IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i22p12590-d679311.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Entrepreneurial Behaviour Identified among SME Members of an International Group with Sustainability -Oriented Strategy

Author

Listed:
  • Cezar Scarlat

    (Doctoral School of Entrepreneurship, Business Engineering and Management, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060041 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Alexandra Ioanid

    (Doctoral School of Entrepreneurship, Business Engineering and Management, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060041 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Marian Şişu

    (Doctoral School of Entrepreneurship, Business Engineering and Management, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060041 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

The current development of energy management services is stimulated by a series of factors that are both external and industry-specific. One important external factor is the pressure coming from legal provisions in favour of sustainable development . This qualitative, descriptive research is focused on an international group with a strategic orientation to sustainability . The aim is to analyse the strategic changes of several group members over a period of 15 years (2004–2019) in order to identify their entrepreneurial behaviour (EB), contributing to scarce literature on EB of sustainability-oriented SMEs—medium-sized enterprises, in particular. The methodological approach included both secondary and primary research (direct observation and in-house interviews). The results match the research objectives and research questions in that they are able to identify different types and degrees of enterprise EB (EEB). The findings demonstrated here support a proposed finer EEB typology: independent EEB and induced EEB . Besides the natural limitations of the research (only comprising companies of a group and single industry), the main limitation of the study is its pre-pandemic characteristic, which is also a challenging research opportunity for further post-pandemic studies on EEB. The promising results of this exploratory research on EEB and novel EEB typology proposed should also be tested in more industries. The research results are useful for scholars, company managers, and entrepreneurs as well as for strategists involved in designing sustainable development policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Cezar Scarlat & Alexandra Ioanid & Marian Şişu, 2021. "Entrepreneurial Behaviour Identified among SME Members of an International Group with Sustainability -Oriented Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:22:p:12590-:d:679311
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/22/12590/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/22/12590/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jeffrey G. Covin & G.T. Lumpkin, 2011. "Entrepreneurial Orientation Theory and Research: Reflections on a Needed Construct," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 855-872, September.
    2. Cezar SCARLAT & Elizabeth J. ROZELL & Wesley A. SCROGGINS, 2011. "Characteristics of the Romanian Entrepreneurial Prototype," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 12(1), pages 84-96, March.
    3. Bostjan Antoncic & Cezar Scarlat, 2008. "Corporate Entrepreneurship Performance: Slovenia and Romania," Management, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 3(1), pages 15-38.
    4. Antonio García-Olivares & Jordi Solé & Roger Samsó & Joaquim Ballabrera-Poy, 2020. "Sustainable European Transport System in a 100% Renewable Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.
    5. Cezar Scarlat & Bogdan Brustureanu & Daniela Borangic & Tudorel Popescu, 2012. "Entrepreneurial vs. Administrative Management in Not-for-Profit Organizations – Public Administration and Universities," Knowledge and Learning: Global Empowerment; Proceedings of the Management, Knowledge and Learning International Conference 2012,, International School for Social and Business Studies, Celje, Slovenia.
    6. Anca Mehedintu & Georgeta Soava & Mihaela Sterpu & Eugenia Grecu, 2021. "Evolution and Forecasting of the Renewable Energy Consumption in the Frame of Sustainable Development: EU vs. Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-30, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. S. Arunachalam & Sridhar N. Ramaswami & Pol Herrmann & Doug Walker, 2018. "Innovation pathway to profitability: the role of entrepreneurial orientation and marketing capabilities," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 744-766, July.
    2. Francisco Javier Forcadell & Fernando Úbeda, 2022. "Individual entrepreneurial orientation and performance: the mediating role of international entrepreneurship," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 875-900, June.
    3. Leopoldo Angrisani & Mauro D’Arco & Egidio De Benedetto & Luigi Duraccio & Fabrizio Lo Regio, 2023. "Broadband Power Line Communication in Railway Traction Lines: A Survey," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-22, September.
    4. André de Abreu Saraiva Monteiro Alves & Fernando Manuel Pereira de Oliveira Carvalho, 2022. "How Dynamic Managerial Capabilities, Entrepreneurial Orientation, and Operational Capabilities Impact Microenterprises’ Global Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-23, December.
    5. Hongyi Mao & Zongjun Wang & Lin Yi, 2021. "Does Entrepreneurial Orientation Lead to Successful Sustainable Innovation? The Evidence from Chinese Environmentally Friendly Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    6. Boris Urban & Thanusha Govender, 2017. "Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mind-Set through Transformational Leadership: A Focus on the Corporate Context," Managing Global Transitions, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 15(2 (Summer), pages 123-143.
    7. Manrique Hernández-Ramírez & Ronald Mora-Esquivel & Juan Carlos Leiva, 2022. "Orientación emprendedora y desempeno innovador en mipymes. El rol moderador de la orientación estratégica," Estudios Gerenciales, Universidad Icesi, vol. 38(162), pages 95-108, March.
    8. Dung, Truong Quang & Bonney, Lawrence Bryan & Adhikari, Rajendra & Miles, Morgan P., 2021. "Entrepreneurial orientation and vertical knowledge acquisition by smallholder agricultural firms in transitional economies: The role of interfirm collaboration in value-chains," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 327-335.
    9. D’Angelo, Alfredo & Presutti, Manuela, 2019. "SMEs international growth: The moderating role of experience on entrepreneurial and learning orientations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 613-624.
    10. Sorin I Blaga, 2022. "A Conceptual Model and Hypothesis of Firm Bankruptcy: A Romanian Case Study," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 23(1), pages 211-226, March.
    11. Yi Liang & Jung-Mo Koo & Min-Jae Lee, 2024. "The Interplay of Environmental Dynamism, Digitalization Capability, Green Entrepreneurial Orientation, and Sustainable Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-17, September.
    12. Carnes, Christina Matz & Gilstrap, Frank E. & Hitt, Michael A. & Ireland, R. Duane & Matz, Jack W. & Woodman, Richard W., 2019. "Transforming a traditional research organization through public entrepreneurship," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 62(4), pages 437-449.
    13. DODERO ORTIZ DE ZEVALLOS Gino Felix & CLEMENTE-ALMENDROS José Antonio & BAHAMONDES ROSADO María Emilia, 2023. "The Covid-19 Crisis And The Financial Impact On Family Firms," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 18(2), pages 86-108, August.
    14. Yanyan Li & Yu Gao & Shanxing Gao, 2023. "Organizational slack, entrepreneurial orientation, and corporate political activity: From the behavioral theory of the firm," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Mina Nikolaeva Angelova & Daniela Dobreva Pastarmadzhieva & Aleksandar Tsvetanov Naydenov, 2022. "Determinants of the Entrepreneurial Initiative during a Pandemic: The Case of Plovdiv," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-28, October.
    16. Su Zhongfeng & Wang Donghan, 2018. "Entrepreneurial Orientation, Control Systems, and New Venture Performance: A Dominant Logic Perspective," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 8(3), pages 1-17, July.
    17. Anna Watson & Olufunmilola (Lola) Dada & Owen Wright & Rozenn Perrigot, 2019. "Entrepreneurial Orientation Rhetoric in Franchise Organizations: The Impact of National Culture," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(4), pages 751-772, July.
    18. Seo, Ribin & Park, Ji-Hoon, 2022. "When is interorganizational learning beneficial for inbound open innovation of ventures? A contingent role of entrepreneurial orientation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    19. Firdaus Basbeth & Ainon Ramli & Muhammad Ashlyzan Bin Razik & Rosmaizura Mohd Zain & Noorshella Bin Che Nawi, 2019. "The Role of Multi Dimensional EO in the Competitive Strategy - Performance Link," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 10(2), pages 20-25, July.
    20. Zhou, Dan & Kautonen, Mika & Dai, Weiqi & Zhang, Hui, 2021. "Exploring how digitalization influences incumbents in financial services: The role of entrepreneurial orientation, firm assets, and organizational legitimacy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:22:p:12590-:d:679311. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.