Int. J. Enterprise Network Management, Vol. X, No. Y, xxxx 1
Copyright © 20XX Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Network and government intervention influencing
sustainability and business growth of SMEs: a study
with Indian MSMEs
Maitreyee Das*
IIFT Bhawan, B-21, NRPC Colony, Block B,
Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi, Delhi 110016, India
Email: m.das@live.com
*Corresponding author
K. Rangarajan and Gautam Dutta
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade,
IIFT Bhawan, B-21, NRPC Colony, Block B,
Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi, Delhi 110016, India
Email: rangarajan@iift.edu
Email: gautam@iift.edu
Abstract: The role of corporate sustainability in driving business performance
has been well researched in case of big corporations for developed nations. But
in the case of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) very limited research has
been conducted to explore the business benefit derived out of sustainable
business practices. In spite of their contribution to the economy, most of the
SMEs fail to maintain a sustainable growth path in the long run. The current
paper tries to estimate how effective utilisation of their business network and
government intervention influences the growth of SMEs through their
sustainability performance. A self-administered questionnaire was developed
and responses were collected from 200 SMEs in and around Kolkata. The data
was analysed using partial least square techniques of structural equation
modelling in SPSS. Results showed that both government intervention and
network utilisation positively influence business growth of SMEs through their
social and environmental sustainability. Also, the size of capital investment has
a moderating effect on the strength of this relationship. The practical
implication of the model in the Indian context has also been discussed along
with future research possibilities.
Keywords: small and medium enterprises; SMEs; corporate sustainability;
corporate social responsibility; CSR; social and environmental sustainability;
business growth; network; government intervention.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Das, M., Rangarajan, K.
and Dutta, G. (xxxx) ‘Network and government intervention influencing
sustainability and business growth of SMEs: a study with Indian MSMEs’,
Int. J. Enterprise Network Management, Vol. X, No. Y, pp.xxx-xxx.
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