Title: Sustainable entrepreneurship practices in Malaysian manufacturing SMEs: the role of individual, organisational and institutional factors

Authors: Noor Hazlina Ahmad; Syed Abidur Rahman; Noor Liyana Khairul Afendi Rajendran; Hasliza Abdul Halim

Addresses: School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Penang, Malaysia ' College of Economics and Political Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman ' School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Penang, Malaysia ' School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Penang, Malaysia

Abstract: Sustainability is an issue that has a profound effect on large companies and also among SMEs. The research framework for this study is built upon this triple bottom line agenda. The study integrates individual factors that consist of sustainable orientation, organisational factors that consist of intellectual capital (human, structural and relational capital) and institutional factors (government support and social norms) as the antecedents of sustainable entrepreneurship practices. Sustainable performance of SMEs is treated as the dependent variable in this research. A total of 203 responses were obtained and analyses were carried out using Smart-PLS software. The results show that five out of eight hypotheses were accepted. The result indicates that Malaysian SMEs entrepreneurs are clearly aware and understand the importance of sustainability concepts in their business performance. In addition, this study aims to provide insight and knowledge for designing policies and promote sustainable practices in Malaysian manufacturing SMEs.

Keywords: sustainable orientation; intellectual capital; human capital; relational capital; structural capital; government support; sustainable performance.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2020.105986

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2020 Vol.16 No.2, pp.153 - 171

Received: 04 Mar 2018
Accepted: 25 Dec 2018
Published online: 24 Mar 2020 *

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