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Sustainable Development Performance for Small and Medium Enterprises Using a Fuzzy Synthetic Method-DEMATEL

Author

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  • Kuo-Jui Wu

    (School of Business, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China)

  • Qing Chen

    (School of Business, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China)

  • Yun Qi

    (School of Business, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
    These authors contributed equally to this study.)

  • Xiaoyue Jiang

    (School of Business, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
    These authors contributed equally to this study.)

  • Shuo Gao

    (Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2A 2AE, UK
    These authors contributed equally to this study.)

  • Ming-Lang Tseng

    (Institute of Innovation and Circular Economy, Asia University, Taichung City 41354, Taiwan
    Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung City 40447, Taiwan)

Abstract

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are forced to adhere to sustainable development (SD) regulations and standards. However, SMEs encounter difficulty in assessing their performance due to the lack of an efficient and effective approach to deal with the uncertainties in hierarchical relationships and interrelationships. Moreover, interrelations exist among the proposed attributes that increase the difficulty of the assessment. To overcome these issues, exploratory factor analysis is used to screen out the less important attributes and build a hierarchal structure. The fuzzy synthetic method addresses the hierarchical structure and decision-making, and a trial evaluation laboratory assesses the interrelationships among the attributes by providing a visual interrelationship map. The results indicate that strategic and financial management are the major problems for SMEs. SD relies on enhancing sustainable supply chain performance, sustainable human resources and environmental management. This study contributes by not only filling the information gap for SD for SMEs but also providing a guideline for improvement. The theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuo-Jui Wu & Qing Chen & Yun Qi & Xiaoyue Jiang & Shuo Gao & Ming-Lang Tseng, 2019. "Sustainable Development Performance for Small and Medium Enterprises Using a Fuzzy Synthetic Method-DEMATEL," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-25, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:15:p:4119-:d:253130
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wu, Kuo-Jui & Tseng, Ming-Lang & Yang, Wen-Hua & Ali, Mohd Helmi & Chen, Xiaobo, 2023. "Re-shaping sustainable value chain model under post pandemic disruptions: A fast fashion supply chain analysis," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    3. Shuo Gao & Ming Kim Lim & Renlu Qiao & Chensi Shen & Chentao Li & Li Xia, 2022. "Identifying critical failure factors of green supply chain management in China’s SMEs with a hierarchical cause–effect model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 5641-5666, April.
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    5. M. Alimohammadlou & Z. Khoshsepehr, 2022. "Investigating organizational sustainable development through an integrated method of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy AHP and WASPAS," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 2193-2224, February.
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