Title: Green management, perceived barriers to sustainability, and innovation performance in Latin American SMEs

Authors: Germán Rojas-Cabezas; Ronald Mora-Esquivel; Nicolás Márquez Álvarez; Susana Chacón-Espejo; Victor Nocetti-Nuñez; Juan Carlos Leiva Bonilla

Addresses: Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Escuela de Ingeniería Comercial, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile ' Escuela de Administración de Empresas, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Campus Cartago PB 159-7050, Costa Rica ' Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Escuela de Ingeniería Comercial, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile ' Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Escuela de Ingeniería Comercial, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile ' Facultad de Economía y Negocios, Escuela de Ingeniería Comercial, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile ' Escuela de Administración de Empresas, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Campus Cartago PB 159-7050, Costa Rica

Abstract: The promotion of sustainable development is a paramount objective in Latin America, and it is crucial to comprehend how companies can contribute to this goal. This study examines the relationship between green management, perceived barriers to sustainability, and innovation performance in Latin American SMEs. Using a structural equation modelling methodology based on a primary dataset of 5,716 managers from 18 Latin American countries, the study finds that green management positively relates to SMEs' the innovation performance of SMEs in Latin America. However, perceived barriers to sustainability partially mediate this positive relationship. Theoretical implications suggest that sustainable practices can lead to improved innovation performance, while practical implications highlight the importance of addressing perceived barriers to sustainability in order to fully realise these benefits. This study fills a gap in the literature by providing evidence of the positive impact of green management on innovation performance in Latin American SMEs and offers suggestions for future research avenues.

Keywords: innovation performance; green management; perceived barriers; sustainability; Iberoamerican SMEs observatory.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2024.139669

International Journal of Business Environment, 2024 Vol.15 No.3/4, pp.429 - 450

Received: 14 Mar 2023
Accepted: 14 Jun 2023
Published online: 05 Jul 2024 *

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