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Abstract(s)
No contexto atual de exigência e preocupação ambiental acrescida, bem como perante
regulamentações mais exigentes e rigorosas, as pequenas e médias empresas (PME)
enfrentam desafios significativos na implementação de práticas de sustentabilidade.
Para a aplicação destas práticas, estas empresas devem adotar tecnologias verdes, mas
devido à sua limitação de recursos, as PME isoladamente terão mais dificuldades em
aceder a este tipo de tecnologias. Desta forma, uma estratégia possível para aceder às
tecnologias verdes é a formação de relações de cooperação interorganizacionais.
Neste sentido, o presente estudo tem como objetivos: (1) compreender de que forma a
cooperação pode facilitar o recurso a tecnologias verdes para a implementação de
práticas de sustentabilidade nas PME; (2) examinar quais as motivações que levam as
PME a adotar a cooperação interorganizacional para o acesso a tecnologias verdes e
identificar as barreiras na sua aplicação em práticas sustentáveis; e (3) desenvolver um
modelo integrado que possa facilitar uma implementação de práticas de sustentabilidade
nas PME, através do uso de tecnologias verdes. Para atingir estes objetivos, neste estudo
optou-se por uma abordagem de investigação qualitativa, recorrendo ao método de
estudos de caso múltiplos. Mais precisamente, foram selecionadas 7 PME (casos) de
diferentes setores de atividade na região da Beira Interior. Como técnica de recolha de
dados usou-se a análise documental e entrevistas que foram realizadas aos proprietáriosgestores das empresas selecionadas.
A partir de uma análise de conteúdo às entrevistas realizadas, os resultados evidenciam
a existência de uma consciencialização e compromisso por parte das PME para a
aplicação das tecnologias verdes, e o reconhecimento da importância da cooperação
interorganizacional para aceder às mesmas. Com o uso destas tecnologias verdes, as PME
estão a implementar mais facilmente práticas de sustentabilidade nas suas atividades
empresariais. No que diz respeito às motivações para a cooperação interorganizacional
como estratégia para adotar as tecnologias verdes, conclui-se que a partilha de
conhecimento e recursos foram as principais forças impulsionadoras. A capacidade das
PME colaborarem com outras entidades, como forma de acesso a conhecimentos
especializados e diferentes recursos, é absolutamente fulcral para impulsionar a
aplicação das tecnologias verdes, procurando um ambiente cada vez mais verde dentro
da empresa.
Neste estudo também se conclui que as PME têm uma consciencialização de que é
necessário evitar o desperdício, reduzir custos, ter um produto diferenciado e amigo do ambiente, bem como ter uma preocupação com a imagem perante o público-alvo e a
responsabilidade social. Ao considerar estas motivações para a aquisição de tecnologias
verdes, as PME podem desenvolver estratégias eficazes como forma de promover a
sustentabilidade nos seus negócios e colaborar de forma mais eficaz com outras
entidades em busca de soluções inovadoras e sustentáveis.
No que diz respeito às barreiras, este estudo identificou como as principais: a burocracia,
dificuldade em encontrar benefícios a curto-prazo, medo de partilha de conhecimento,
falta de coerência e exigência por parte do Estado, falta de estrutura e recursos humanos,
tempo e resistência à mudança, entre outras. Estas barreiras representam obstáculos
significativos que as PME precisam enfrentar ao adotar práticas sustentáveis nas suas
operações. Além disso, fatores como exigências legais, dificuldade em medir vantagens a
curto prazo, custos, formação de funcionários na utilização das novas tecnologias, falta
de comunicação do Estado e educação da população no âmbito da sustentabilidade e da
tecnologia verde, são alguns desafios que emergiram a partir desta investigação.
Finalmente, este estudo permite conhecer de forma mais profunda o fenómeno das
tecnologias verdes aplicadas dentro do contexto das PME, partindo de uma visão
integrada e apresentando contribuições práticas para o aumento da consciencialização
da sustentabilidade neste segmento de empresas. Este estudo propõe também um
modelo integrador que fornece informações úteis sobre de que forma a cooperação serve
de auxílio à aplicação das tecnologias verdes, já que se trata de uma ferramenta vital para
capacitar as PME na sua transição para práticas mais sustentáveis.
In the current context of increased environmental demands and concerns, as well of more demanding and rigorous regulations, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) face significant challenges in implementing sustainability practices. To apply these practices, these companies must adopt green technologies, but due to their resource limitations, SMEs alone will have more difficulties in accessing this type of technology. Therefore, a strategy for accessing green technologies is the formation of interorganizational cooperation relationships. In this sense, the present study aims to: (1) understand how cooperation can facilitate the use of green technologies for the implementation of sustainability practices in SMEs; (2) examine the motivations that lead SMEs to adopt inter-organizational cooperation to access green technologies and identify barriers in their application in sustainable practices; and (3) develop an integrated model that can facilitate the implementation of sustainability practices in SMEs, through the use of green technologies. To achieve these objectives, this study opted for a qualitative research approach, using the multiple case study method. More precisely, 7 SMEs (cases) from different sectors of activity in the interior region of Portugal. As a data collection technique, we used documentary analysis and interviews that were carried out with the owner-managers of the desired companies. From a content analysis of the interviews carried out, the results show the existence of awareness and commitment on the part of SMEs to the application of green technologies, and the recognition of the importance of inter-organizational cooperation to access them. With the use of these green technologies, SMEs are more easily implementing sustainability practices in their business activities. About the motivations for interorganizational cooperation as a strategy to adopt green technologies, it is concluded that the sharing of knowledge and resources were the main driving forces. The ability of SMEs to collaborate with other entities, as a way of accessing specialized knowledge and different resources, is crucial for contributing to the application of green technologies, seeking an increasingly greener environment within the company. This study also concludes that SMEs are aware that it is necessary to avoid waste, reduce costs, have a differentiated and environmentally friendly product, as well as being concerned about their image among the target audience and social responsibility. By considering these motivations for acquiring green technologies, SMEs can develop effective strategies to promote sustainability in their businesses and collaborate more effectively with other entities in search of innovative and sustainable solutions. Regarding the barriers, this study agrees that the main ones are: bureaucracy, difficulty in finding short-term benefits, fear of sharing knowledge, lack of coherence and demands on the part of the Portuguese State, lack of structure and human resources, time and resistance to change, among others. These barriers represent important obstacles that SMEs need to face when adopting sustainable practices in their operations. Furthermore, factors such as legal criteria, difficulty in measuring short-term advantages, costs, employee training in the use of new technologies, lack of communication from the State and population education in the context of sustainability and green technology are some challenges that emerge. from this investigation. Finally, this study provides a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of green technologies applied in the context of SMEs, starting from an integrated vision and contributing practices to increasing awareness of sustainability in these segments of companies. This study also proposes an integrative model that provides useful information on how cooperation can assist in the application of green technologies, as it is a vital tool to enable SMEs in their transition to more sustainable practices.
In the current context of increased environmental demands and concerns, as well of more demanding and rigorous regulations, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) face significant challenges in implementing sustainability practices. To apply these practices, these companies must adopt green technologies, but due to their resource limitations, SMEs alone will have more difficulties in accessing this type of technology. Therefore, a strategy for accessing green technologies is the formation of interorganizational cooperation relationships. In this sense, the present study aims to: (1) understand how cooperation can facilitate the use of green technologies for the implementation of sustainability practices in SMEs; (2) examine the motivations that lead SMEs to adopt inter-organizational cooperation to access green technologies and identify barriers in their application in sustainable practices; and (3) develop an integrated model that can facilitate the implementation of sustainability practices in SMEs, through the use of green technologies. To achieve these objectives, this study opted for a qualitative research approach, using the multiple case study method. More precisely, 7 SMEs (cases) from different sectors of activity in the interior region of Portugal. As a data collection technique, we used documentary analysis and interviews that were carried out with the owner-managers of the desired companies. From a content analysis of the interviews carried out, the results show the existence of awareness and commitment on the part of SMEs to the application of green technologies, and the recognition of the importance of inter-organizational cooperation to access them. With the use of these green technologies, SMEs are more easily implementing sustainability practices in their business activities. About the motivations for interorganizational cooperation as a strategy to adopt green technologies, it is concluded that the sharing of knowledge and resources were the main driving forces. The ability of SMEs to collaborate with other entities, as a way of accessing specialized knowledge and different resources, is crucial for contributing to the application of green technologies, seeking an increasingly greener environment within the company. This study also concludes that SMEs are aware that it is necessary to avoid waste, reduce costs, have a differentiated and environmentally friendly product, as well as being concerned about their image among the target audience and social responsibility. By considering these motivations for acquiring green technologies, SMEs can develop effective strategies to promote sustainability in their businesses and collaborate more effectively with other entities in search of innovative and sustainable solutions. Regarding the barriers, this study agrees that the main ones are: bureaucracy, difficulty in finding short-term benefits, fear of sharing knowledge, lack of coherence and demands on the part of the Portuguese State, lack of structure and human resources, time and resistance to change, among others. These barriers represent important obstacles that SMEs need to face when adopting sustainable practices in their operations. Furthermore, factors such as legal criteria, difficulty in measuring short-term advantages, costs, employee training in the use of new technologies, lack of communication from the State and population education in the context of sustainability and green technology are some challenges that emerge. from this investigation. Finally, this study provides a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of green technologies applied in the context of SMEs, starting from an integrated vision and contributing practices to increasing awareness of sustainability in these segments of companies. This study also proposes an integrative model that provides useful information on how cooperation can assist in the application of green technologies, as it is a vital tool to enable SMEs in their transition to more sustainable practices.
Description
Keywords
Barreiras Cooperação Interorganizacional Motivações Pme Práticas Sustentáveis Sustentabilidade Tecnologias Verdes