Improving social performance through innovative small green businesses: knowledge sharing and green entrepreneurial intention as antecedents

Alshebami, A. S., Seraj, A. H. A., Elshaer, I. A., Al Shammre, A. S., Al Marri, S. H., Lutfi, A., Salem, M. A. and Zaher, A. M. N. (2023) Improving social performance through innovative small green businesses: knowledge sharing and green entrepreneurial intention as antecedents. Sustainability, 15(10), 8232. (doi: 10.3390/su15108232)

Abstract

Small businesses are thought to be largely responsible for environmental pollution despite the fact that businesses of all shapes and sizes contribute to this issue. This research explores how important factors such as knowledge sharing (KS) and green entrepreneurial intention (GEI) might help small businesses in Saudi Arabia develop and implement green innovation (GI). It also seeks to determine whether GI is a mediating variable that explains the connection between GEI, KS, and social performance (SP). Accordingly, an online survey was used to collect responses from 284 small entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia engaged in various types of business activities. The study used partial least squares structural equation modelling for data analysis and hypothesis testing. The results show that GI considerably influences SP while also having a significant link with both GEI and KS. Further, the study reveals that the relationship between GEI, KS, and SP is mediated by GI. The study offers a plethora of suggestions to various stakeholders generally and to Saudi authorities specifically.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [Grant No. 3437].
• Keywords: Environment, social, entrepreneurship, small enterprises, knowledge.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Al Marri, Salem Handhal R
• Authors: Alshebami, A. S., Seraj, A. H. A., Elshaer, I. A., Al Shammre, A. S., Al Marri, S. H., Lutfi, A., Salem, M. A., and Zaher, A. M. N.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
• Journal Name: Sustainability
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2071-1050
• ISSN (Online): 2071-1050
• Published Online: 18 May 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Sustainability 15(10): 8232
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License