Motive für nachhaltiges Handeln von Mitarbeitern und Führungskräften in Schweizer KMU

This thesis explores the motives and action logics for sustainable action in small and medium-sized Swiss companies. Using a qualitative case study research approach and data from 27 interviews from four different practical cases (SMEs), sustainable actions in companies are investigated and the motives and action patterns behind them are analyzed. In a mixed deductive/inductive approach, the results are related to existing theories and compared with previous knowledge.
The results show that sustainable action can be formed primarily from three different aspects: Personal: high value orientation (ethics) - good basic understanding of sustainability - shared value development. Organizational: purpose driven (high level of sense) - strong corporate culture with anchored values and values for sustainability - respectful interaction and human-oriented cooperation - high collective awareness and teamwork. Leadership: top management has a leading role and sustainability must be a real concern - appreciative and respectful treatment of all employees. The findings have been used to develop a new model for sustainable management.
This work also developed a new framework for the classification of companies in terms of their sustainability behavior. In this framework, the orientation towards the various sustainability dimensions, respectively the preference for e.g. economic goals, is a predisposition of the company. This fundamental predisposition may be explicit in the form of a vision, strategy or mission statement, or implicit in the attitude and role model of the management. The results also show that not the formal guidelines for sustainability is essential, but the common understanding of the important values in the company. There must be an interplay between individual sustainability-sensitive value attitudes and organizational connectivity for sustainable action. The greater the agreement on the importance of sustainability, the more effective the sustainability efforts.
The outcomes of this thesis expand the knowledge about motives for sustainable actions and can support SMEs in their efforts to become more sustainable. The work offers SMEs a theoretical orientation framework and concrete personnel, organizational and leadership recommendations that promote sustainable action in companies.