Effective Leadership and Management in the Sustainable Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Dear Colleagues,

According to Martins et al. (2022), research on sustainability issues has mainly focused on larger firms. However, according to the International Finance Corporation (2023) micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) represent 90% of world businesses, contributing to around two-thirds of the world’s employment and almost one-half of the global gross domestic product (GDP). Additionally, it is expected that SMEs will become a major driver of world sustainable development (World Economic Forum, 2021).

Since the literature devoted to sustainability on SMEs is scarce (Almeida et al., 2022; Zhu & Huang, 2023) and considering their future relevance to the achievement of this global purpose, this Special Issue intends to promote research focused on SMEs’ leadership for a better understanding of the determinants and mediators of SME sustainable development.

Although not limited to only these topics, we call for articles trying to answer the following questions:

1. Are there leader demographic/psychological characteristics or organizational characteristics (e.g., ownership structures, governance structures) that promote or inhibit the sustainable development of SMEs?
2. Which are, from the leader’s perspective, the most relevant external determinants for the sustainable development of SMEs?
3. Are leaders using sustainable finance instruments to implement the sustainable development of SMEs? If so, which are the most common?

We request that, before submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 300-500 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editors (Email A) or to the Administrative Sciences Editorial Office ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors to ensure proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

References:

International Finance Corporation (2023). SME Finance Forum, Annual Report 2022. https://www.smefinanceforum.org/about/annual-report.

Martins, A., Branco, M.C., Melo, P.N., & Machado, C. (2022). Sustainability in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda. Sustainability, 14, 6493. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116493.

World Economic Forum (2021). Future Readiness of SMEs: Mobilizing the SME Sector to Drive Widespread Sustainability and Prosperity. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_Readiness_of_SMEs_2021.pdf.

Zhu, J. & Huang, F. (2023). Transformational Leadership, Organizational Innovation, and ESG Performance: Evidence from SMEs in China. Sustainability, 15, 5756. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075756.

Dr. Elisabete Vieira
Dr. Mara Madaleno
Dr. João Teodósio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• leadership
• governance structures
• directors’ diversity
• environmental social and governance (ESG)
• corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
• sustainability
• managers’ characteristics