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dc.contributor.authorKalra, Ranjit Singh
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-31 21:14:45 (GMT)
dc.date.available2016-08-31 21:14:45 (GMT)
dc.date.issued2016-08-31
dc.date.submitted2016-08-29
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10012/10772
dc.description.abstractBusinesses have traditionally been focused on financial growth and short-term profits. However, in recent years there is an increasing realization of the potential that Sustainable Business Practices (SBPs) can play in business development. There is a growing body of literature that explains why large firms choose to adopt SBPs into their core operations. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), although they represent a large proportion of businesses within the economy, the literature on their adoption of SBPs remains relatively underexplored. This study explores the adoption of SBPs by SMEs while identifying the role of firm demographics (i.e., size, age, industry) and Business Support Organizations (BSOs) in the Kitchener-Waterloo (KW) region, to encourage the implementation and communication of those practices. Support for SMEs is significant in the KW region, yet there is little known of the role that BSOs play in encouraging SBPs adoption. A quantitative survey and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) techniques were used to analyze the theorized relationships between firm demographics, BSOs and SBPs. Conceptually, I deconstruct the SBPs construct and argue that implementation of SBPs and the communication of SBPs are unique and warrant distinct empirical consideration. Results indicate that larger SMEs tend to access a greater number of BSOs and as a consequence, have a higher likelihood of implementing and communicating SBPs. These results are important for not only local SMEs in understanding “when and what” business practices are being adopted by similar businesses, but also for BSOs in understanding how their role can nurture and encourage the proliferation of sustainable economic growthen
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherUniversity of Waterlooen
dc.subjectSMEen
dc.subjectSustainable business practicesen
dc.subjectBusiness support organisationsen
dc.subject.lcshsustainable developmenten
dc.subject.lcshsmall businessen
dc.subject.lcshsupport services (management)en
dc.subject.lcshsocial responsibility of businessen
dc.subject.lcshWaterloo (Ont. : Regional municipality)en
dc.titleThe Relationship Between Firm Size, External Affiliations and Adoption of Sustainable Business Practices by SMEs in Kitchener-Waterloo Regionen
dc.typeMaster Thesisen
dc.pendingfalse
uws-etd.degree.departmentSchool of Environment, Enterprise and Developmenten
uws-etd.degree.disciplineSustainability Managementen
uws-etd.degree.grantorUniversity of Waterlooen
uws-etd.degreeMaster of Environmental Studiesen
uws.contributor.advisorWood, Michael O.
uws.contributor.affiliation1Faculty of Environmenten
uws.published.cityWaterlooen
uws.published.countryCanadaen
uws.published.provinceOntarioen
uws.typeOfResourceTexten
uws.peerReviewStatusUnrevieweden
uws.scholarLevelGraduateen


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