Conditions to Diffuse Green Management into SMEs and the Role of Knowledge Support: Agent-Based Modeling

Keiko Zaima

doi:10.20965/jaciii.2013.p0252

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JACIII Vol.17 No.2 pp. 252-262

doi: 10.20965/jaciii.2013.p0252

(2013)

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Conditions to Diffuse Green Management into SMEs and the Role of Knowledge Support: Agent-Based Modeling

Keiko Zaima

Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo-motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan

Received:

November 26, 2012

Accepted:

February 1, 2013

Published:

March 20, 2013

Keywords:

agent-based modeling, green management, diffusion of innovation, SME, knowledge support

Abstract

Spreading green management among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) is an important environmental policy issue. The objective herein is to design an agent-based model to analyze the conditions that need to be met for the diffusion of green management into SMEs. Our model belongs to the agentbased models related to the diffusion of innovation. One remarkable feature of the basic model is that it includes two related markets for a product and its component, in which there are transactions between consumers and Large Enterprises (LEs) and between LEs and SMEs. Although the basic model is not concerned with a specific product, settings of the model are based on the existing empirical researches on SMEs in machine & metal and plastic processing industries. Simulation results of the basic model reveal effective strategies of enterprises. LEs which raise eco-levels faster than others can acquire profits. SMEs which lower prices faster than others can also improve financial resource. The sensitivity analysis shows that the cost condition is an important factor for the diffusion of green management into SMEs. We suggest that knowledge support to SMEs can take a role in order to reduce environmental cost, based on the results of previous empirical research. An applied model concerning knowledge support is also presented. Simulation results of the applied model reveal that information provision from the external organizations to SMEs could be effective for the diffusion of green management.

Cite this article as:

K. Zaima, “Conditions to Diffuse Green Management into SMEs and the Role of Knowledge Support: Agent-Based Modeling,” J. Adv. Comput. Intell. Intell. Inform., Vol.17 No.2, pp. 252-262, 2013.

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References

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[14] K. Zaima, “Chushou-kigyou no kankyou keiei no genjou to kadai: kikai kinzoku-gyou to purasuchikku-kakou-gyou no gyoukaihikaku to keinen-hikaku kara (An investigation on the implementing environmental management of small and medium sized enterprises in machine & metal and plastic processing industries: a comparative analysis),” Shoukou-Kinyuu, Vol.57, No.5, pp. 47-60, 2007 (in Japanese).
[15] K. Zaima, “Chushou-kgyou no kankyou keiei suisin no jouken ni kansuru jisshou bunseki: kikai kinzoku-gyou to purasuchikkukakou-gyou no keisu (An empirical study on the conditions to promote environmental management of small and medium sized enterprises),” Shakai-Keizai Sisutemu (Social and Economic Systems), No.29, pp. 67-76, 2008 (in Japanese).
[16] J. A. del Brio and B. Junquera, “A review of the literature on environmental innovation management in SMEs: implications for public policies,” Technovation, Vol.23, pp. 939-948, 2003.
[17] C. M. Parker, J. Redmond, and M. Simpson, “A review of interventions to encourage SMEs to make environmental improvements,” Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Vol.27, pp. 279-301, 2009.
[18] H. E. J. Bos-Brouwers, “Corporate Sustainability and Innovation in SMEs: Evidence of Themes and Activities in Practice,” Business Strategy and the Environment, Vol.19, pp. 417-435, 2010.
[19] K. Zaima, “Chuushou-kigyou no kankyou business innovation: kigyou-zokusei to jouhou-shien no kouka (Green business innovation of SMEs: Corporate features and roles of information support),” conference paper for the 2nd Annual Conf. of Japan Forum of Business and Society, Waseda University, Japan, September 21, 2012.
[20] K. Zaima, “Chushou-kgyou no kankyou keiei nitaisuru shien no genjou to kadai: chiiki shakai niokeru kankyou komunikeishon dezain ni mukete (Conditions of support for the environmental management of SMEs: For an effective design of environmental communication in a local community),” Shakai-Keizai Sisutemu (Social and Economic Systems), No.31, pp. 45-58, 2010 (in Japanese).

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationa License.

[1] [1] R. Hillary (Ed.), “Small and medium-sized enterprises and the environment: business imperatives,” Greenleaf Publishing Limited, 2000.

[2] [2] S. S. P. Haden, J. D. Oyler, and J. H. Humphreys, “Historical, practical, and theoretical perspectives on green management: An exploratory analysis,” Management Decision, Vol.47, No.7, pp. 1041-1055, 2009.

[3] [3] C. Carraro and F. Leveque (Eds.), “Voluntary Approaches in Environmental Policy,” Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999.

[4] [4] S. Heckbert, T. Baynes, and A. Reeson, “Agent-based modeling in ecological economics,” Annuals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Issue: Ecological Economics Reviews, Vol.1185, pp. 39-53, 2010.

[5] [5] K. Zaima, “Kankyo-hairyo-kata shakai wo dezainsuru agent-based modeling: Kenkyu no genjou to kongo no kadai (Agent-based modeling for designing the environmental conscious society: a review and future researches),” Operations Research, Vol.53, No.12, pp. 678-685, 2008 (in Japanese).

[6] [6] Z. Kuscsik, D. Holvath, and M. Gmitra, “The critical properties of the agent-based model with environmental-economic interaction,” Physica A, Vol.379, pp. 199-206, 2007.

[7] [7] R. B. Matthews, N. G. Gilbert, A. Roach, J. G. Polhill, and N. M. Gotts, “Agent-based land-use models: a review of applications,” Landscape Ecology, Vol.22, No.10, pp. 1447-1459, 2007.

[8] [8] M. A. Janssen and W. Jager, “Simulating diffusion of green products: Co-evolution between firms and consumers,” J. of Evolutionary Economics, Vol.12, pp. 283-306, 2002.

[9] [9] K. Zaima, “Effects of structural and behavioral strategies toward the environmentally conscious society: Agent-Based Approach,” in T. Terano, H. Kita, T. Kaneda, K. Arai, and H. Deguchi (Eds.), Agent-Based Simulation From Modeling Methodologies to Real-World Applications, pp. 233-246, Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, 2005.

[10] [10] K. Zaima, “Agent-based simulation on the diffusion of research and development for environmentally conscious products,” in K. Arai, H. Deguchi, and H. Matsui (Eds.), Agent-Based Modeling Meets Gaming Simulation, pp. 119-138, Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, 2006.

[11] [11] M. Schwoon, “Simulating the adoption of fuel cell vehicles,” J. of Evolutionary Economics, Vol.16, pp. 435-472, 2006.

[12] [12] T. Zhang, S. Gensler, and R. Garcia, “A study of the diffusion of alternative fuel vehicles: An agent-based modeling approach,” J. of Product Innovation Management, Vol.28, pp. 152-168, 2011.

[13] [13] E. Kiesling, M. Gunther, C. Stummer, and L. M. Wakolbinger, “Agent-based simulation of innovation diffusion: a review,” Central European J. of Operations Research, Vol.20, No.2, pp. 183-230, 2012.

[14] [14] K. Zaima, “Chushou-kigyou no kankyou keiei no genjou to kadai: kikai kinzoku-gyou to purasuchikku-kakou-gyou no gyoukaihikaku to keinen-hikaku kara (An investigation on the implementing environmental management of small and medium sized enterprises in machine & metal and plastic processing industries: a comparative analysis),” Shoukou-Kinyuu, Vol.57, No.5, pp. 47-60, 2007 (in Japanese).

[15] [15] K. Zaima, “Chushou-kgyou no kankyou keiei suisin no jouken ni kansuru jisshou bunseki: kikai kinzoku-gyou to purasuchikkukakou-gyou no keisu (An empirical study on the conditions to promote environmental management of small and medium sized enterprises),” Shakai-Keizai Sisutemu (Social and Economic Systems), No.29, pp. 67-76, 2008 (in Japanese).

[16] [16] J. A. del Brio and B. Junquera, “A review of the literature on environmental innovation management in SMEs: implications for public policies,” Technovation, Vol.23, pp. 939-948, 2003.

[17] [17] C. M. Parker, J. Redmond, and M. Simpson, “A review of interventions to encourage SMEs to make environmental improvements,” Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Vol.27, pp. 279-301, 2009.

[18] [18] H. E. J. Bos-Brouwers, “Corporate Sustainability and Innovation in SMEs: Evidence of Themes and Activities in Practice,” Business Strategy and the Environment, Vol.19, pp. 417-435, 2010.

[19] [19] K. Zaima, “Chuushou-kigyou no kankyou business innovation: kigyou-zokusei to jouhou-shien no kouka (Green business innovation of SMEs: Corporate features and roles of information support),” conference paper for the 2nd Annual Conf. of Japan Forum of Business and Society, Waseda University, Japan, September 21, 2012.

[20] [20] K. Zaima, “Chushou-kgyou no kankyou keiei nitaisuru shien no genjou to kadai: chiiki shakai niokeru kankyou komunikeishon dezain ni mukete (Conditions of support for the environmental management of SMEs: For an effective design of environmental communication in a local community),” Shakai-Keizai Sisutemu (Social and Economic Systems), No.31, pp. 45-58, 2010 (in Japanese).