UNPACKING THE BRICOLAGE–PERFORMANCE NEXUS: A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL UNCERTAINTY AND SME SUSTAINABILITY IN SOUTH PUNJAB

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17174094

Abstract

This research seeks to empirically explore the relationship of entrepreneurial bricolage and sustainable performance (economic, environmental, social) of small and medium enterprises in the three administrative divisions of South Punjab, Pakistan. Moderating variable namely environmental uncertainty was hypothesized on the relationship between entrepreneurial bricolage and sustainable performance. The study adopts a framework rooted in the theory of resource orchestration to analyze and understand the dynamics at play in the context of sustainable performance in the SMEs. The integration of entrepreneurial bricolage with sustainable performance is a developing domain of research that has the potential of contributing to the broader understanding of how resourceful behaviors impact sustainable performance over the long term. The current research will augment entrepreneurship and sustainability studies and invite attention of researchers, professionals, and practitioners in both fields. It will encourage an inter-disciplinary approach, promising the integration of insights from business, environmental science, and other relevant disciplines. It will tend to provide evidence-based recommendations for policy and practice. Understanding the manner in which entrepreneurial bricolage contributes to sustainable performance of SMEs will spotlight the factors that enhance long-term business resilience. This knowledge is important particularly in the backdrop of uncertain business environment where adaptability and sustainability are key factors for survival and success of SMEs. The study will address gaps in the extant literature by examining the relationships between these specific variables, thereby contributing to the theoretical foundations of entrepreneurial studies. Findings will provide a nuanced understanding of the entrepreneurial process to navigate uncertainty in operating environment and respond challenges stemming from resource scarcity. This study resorted to the survey method for collecting data from 500 owners/managers of different SMEs. PLS-SEM technique was applied to analyze the data. This study designed a structured questionnaire for conducting a primary survey from 305 valid respondents belonging to SMEs in South Punjab. This cross-sectional study is constrained geographically to the thirteen districts of South Punjab.

Findings revealed that environmental uncertainty negatively moderated the relationship between entrepreneurial bricolage and sustainable performance (economic and environmental) whereas this joint interaction was not statistically significant and, consequently, there was no moderation on social dimension of sustainable performance. Given the specific focus on SMEs within the context of a developing country like Pakistan, it is essential to approach the generalization of the study's findings to other regions, countries, and cultural contexts with caution. By exploring and uncovering the nexus of entrepreneurial bricolage and sustainable performance, this study aims at advancing the knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship and sustainability that will undoubtedly come up with the actionable insights for the academicians, practitioners and policymakers alike. However, it is advisable that bricolage behavior should be applied with great caution particularly under the uncertain environment. Furthermore, it suggests that neglecting the notion of entrepreneurial bricolage to improvise and making-a-do with whatever resource available contributes to the failure of some SMEs.