Dear Dr. Das,

Here are some researches about organizational sustainability:

Article The role of HRM in developing sustainable organizations: Con...

Article How Organizational Logics Shape Trade-off Decision-Making in...

Article Antecedents of Sustainable Organizing: A Look at the Relatio...

Article How organizational cognitive frames affect organizational ca...

Article Integrated quality and supply chain management business diag...

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.379 

I hope this will help you,

Regards.

Sustainability focuses on meeting the needs of the present population (target group) without comprising those of future generations. Looking if from a very practical point of view, as a small organization you can do a lot of things, e.g.:

a. using material that can be recycled/cradle to cradle/circular economy: less plastic packaging

b. preventing waste: water, food, electricity

c. going green: using renewable energy (solar, wind water)

d. less use of fossil fuel, gasoline/electricity

e. using public transport instead of the own car to do shopping

Society in general and consumers in particular are increasingly sensitive towards sustainable behaviour of companies, regardless of their size. Obviously more is expected from large companies than from SMEs because it is assumed that the former manage more resources and they have the capability of presenting themselves as sustainable. However, the influence of small companies in society is enormous and they cannot afford to neglect sustainability which they can implement in many different ways. It is true that small companies, experiencing cut-throat competition, may be tempted to forget sustainability issues but they have several important reasons for doing otherwise. Being very close to consumers they are under heavy scrutiny from them who are in a better position to judge their values and behaviour than those of a large company where distance and lack of transparency may prevail. Moreover, sustainable attitudes may provide a very efficient way to differentiate themselves from other companies which in the long run will be perceived as more damaging to society.

I have recently designed three 'green' projects for a small town. Each cost (or will cost, when built) about 40% of the 'conventional' approach over the next 40 years. They have required more effort at approvals, and there is push-back from other consultants who can't go so far from 'conventional'.

Small organizations will be no different. There will be outside-the-box approaches that will be harder to quantify, and will have higher uncertainty, but will produce far better (triple) bottom lines.

The community has to decide what their needs are, and what the symptoms of unmet needs would be. Business would have to respond to the unmet needs (doing so in a way that is in keeping with how the community intends to manage it's resources and ecological services.). Small businesses are more nimble that huge multinationals, which gives them the opportunity to react immediately after the community has made it's expectations known.

It might be best then, for the small business to keep asking the community what is their sustainability plan so that they can react to it quickly.

recently the government of my nation nigeria became more aware of the importance of small businesses, this prompted the new finance minister to issue directives to banks to allow local investors to seek loan without collateral.this has improve and sustained small business. moreover local investors should be given proper orientation on management skills , through workshop and seminars

How can small organizations become sustainable?

When they succeed and become competitive and able to withstand the markets

The first push toward a process of sustainability within an SME usually comes from the organisation’s senior management. They are often the torchbearers of sustainable development within their companies. The process is thus strongly associated with the executives’ own values and depends on their time and energy for implementation.

However, senior management cannot do everything. SME executives suggest that someone else in the organisation be formally assigned to implement the sustainability strategy. Assigning a specific person to the process increases the chances of successful implementation, while fostering the development of innovative ideas.

Insight can come from many places. For example:

• Government agencies and non-profit organisations provide free information about business sustainability.
• Other organisations provide made-to-measure consultation and coaching.
• Companies can use external certification and standards to structure their initiatives and measure their progress against that of other businesses.

From installing ENERGY STAR products and appliances to using LED light bulbs and automatic taps, if you reduce waste, you will increase your business's efficiency, potentially save money on energy and contribute to overall small business sustainability.

We do have a program in Suriname where we are implementing a tropical greenhouse with technology as LED, together with students of TUDelft, using waste to as renewable material and manure and building capacity about sustainability. It depends on the type of SME you are operating.