This study aims to systematically review the key characteristics and issues in Corporate Social Responsibility among Small and Medium Enterprises (CSRS) research. The Systematic Assessment Quantitative Technique (SQAT) developed by Australian researchers, Catherine Pickering and Jason Antony Byrne, was used to identify and analyse 62 peer-reviewed CSRS articles from six high quality academic databases. Most of the studies took place in Europe and Asia while South America has been largely ignored. A significant number of CSRS research were empirical in nature, meaning that there is a need for more conceptual studies to aid the understanding of new CSRS norms and underlying factors. Additionally, CSRS articles focused mainly on identifying the various ways SMEs are implementing CSR. Finally, most CSRS articles adopted a single research method, with survey being the most dominant method. There is a need for future studies to combine a variety of methods so as to gain additional insight into CSRS related issues

The current pandemic (COVID19) have led many governments to take drastic measures in respond of the global health crisis. The lockdown measures as a response to the crisis has further slowed global economic activities. In this context highlights the importance of the role of entrepreneurs to accelerate economic recovery. This paper focuses on analyzing how entrepreneurs face the situation caused by COVID-19 through a quantitative study with a sample of 236 Spanish entrepreneurs from the Region of Murcia. Results show how entrepreneurs have had to adapt to these new circumstances, facing challenges regarding the need for digitization, the lack of financing, the decrease in human capital or the perception of new opportunities that become viable businesses.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are key drivers of economic growth and development. Innovation through digital transformation has the capacity to enable sustainability, competitiveness and customisation in products and services. However, adoption of digital technologies by SMEs to underpin sustainability outcomes is poorly understood. A systematic literature review identified an initial dataset of 1300 articles, which after screening and application of exclusion criteria resulted in a dataset of 64 articles for synthesis. Analysis was carried out according to three main areas, namely the technology aspects of digital transformation, sustainable development according to the triple bottom line (i.e. economic, environmental and social aspects), and the business characteristics of SMEs. In the latter case, business strategy and management, organizational structure, organizational culture, skills and qualifications, and leadership factors are identified from the literature. Furthermore, literature expressing the triple bottom line dimensions and the type of Industry 4.0 technology areas adopted are synthesized. Correlation of the data through bibliographic analysis is provided on the type of technology enabling SMEs towards a pathway for sustainable development as well as synthesis of future research directions arising from the study.

COVID-19 is affecting the development of the global economy and threatening the survival of SMEs worldwide. In light of the current situation, this paper examines the factors affecting product and process innovation in SMEs during the COVID-19 crisis. We carried out a simple random sample of 185 SME entrepreneurs in Ardakan, Iran, using a multivariate regression analysis. The results showed that experience is one of the most important factors affecting innovation. Organization size and age were negatively associated with process innovation during the current crisis. Moreover, the findings reveal that training to facilitate cooperation as well as higher commitment to R&D can lead to greater innovation. An important conclusion is that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, government efforts to encourage SMEs to create new products helped them to withstand the crisis. The study suggests that, during the COVID-19 crisis, embracing innovation as a core organizational value helped SMEs to remain competitive.

The objective of this study is to determine whether human and social capital are drivers of entrepreneurship. The methodology involves the estimation of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as logistic regressions and correlations of variables. It is focused on information from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor database for 2012 from Germany and Costa Rica. The results demonstrate that human and social capital, factors related to knowledge, have a positive statistical relationship with the propensity to become an entrepreneur. Little difference exists among knowledge-related factors across countries. They are mainly related to the cultural contexts, which affect the propensity to become an entrepreneur

The Europe 2020 Strategy is aimed at making the EU into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by 2020. This Strategy has to promote environmental policies and economic opportunities. Back in 2007 Italy was performing slightly below average and way below the most advanced EU Member States as far as percentage of green energy of the total energy produced in Italy. Measures were taken and though the Italian regulation around green energies has been hectic though effective. Italian legislation recently passed will put emphasis on the relevance of a Green Power strategy by guarantying an attractive minimum price per Kw produced through clean and environmental friendly sources, notably from Wind energy sources. Within the sector a new area is grafting attention: the mini wind farms. The Trentino Alto Adige region in Northern Italy has taken particularly profit of the national legal framework and has develop a further regional frame that has placed the region on top of the Italian green energy production charts. The local idiosyncrasy is making of the mini wind farms a case study

Globally, micro and small businesses require finance to support their business activities. Most of them have low profits because of the lack of support from the formal financial system. Micro and small businesses in developing countries have a dire need for financing start-ups and existing business operations. The lack of support from the formal financial system and the government forces them to explore other financial support mechanisms, making it important to investigate alternative financial channels. This paper investigates whether informal finance matters for micro and small businesses. We used a systematic literature review to answer the predetermined research question. Thirty (30) primary studies were surveyed to establish the importance of informal finance for micro and small businesses. The findings show that informal finance is a workable alternative for micro and small businesses. It supports business start-ups, existing businesses and enhances business growth, business owners’ livelihoods and livelihoods in their communities. Informal finance models can be improved to work as small business promotion tools. The original value of the paper is based on the use of a systematic literature review to assess whether informal finance matters for micro and small businesses and connect theories with emerging themes. It further contributes to the debates on the importance of informal finance and contributes to future lines of research on informal finance.