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Responsible business practices and some Indian SMEs
, Debadutta Mishra
Published in
2018
Volume: 7
   
Issue: 2
Pages: 177 - 203
Abstract
Studies on small and medium enterprises or SMEs in India are scarce. What little is known shows that there is a need to know more about this sector, specially on their performance on responsible business practices. This paper reports the findings on the environmental awareness and practices of some Indian SMEs, from a study conducted by the present authors on 200 SMEs, in the manufacturing and service sectors, in the two Indian states ofWest Bengal and Odisha. The study results show that environmentally responsible practices and the related concept ofsocial responsibility of business are yet to take root at the Indian SME level. Some of the major findings reported are the lack of knowledge and interest about environmentally responsible business practices among the SME owner–managers, the perceived disconnect between environmental practices and socially responsible business practices, the total absence of reporting practices in the sector and the disinterest in the 14001 certification. The study also mentions the perceived barriers and constraints reported by the SME owner– managers in the path of greater engagement with the environment. On the whole, the study concludes that there is an urgent need for sensitization, training and mentoring the Indian SME owner–managers in order to develop their capabilities for improved environmentally responsible business practices.
About the journal
JournalAsian Journal of Business Ethics
ISSN2210-6723