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This paper presents the findings of the first phase of a larger research project on inter-country differences of business failure in entrepreneurial firms. This initial phase involves an exploratory comparative study into the perceptions of 20 Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME) founder-owners in Australia and Malaysia on what they felt were ineffective behaviours and competencies that were strongly associated with their experiences of difficulties or failures in their own ventures. Drawing on real life lessons from the founder-owners on their actions or inactions, the research contributes to the understanding of behavioural differences in the context of business failure between founder-owners in two relatively different cultural settings.

Sustainable development has emerged as a field of applied research across multi‐discipline. Sustainable leadership is a new domain of effective leadership, which has been established recently to cope with issues related to sustainable development. On the subject of natural resource‐based view (NRBV) and dynamic capability theory, this study examined methods of embedding sustainable leadership into sustainable performance and investigated the mediating effect of organizational learning to sustainable leadership and sustainable performance. The data in this study were collected from a total of 369 small and medium‐sized enterprises in Pakistan using a purposive sampling technique. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results revealed (a) a significant positive effect of sustainable leadership on organizational learning; (b) organizational learning significantly influences sustainable performance; (c) organizational learning partially mediates the relationship between sustainable leadership and sustainable performance. The present study offered an in‐depth theory of NRBV, dynamic capability, and sustainable development. Effective management advices are proposed for organizations encountering sustainable development challenges.

Purpose The purpose of the study is to delve the influencing factors of sustainable entrepreneurship among SMEs in Malaysia. The heightened awareness in sustainable development coupled with globalisation has created immense aspiration, enthusiasm and interest in the trajectory of sustainable entrepreneurship. With this set of circumstances, the objective of the study is to explore the possible predictive factors that enhance sustainable entrepreneurship among Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach This study examined the relationships between sustainable entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial orientation, sustainability orientation and entrepreneurial bricolage through the lens of a resource-based view, upper echelons theory and corporate social responsibility. A total of 102 responses from a survey instrument from Malaysian SMEs were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling. Findings The results indicated that the entrepreneurial orientation is associated with the degree of sustainable entrepreneurship, and is mediated by the role and degree of entrepreneurial bricolage. Originality/value This study highlights the importance of sustainable entrepreneurship among SMEs with respect to the heightened societal and environmental awareness among consumers and international regulation concerning environmental protection.

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Sustainable leadership plays a vital role in the integration of sustainable development. Sustainable development, in this context, is related to rapid economic development, poverty alleviation, environmental protection, and increase in social trust. Previous studies emphasized the significance of research in a sustainable mechanism, and its limitations in sustainable leadership and sustainable performance. This study aimed to enlighten managers and policymakers on a range of available opportunities such as poverty alleviation, sustainable education, and community development. Based on an integrated literature review on sustainability in the context of innovation and underlying theories, a conceptual framework on the exploration of sustainable leadership contribution to sustainable performance in the emerging market was outlined. Regarding upper‐echelon theory, it was claimed that sustainable leadership affected sustainable performance through frugal innovation. In addition to the effectuation theory, this study claimed a stronger influence of sustainable leadership on frugal innovation, with high entrepreneurial bricolage. As such, the present research has provided four propositions pending further validation. The propositions have also called for validation for future studies through empirical evidence, specifically in the emerging market. In summary, the theoretical and practical contributions to the impact of sustainable leadership on sustainable performance through frugal innovation have been duly elaborated.

The purpose of this research is to delve into the effect of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) on the economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainable performance; the research also focuses on the contingency role of entrepreneurial bricolage (EB). The increasing concern focused on the triple bottom line (TBL) issues has triggered enthusiasm and inspiration in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship, especially amongst the small medium enterprise (SME) owners or leaders who are directly responsible for organizational sustainable performance. This research examines the relationships between EL and economically sustainable performance (ECSPF), environmentally sustainable performance (ENSPF), and social sustainable performance (SOSPF); these relationships are contingent upon EB through the lens of Upper Echelons Theory (UET) and Effectuation Theory (ET). A total of 146 responses from a cross-sectional survey from Malaysian manufacturing SMEs were investigated using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that EL has significant effects on ENSPF and SOSPF, but has an insignificant effect on ECSPF. Meanwhile, EB does not play the contingent role in strengthening the relationships between EL and ECSPF, EL and ENSPF, and EL and SOSPF. This research highlights the importance of EL and shows that SME owners or leaders should embrace and develop their skills as a crucial step towards achieving sustainable performance for their companies. The implications and limitations of the research are discussed and recommendations for future research are also presented.

Purpose – Given the uprising interest in the environmental responsibility issues among small businesses, the purpose of this paper is to design to probe into the relationship between stakeholders’ influence and environmental responsibility of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), and its consequent outcomes in an emerging economy. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 110 MSME owners participated in this study. Data were collected by means of questionnaire designed to measure the 12 constructs of focus. In order to test the hypotheses and examine the relationships proposed in the research framework, structural equation modelling was performed using SmartPLS. Findings – This study revealed that among the primary stakeholders, only employees and customers significantly influenced environmental responsibility practices of MSMEs. Besides, it was found that environmental responsibility results in financial improvements and better relations with employees and customers. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to MSMEs in Malaysia. Despite the relatively low response rate, which is common in MSME research, the geographic and sector distribution of samples provides a basis for generalizability of the results. Practical implications – Since many MSME owners/managers are sceptical about the benefits of environmental practices, the findings of this study provided empirical support from an emerging economy about the positive outcomes of environmental practices. Social implications – By examining the key determinants that foster environmental practices in MSMEs, the current study provides important insights for policy makers to encourage MSMEs to initiate such responsible practices, which can lead to environmental preservation. Originality/value – Other than enriching a systems-based view of firms’ environmental behaviour, this study empirically tests a research framework on role of stakeholders in determining environmental responsibility of small firms and their outcomes on firms’ performance.