Implementation of sustainability management tools: The contribution of awareness, external pressures, and stakeholder consultation

Abstract

In this article, we propose a framework for a better understanding of the factors that can influence the implementation of sustainability management tools—that is, sustainable development policy and sustainability reporting—in small- and medium-sized enterprises. Using secondary data, we studied 431 micro- to mid-sized Canadian enterprises and found that stakeholder consultation plays a central role in company implementation of sustainable management tools. This consultation reduces the perception of internal constraints, particularly regarding relevant knowledge-gaps. This study also demonstrates the importance of the indirect impacts that external stakeholders exert on small- and medium-sized enterprises and the growing need for management education and training about how to increase the adoption of sustainability management tools. © 2020 ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd