performance

The purpose of this paper is to propose and test an integrated model focusing on the drivers and consequences of intellectual capital in the context of the hotel industry.,A quantitative study was conducted, including 156 hotels located in Iran. Structural equation modeling examines the validity of constructs and path relationships.,The results of the PLS-SEM analysis provided three findings as follows: the three dimensions of social capital, namely the structural, relational, and cognitive social capital, had positive effects on knowledge sharing; knowledge sharing had positive effects on three components of intellectual capital (human capital, structural capital and relational capital); and intellectual capital dimensions, which in turn, lead to innovation.,The combination of a developing country context and the significance of social capital, knowledge sharing, intellectual capital and innovation in hotel industry enhance the contextual contribution of the paper.

Antecedents and consequences of intellectual capital: The role of social capital, knowledge sharing and innovation

Based on a 20-year dataset collected from the Web of Science database, this study aims to present a comprehensive knowledge map of the intellectual structure of the field of study of sustainability and financial performances in SMEs. A bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review method was employed by analyzing articles published between 1999 and 2018, using the VOSViewer software. The analyses provide an overview of articles, authors, the most influential journals, and themes of research. The results reveal the existence of three themes in research: the role of innovation and entrepreneurship their impact on sustainability in SMEs (cluster 1); CSR in the context of SMEs (cluster 2); and, green management and environmental issues for SMEs (cluster 3). In sum, this paper discusses prominent insights from the research analyses and recommends future research directions for the field.

Sustainability and financial performance of small and medium sized enterprises: A bibliometric and systematic literature review

Purpose




The relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance (FP) is a much-researched topic in academic arena. Recent studies disclosed that intellectual capital (IC) significantly impacts the success and survival of organizations. Moreover, theoretical assertions confirm that competitive advantage (CA) mediates the association between IC and FP. This has opened up new dimensions for the study. Therefore, this study aims to develop a theoretical model, first, to specify these relations and, second, to explore the mediating role of IC and CA on the relation between CSR and FP in the context of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).




Design/methodology/approach




Hypotheses are tested through a survey conducted on 384 SMEs in Rajasthan state. A structured questionnaire having 38 variables was used, and collected data are subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. Structural equation modeling was used to validate the measurement model and to test the mediating effect.




Findings




The findings indicate a weak positive relation between CSR and FP. The empirical data provide supportive evidence that IC has a profound impact on CSR and FP relationship. Specifically, it was noticed that the mediating role of CA on this relationship was not as reflective as described in the literature.




Research limitations/implications




The limitation of this study is that it is limited to one country, more specific to one geographical area of a country; therefore, findings of the study cannot be generalized in terms of its implications to other regions and countries.




Originality/value




Very few empirical studies have analyzed the mediating role of IC and CA on the relationship between CSR and FP. This study is expected to enable scholars and practitioners to have a more definite and direct understanding of the implication of IC and CA in association between CSR and FP.

Exploring the mediating role of intellectual capital and competitive advantage on the relation between CSR and financial performance in SMEs

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in the growth of the economy. Many SMEs have set up activities beyond their home markets, and their role is more important in contributing to future growth. They are confronted with international competition and forced to compete in international markets. In this study, authors have categorized obstacles to firm internalization as internal and external barriers. The three dimensions of external barriers include governmental and economic political/legal barriers, procedural, and currency barriers, and task and socio-cultural barriers. The internal barriers considered for the purpose of the study were informational barrier, managerial barriers, financial barriers, and marketing barriers. Authors have used adapted scale from previous researches in these domains. Database accumulated the SMEs that were involved in manufacturing activities in the state of Rajasthan, India. The measurement model is a confirmatory factor analysis. The measures used within this study were within the acceptable levels supporting the reliability of the constructs. The analysis of the data revealed that there was moderate correlation between the external and internal factors. Within the external factors, procedural and currency barriers showed the highest obstacle for SMEs in their pursuit for internationalization followed by task and socio-cultural factors. Results specified that the entrepreneurs were not able to handle and manage foreign exchange fluctuations due to their lack of knowledge in this field.

Barriers to internationalization: A study of small and medium enterprises in India

Purpose – This paper aims to study the weak form of efficiency of Indian capital market during the period of global financial crisis in the form of random walk.Design/methodology/approach – The study considered daily closing prices of S&P CNX Nifty, BSE, CNX100, S&P CNX 500 from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2010. The data source is the equity market segment of NSE and BSE. Both parametric and nonparametric tests (“ex‐posts” in nature) are applied for the purpose of testing weak‐form efficiency. The parametric tests include Augmented Dickey‐Fuller (ADF) unit root tests and nonparametric tests include Phillips‐Perron (PP) unit root tests and Run test. ADF tests use a parametric autoregressive structure to capture serial correlation and PP tests use non‐parametric corrections based on estimates of the long‐run variance of ΔYt.Findings – The results suggested that the Indian stock market was efficient in its weak form during the period of recession. It means that investors should not be able to consistently ear...

A study on weak form of market efficiency during the period of global financial crisis in the form of random walk on Indian capital market

Purpose – This paper is an attempt to explore the awareness and attitude of the management students towards corporate social responsibility (CSR). Students are perceived as future managers of the corporate world and their perception about CSR is deemed important to business organisations. The students can make companies understand their responsibility towards various stakeholders. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – By doing a review of past literature, an appropriate scale consisting of forty-one items has been developed to measure the dimensions of CSR. Data were collected from 294 students of various business schools situated in Rajasthan (India). The data collected was subjected to exploratory factor analysis to extract the main dimensions that would bring out the attitudes of the students towards CSR. Findings – Results revealed that the companies should pay attention to accountability towards stakeholders, corporate governance, ethical commitment and humanitarian co...

Awareness and attitude towards corporate social responsibility

Purpose




Understanding the effect of competitor’s marketing activities as well as analyzing the impact of one’s own marketing activities is equally important. The purpose of this paper is to determine the role of competing bank’s marketing activities (i.e. competitor’s price and product variety) and main bank’s characteristics (bank’s reputation and expertise) in the cross-buying intentions of customers by studying the interrelationships among these.




Design/methodology/approach




This study has adopted a hybrid model of confirmatory factor analysis and the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory. Data were gathered from two different samples of bank customers and bank experts, using closed-ended questionnaire.




Findings




The results revealed that competitor’s price influences the cross-buying intentions of customers more than the reputation and expertise of primary bank. Bank’s reputation, expertise and competitor’s price were found causing factors. The remaining two factors, namely competitor’s product variety and cross-buying intentions, were belonging to the effect group.




Practical implications




For practice, this study guides banking institutions for resource allocation. Continuous and extensive staff training should be provided to sales staff. Bank should realize customers that they are getting much more value in return of what they are paying.




Originality/value




This study is one of few studies in marketing literature which investigates the effect of competitors on cross-buying.

Ankur Roy

Papers

Exploring the mediating role of intellectual capital and competitive advantage on the relation between CSR and financial performance in SMEs

Barriers to internationalization: A study of small and medium enterprises in India

A study on weak form of market efficiency during the period of global financial crisis in the form of random walk on Indian capital market

Awareness and attitude towards corporate social responsibility

Do the competitors affect cross-buying decisions?