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Sustainability and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Lessons from Mixed Methods Research

A: Sustainability, SMEs and mixed methods Key roots and approaches to sustainability Introduction: The roots and meaning of sustainable development Critique and developments The scientific-economic approach to sustainability and some critiques Transformative approaches to sustainability Reimagining sustainability Business and sustainability Conclusion References Research on small and medium-sized enterprises and sustainability Introduction SMEs and sustainability Environmental responsibility and SMEs Barriers to environmental improvement in the SME sector Discussion and conclusion References Mapping the existing methodological SME and sustainability landscape Introduction Methodological review of SME and Environment research Publication trends in SMEs and Environment Geographical mixed method developments Regional studies Discussion and conclusion References Appendices B: Mixed methods in sustainability SME research: A global outlook Mixed methods research and environmental management: A reflective perspective of a research group and some lessons from experience Introduction Discovering the usefulness of combining quantitative and qualitative methods Research questions and methodological choices in environmental management research The research methods we know may determine the research questions we ask A deliberate and planned combination of quantitative and qualitative methods in environmental management Discovering mixed methods research literature The explicit application of mixed methods research in environmental management Mixed methods, practical relevance and grand challenges for a better society Main obstacles and barriers Mixed methods teams Conclusion References Qualitative to quantitative and back: Reflecting on mixed methods approach for examining sustainability and small business Introduction Qualitative first: Mixed methods research reflections Quantitative first: Mixed methods research reflections Discussion and conclusion Notes References Mixed-methods: A pragmatic approach to researching SMEs and sustainability Introduction Mixed methods research and sustainability A mixed-method PhD research study Mixed-methods approach - 'an obvious' choice when investigating sustainability within SMEs Conclusion Note References Reflecting on the use of mixed methods in the subject of sustainable strategies in manufacturing SMEs Introduction Sustainability and manufacturing strategy in the SME sector The philosophy of science perspective Mixed methods Research design Sampling and selection Research instrument: questionnaire design Quantitative data collection Data analysis Discussion: mixing of datasets Study validation Conclusion Note References A longitudinal mixed-method study of Australian SME environmental behaviour Introduction The Melbourne mixed-method study Background developments Mixing the methods Philosophical underpinnings Sequentially mixed-method design Discussion and conclusion Study implications Note References Exploring differences in perspectives regarding mixed methods and transdisciplinary research: A dialogue Introduction Our dialogue On stages, causation and ontologies Pervasive tensions in the academy Conclusion References C: Added value, challenges and practical relevance of applying mixed methods in research on sustainability and SMEs Extending the value-added of mixed methods in sustainability research Introduction Defining mixed and multi-method research Promoting analytic depth and inference quality Purpose and contribution The author's perspective about mixed methods Procedures that integrate qualitative and quantitative methods to enhance inference quality Two Case Exemplars that Integrated Methods to Advance Inference Quality Discussion Conclusion References Addressing the challenge of mixed methods integration through joint displays and clear writing Introduction Terminology and language of mixed methods Strategies for integration Merging integration leads to meta-inferences Building integration leads to new data collection tools Connecting integration leads to new samples Summary of integration Joint displays as a visual integration strategy A joint display for merging A joint display for building A joint display for connecting Advanced joint displays using graphics or images Writing about integration Where to place the discussion of integration How to write integrated mixed methods results Conclusion References Applied mixed methods and the added value Introduction ‚‚Assessing sustainability and the circular economy using mixed methods Introduction Industrial symbiosis Gotland IS park Urban development Urban development in Perth, Australia Understanding the consequences of strategies for low carbon cities in 2050 Summary and research needs References Building a local authority sustainability framework using a pluralistic methodology Introduction Fremantle in a climate context One Planet Fremantle Zero Carbon Energy - City of Fremantle's Corporate Target Zero Carbon Energy Fremantle Community Targets Partnering with SMEs Lessons learnt and conclusion References Applied mixed methods research in the context of sustainability and business Introduction The Discussion Conclusion Notes Introduction Sustainability Weak sustainability Strong sustainability Lessons learned and implications for research Sustainability, ‘Grand Challenges’ and mixed methods Paradigmatic pluralism Mixed methods and abduction MM design, sustainability and SME research Methodological reporting Graphical display of methodology Convergent mixed-method design Sequential QUAL/QUAN design Sequential QUAN/QUAL design Further reflections on lessons learned Conclusion Notes References

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Research on small and medium-sized enterprises and sustainability
Aharon Factor, John Farm Ulhoi, and Norma Romm The environmental impacts associated with the activities of larger organisations have been on a scale that has attracted society’s attention and has subsequently stimulated a movement towards improving corporate environmental performance. In consequence,...
(Sustainability and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Lessons from Mixed Methods Research)
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(Entrepreneurship Marketing: Principles and Practice of SME Marketing)
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(Sustainability and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Lessons from Mixed Methods Research)
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Organisations today are dealing with the increase in global competition as well as the need to balance a variety of grand challenges (e.g., climate change, clean energy, poverty), which have proved to be critical for any organisation, not only from a moral and responsible viewpoint but also from a managerial...
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(Sustainability and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Lessons from Mixed Methods Research)