Leveraging Strategic Foresight to Enhance Environmental Decision-Making is an SME in the Logistic Sector
Vaghasiya, Sarvesh; Tadhani, Rajankumar (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024122238066
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024122238066
Tiivistelmä
The current thesis focuses on the assessment of strategic foresight in the process of environmental decision-making in small and medium enterprises within the logistics sector in Finland. The aim is to investigate external factors causing an influence in the case of SMEs, such as political economic technological socio-cultural, and legal (PESTEL) contributions, which impact the sustainability performance of SMEs, and the role of strategic foresight in scope of long-term solutions on environmental concerns.
Logistics SMEs, policymakers, and the sectors dealing with sustainability and innovation are the main beneficiaries of the research. The theoretical framework leverages the principles of strategic foresight by bringing future-focused planning into the practice of organizations. It also looks at other works on environmental issues, green policies, and green technologies targeting the problem of SMEs meeting the global environmental challenges. Employing a quantitative and qualitative survey type of research, data was collected using a self-explanatory structured questionnaire from 30 respondents of SMEs in Finland.
Descriptive statistics and frequency distribution features were used to analyze the effects of various external drivers when making environmental decisions. The political and legislative interventions applied to the SMEs are found to motivate the interest towards the implementation of sustainable practices more than any other external factor. The increasing use of electric cars and renewable sources of energy is expected to influence the future environmental tactics. The study finds that strategic environmental planning is being embraced by SMEs, nevertheless, there is a need for more focus in ingraining sustainability in day-to-day operations and in the operationalization of long-term strategies. Recommendations made include exploring other sectors more extensively, focusing on the changing technologies, and conducting time based strategic foresight evaluation research.
Logistics SMEs, policymakers, and the sectors dealing with sustainability and innovation are the main beneficiaries of the research. The theoretical framework leverages the principles of strategic foresight by bringing future-focused planning into the practice of organizations. It also looks at other works on environmental issues, green policies, and green technologies targeting the problem of SMEs meeting the global environmental challenges. Employing a quantitative and qualitative survey type of research, data was collected using a self-explanatory structured questionnaire from 30 respondents of SMEs in Finland.
Descriptive statistics and frequency distribution features were used to analyze the effects of various external drivers when making environmental decisions. The political and legislative interventions applied to the SMEs are found to motivate the interest towards the implementation of sustainable practices more than any other external factor. The increasing use of electric cars and renewable sources of energy is expected to influence the future environmental tactics. The study finds that strategic environmental planning is being embraced by SMEs, nevertheless, there is a need for more focus in ingraining sustainability in day-to-day operations and in the operationalization of long-term strategies. Recommendations made include exploring other sectors more extensively, focusing on the changing technologies, and conducting time based strategic foresight evaluation research.