Short answer
When selecting partners for design projects or business ventures aimed at sustainability, prioritize those with proven strengths in economic, environmental, and social performance, and a clear, shared purpose.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Review of Managerial Science (2023)
- Method
- Qualitative longitudinal case study
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can effectively contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by forming partnerships with organizations that exhibit strong performance across economic, environmental, social, and purpose-driven attributes. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Review of Managerial Science. Using Qualitative longitudinal case study, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When selecting partners for design projects or business ventures aimed at sustainability, prioritize those with proven strengths in economic, environmental, and social performance, and a clear, shared purpose.
SMEs achieve SDGs through strategic partner selection across economic, environmental, social, and purpose dimensions.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can effectively contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by forming partnerships with organizations that exhibit strong performance across economic, environmental, social, and purpose-driven attributes.
Review of Managerial Science · 2023
Key Findings
- 01SMEs can achieve SDGs through multi-stakeholder partnerships.
- 02Partner characteristics can be categorized into four dimensions: economic, environmental, social, and purpose.
- 03The 'purpose' dimension, encompassing awareness, orientation, culture, and leadership, is a valuable addition to existing sustainability frameworks.
Application
Design takeaway
When selecting partners for design projects or business ventures aimed at sustainability, prioritize those with proven strengths in economic, environmental, and social performance, and a clear, shared purpose.
How to apply
When initiating a new product or service, map out potential partners and assess them against economic (e.g., profitability, resource efficiency), environmental (e.g., pollution, energy use), social (e.g., community impact, employee well-being), and purpose (e.g., shared vision, leadership commitment) criteria.
Project actions
- 01When selecting suppliers or collaborators for your design project, think beyond just cost and quality; consider their broader impact.
- 02Document the criteria you use for partner selection, especially if sustainability is a project goal.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Introduces the 'purpose' dimension as a novel aspect of partner selection for SDGs.
- +Provides a structured framework (four dimensions) for evaluating potential partners.
Limitations
It can be challenging to gather comprehensive data on the environmental, social, and purpose dimensions of potential partners without direct access or extensive research.
Reliability & validity
The qualitative nature and single case study limit generalizability, impacting external validity. Internal validity might be strengthened by triangulation of data sources within the case study.
Think critically
How might the 'purpose' dimension of a partner influence the innovation potential and long-term success of a design project, beyond just its immediate sustainability metrics?
Design Principles
"Holistic partner evaluation for sustainability impact."
This insight is crucial for designers and engineers involved in product development and business strategy. Understanding these partner characteristics allows for the creation of more resilient and impactful supply chains and collaborations, ensuring that products and services not only meet market demands but also contribute positively to broader sustainability objectives.
What This Means for Your Design
To help achieve global goals like sustainability, small businesses should choose partners who are good with money, care about the environment, treat people well, and have a clear mission.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the selection of specific suppliers or partners in your design project, linking their attributes to your sustainability objectives.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The selection of partners is critical for achieving sustainability objectives within a design project. Research indicates that SMEs can effectively contribute to Sustainable Development Goals by partnering with organizations that demonstrate robust performance across economic, environmental, and social dimensions, alongside a strong sense of purpose. This holistic approach ensures that collaborations are not only commercially viable but also environmentally responsible and socially beneficial, aligning with broader global sustainability targets.
Source
Review of Managerial Science
Partner selection strategies of SMEs for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about smes achieve sdgs through strategic partner selection across economic, environmental, social, and purpose dimensions?
- When selecting partners for design projects or business ventures aimed at sustainability, prioritize those with proven strengths in economic, environmental, and social performance, and a clear, shared purpose. Evidence: Review of Managerial Science (2023).
- Why does "SMEs achieve SDGs through strategic partner selection across economic, environmental, social, and purpose dimensions." matter for design?
- This insight is crucial for designers and engineers involved in product development and business strategy. Understanding these partner characteristics allows for the creation of more resilient and impactful supply chains and collaborations, ensuring that products and services not only meet market demands but also contribute positively to broader sustainability objectives.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When selecting partners for design projects or business ventures aimed at sustainability, prioritize those with proven strengths in economic, environmental, and social performance, and a clear, shared purpose.
- What were the main findings?
- SMEs can achieve SDGs through multi-stakeholder partnerships.. Partner characteristics can be categorized into four dimensions: economic, environmental, social, and purpose.. The 'purpose' dimension, encompassing awareness, orientation, culture, and leadership, is a valuable addition to existing sustainability frameworks.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative longitudinal case study.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Review of Managerial Science.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When initiating a new product or service, map out potential partners and assess them against economic (e.g., profitability, resource efficiency), environmental (e.g., pollution, energy use), social (e.g., community impact, employee well-being), and purpose (e.g., shared vision, leadership commitment) criteria.
- What are the limitations?
- The research is based on a single case study, limiting generalizability. The perspective of the SME's partners was not explored.