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Sustainable innovation among small businesses: The role of digital orientation, the external environment, and company characteristics

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  • Mina Nasiri
  • Minna Saunila
  • Tero Rantala
  • Juhani Ukko

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the internal and external environments of a company that affect sustainable innovation in such small enterprises by examining the circumstances under which small enterprises are likely to engage in sustainable innovation. The results of this study demonstrate that companies with high levels of digital orientation in their operations contributed more to sustainable innovation than those without such high levels. In addition, in the external environment, factors that include market and technological turbulence have a negative effect on sustainable innovation. However, the adoption of sustainable innovation was not significantly impacted by market turbulence. Furthermore, certain company characteristics, such as size and maturity, do not determine the contribution of a company's internal and external environments to sustainable innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mina Nasiri & Minna Saunila & Tero Rantala & Juhani Ukko, 2022. "Sustainable innovation among small businesses: The role of digital orientation, the external environment, and company characteristics," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(4), pages 703-712, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:30:y:2022:i:4:p:703-712
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.2267
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Samuel Adomako & Nguyen Phong Nguyen, 2023. "Co‐innovation behavior and sustainable innovation in competitive environments," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1735-1747, June.
    2. Maryna Brychko & Yuriy Bilan & Serhiy Lyeonov & Dalia Streimikiene, 2023. "Do changes in the business environment and sustainable development really matter for enhancing enterprise development?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(2), pages 587-599, April.
    3. Yan He & Zhaoshu Liu & Min-Jae Lee, 2024. "Navigating Sustainable Value Creation Through Digital Leadership Under Institutional Pressures: The Moderating Role of Environmental Turbulence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Aleksandr Ključnikov & Mehmet Civelek & Václav Kupec & Natálie Bruder Badie, 2025. "Breaking down entrepreneurial barriers: exploring the nexus of entrepreneurial behavior, innovation, and bank credit access through the lens of the theory of planned behavior," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-35, December.
    5. Rousselière, Damien & Bouchard, Marie J. & Rousselière, Samira, 2024. "How does the social economy contribute to social and environmental innovation? Evidence of direct and indirect effects from a European survey," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(5).

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