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Sustainability as a management process for SMEs

Analysis of existing tools in Flanders and best-of-breed proposal

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Abstract

In this article the authors present their on-going research on a generic best-of-breed sustainability management process and toolkit for SMEs, based on an extensive comparative analysis of existing Flemish and Dutch sustainability management tools, literature and consultancy practices. The proposed best-of-breed process and toolkit will enable managers to plan and monitor sustainability implementation, to innovate/optimize their products and processes and also to rethink and innovate the existing business models. To facilitate SME managers to prioritize correctly, the authors define the main topics a toolkit should address. With this research, the authors aim to contribute to the development of literature about sustainability implementation and development in small and medium-sized enterprises in a European setting.

Zusammenfassung

Der Bedarf an Nachhaltigkeitsberatung bei flämischen KMUs ist groß, die Zahlungsbereitschaft jedoch klein. Eine Analyse des Angebots der zahlreichen kostenlosen Programme und Modelle zeigt, dass diese nicht geeignet sind um sowohl strategisch als taktisch zu planen. Dieser Beitrag zeigt, wie ein kostenloser, generischer Management Prozess gestaltet werden kann auf der Basis von Literatur, Praxiserprobung und einer Analyse jener existierenden kostenlosen Programme. Das neue vorgeschlagene generische Modell ermöglicht es KMU-Managern, die Implementierung von Nachhaltigkeitsinitiativen besser zu planen, koordinieren und kontrollieren, ihre Produkte und Prozesse zu verbessern und auch auf strategischer Ebene über Nachhaltigkeit nachzudenken. Das auf PDCA und Projekt Management basierende Modell besteht aus fünf Phasen (Analyse, Steuerung, Spezifizierung, Implementierung, Kontrolle & Rapportierung) wobei die dritte Phase (Spezifizierung) durch ein Dashboard mit sämtlichen Themenbereiche und möglicher operationellen Zielsetzungen erweitert wird.

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Verboven, H., Vanherck, L. Sustainability as a management process for SMEs. uwf 23, 241–249 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00550-015-0367-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00550-015-0367-2

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