Manager’s Age, Sustainable Entrepreneurial Orientation and Sustainable Performance: A Conceptual Outlook

Farah Ameer,Naveed R Khan

doi:10.3390/su12083196

Abstract

Scholars have investigated the direct linkage between manager’s age and sustainable corporate performance, however, the mixed results and conflicting findings on the nature of the relationship demand further explanation through the missing constructs. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of sustainable entrepreneurial orientation in the manager’s age and sustainable performance. This study develops a conceptual link by using a dynamic capabilities approach and upper echelon perspective, indicating that younger managers can adopt a more holistic approach towards sustainable practices which can enhance the environmental, social and economic performance of firms. This implies that the relationship between manager’s age and sustainable performance can be explained through sustainable entrepreneurial orientation (SEO) which can play a key role in setting organizational direction towards sustainable development and achieving sustainable business performance. This study contributes to the literature by examining the role of SEO in the relationship between the manager’s age and sustainable performance. This research will help practitioners recognize the importance of minimizing environmental and social problems generating due to organizational production activities. This will lead to profit generation as well as value creation for nature and the local community.

Highlights

Across the globe, the manufacturing industry is of paramount importance because of its role in economic progress and its capacity to generate wealth and employment [1]
Our findings show that a manager’s age can have a positive influence on sustainable entrepreneurial orientation (SEO) which supports Proposition 1 of the research
We found that higher SEO of managers significantly contributes to economic, social and environmental performance in the manufacturing sector in emerging economies and supported Propositions 2, 3 and 4 of the research

Summary

Introduction

The manufacturing industry is of paramount importance because of its role in economic progress and its capacity to generate wealth and employment [1]. Despite its significant role, activities undertaken by large scale manufacturing industry are damaging the environment and the society [2]. These activities include high consumption of resources, waste generation and improper waste management. In terms of consumption of resources, the devastating impact of the manufacturing sector can be imagined by the fact that 80 percent of the products that humans consume are disposed of immediately after use. 99 percent of the total material flow for consumer goods goes to waste disposal within six months [3]

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