Sustainable Development and tech-SMEs Performance in China
Keywords:
Organizational Performance; Sustainability development; Tech SMEs; Dynamic CapabilityAbstract
This research examines the impact of economic, social, and environmental sustainability dimensions on the performance of tech-based SMEs within the Sichuan—Chongqing economic region. Drawing on 371 valid survey responses and employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via Smart-PLS, the results reveal that each of the three sustainability dimensions exerts a positive impact on organizational performance. The findings offer empirical validation for Dynamic Capability Theory and yield actionable implications for strategic planning and sustainability policymaking in the SME sector. The study also acknowledges its limitations and outlines potential avenues for future investigation.
References
Al-Husain, A., Khan, M., & Rahman, M. (2025). Digital dynamic capabilities and sustainability performance: Green knowledge management and green technology innovation as mediators. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1–12.
Carroll, A. B., & Shabana, K. M. (2020). The Business Case for Corporate Social Responsibility: A Review of Concepts, Research and Practice. International Journal of Management Reviews, 12(1), 85-105.
Chen, H., Li, X., & Wang, J. (2021). Sustainable Development Practices and Organizational Performance in Chinese SMEs. Journal of Cleaner Production, 279, 123456.
Correggi, M. (2024). Embedding sustainability into dynamic capabilities: A bibliometric review. Business Strategy and the Environment, 33(4), 1567–1583.
Durrani, M., Hussain, S., & Ali, R. (2024). Barriers to SME sustainability in developing economies: A systematic inquiry. Sustainability, 16(8), 3452.
Gao, X. (2022). Qualitative analysis of the key influencing factors of farmers participate in agricultural products e-commerce to help rural revitalization. Academic Journal of Business & Management, 4(17), 121-130.
Gao, X. (2024). Does structural social capital lead to proactive green innovation? a three-part serial mediation model. Plos one, 19(4), e0301286.
Gao, X., Raja, T., Chong, K. M., & Wu, M. (2023). Examining the Phenomenon of Juveniles Digital Addiction in Rural China. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 8(24), 273-282.
Gao, X., Yu, J., Pertheban, T. R., & Sukumaran, S. (2024). Do fintech readiness, digital trade, and mineral resources rents contribute to economic growth: Exploring the role of environmental policy stringency. Resources Policy, 93, 105051.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2021). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Hart, S. L. (2020). A Natural-Resource-Based View of the Firm. Academy of Management Review, 20(4), 986-1014.
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2016). Testing measurement invariance of composites using partial least squares. International Marketing Review, 33(3), 405-431.
Jamil, R., Akhtar, S., & Rehman, K. (2024). Effect of social and environmental sustainability on SME competitiveness: A meta-analytic review. Sustainability, 16(9), 4120.
Kannan, P., & Gambetta, L. (2025). Technology-driven sustainability in small and medium-sized enterprises: A systematic literature review. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 35(2), 77–99.
Kline, R. B. (2016). Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
Kraus, S., Durst, S., Ferreira, J., Veiga, P., & Kailer, N. (2022). Digital transformation and sustainable business model innovation in SMEs: A conceptual framework. Journal of Business Research, 143, 60–71.
Liu, Y., Chen, J., & Huang, Y. (2021). Environmental Sustainability and SME Performance in China: The Role of Regulatory Pressure. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(3), 1895-1905.
Oduro, S., Boateng, R., & Li, C. (2025). Sustainability investment benefits in emerging SMEs: Evidence from developing economies. Small Business Economics, 65(2), 345–367.
Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2019). Creating Shared Value: How to Reinvent Capitalism—and Unleash a Wave of Innovation and Growth. Harvard Business Review, 89(1), 62-77.
Taghizadeh, S. K., Soleimani, M., & Bano, S. (2023). Dynamic capabilities of SMEs for sustainable innovation performance: Role of environmental turbulence. Journal of Cleaner Production, 421, 138451.
Teece, D. J. (2018). Dynamic Capabilities and Entrepreneurial Management in Large Organizations: Toward a Theory of the (Entrepreneurial) Firm. European Economic Review, 86, 202-216.
Wang, X., & Chen, Y. (2021). Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Performance in SMEs: Evidence from China. Sustainability, 13(2), 856-870.
Zhang, Y., & Wang, H. (2022). The Role of Economic Sustainability in Enhancing Organizational Performance: Evidence from SMEs in China. Sustainability, 14(10), 5732.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 wenhao zhang, Xin Zhang, Jiawen Yu, Xinxiang Gao
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
