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Adoption of Sustainability Practices and Their Impact on SMEs: A Mysore Based Study

Issue Abstract

Abstract

            This study examines the interrelationships between environmental sustainability efforts (ESE), corporate social practices (CSP), lack of awareness barriers (LAS), and employee performance (EP). The research is based on a dataset of 57 valid responses, with no missing values, ensuring methodological reliability. Descriptive statistics reveal strong agreement with sustainability practices such as community development initiatives (M = 4.33) and reducing environmental pollution (M = 4.30). Ethical practices, including fair wages and safe working conditions, also scored highly (M = 4.23). Conversely, green innovation practices to reduce environmental impact showed limited adoption (M = 2.57). Standard deviations around 1.0 indicate moderate variability in responses. High kurtosis values suggest clustering of responses at the higher end, reflecting strong consensus on sustainability practices. Crosstabulation analysis highlights a gender imbalance, as all respondents were male. Age distribution shows 21 respondents below 25 years and 36 between 25–35 years. Educational qualifications varied, with undergraduate degrees being most common (n = 18). Income distribution indicates 23 respondents earning 1–3 lakhs, 18 earning 3–5 lakhs, and 16 earning above 5 lakhs annually. Younger respondents were concentrated in lower education and income categories, while older respondents showed greater diversity. 

            Correlation analysis demonstrates strong positive relationships among all four constructs. EP correlates significantly with ESE (r = .718, p < .01), confirming that sustainability enhances workforce outcomes. EP also correlates with CSP (r = .754, p < .01), indicating that socially responsible practices improve performance. EP’s correlation with LAS (r = .689, p < .01) suggests that reducing awareness barriers positively influences employee outcomes. The strongest correlation is between ESE and LAS (r = .855, p < .01), emphasizing the role of awareness in sustainability adoption. CSP also shows a strong link with LAS (r = .758, p < .01), reinforcing the importance of knowledge in social responsibility. The statistics table confirms alignment of mean, median, and mode across constructs, indicating symmetrical distributions. Percentile values show clustering at higher ranges, especially for CSP and LAS, reflecting positive perceptions of sustainability. Moderate standard deviations across variables indicate variability without extreme dispersion. Frequency distribution of EP highlights concentration around higher scores, with 40 being the most common value. 

            These findings collectively validate the hypotheses derived from correlation and descriptive statistics. Enterprises adopting sustainability practices demonstrate improved employee performance and stronger social outcomes. The study concludes that awareness-building is a critical driver for enhancing sustainability adoption and organizational performance.

Keywords: Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sustainability Practices, Environmental Sustainability, Social Sustainability, Economic Sustainability and Green Innovation


Author Information
A. Banupriya Assistant Professor & Research Scholar, Hindustan College, Mysuru. Dr. K. Sridevi Assistant Professor, HITS.
Issue No
3
Volume No
6
Issue Publish Date
05 Mar 2026
Issue Pages
13-37

Issue References

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