Focused on the Greek economic crisis, one of the toughest and the most prolonged ones on a global scale, the present research centers on both anthropocentric and business-centric factors that helped SMEs survive, thus, providing a valuable survival manual. Grounded in quantitative research the paper includes two studies. 250 SMEs were included in the first study while 189 of them that survived, participated in the second study. Per findings, it is evidenced that an SME’s survival is affected by: (a) the entrepreneurs’ personality traits and skills that affect the market and entrepreneurial orientations of SMEs, (b) the adoption of such orientations that keep impacting the firms’ performance, and finally (c) the implementation of strategy relevant to reaching higher quality standards for pr
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Our study explores historical paradoxes in the coffee industry, focusing on the persistent tension between pragmatism and idealism. Paradoxes are defined as persistent conflicts between opposing yet complementary forces. For example, organizations must balance stability with the need for change. We analyzed the coffee industry in the United States over a century, from the 1910s to the 2020s, using archives from Harvard Business School's Baker Library and other specialized sources. Our research highlights the paradox between pragmatic concerns (such as coffee supply during wartime) and ideological values (like sustainability concerns in the early 2000s). This tension, influenced by historical contexts, is ever-present. For managers, it is crucial to adapt strategies to cultural trends while balancing practical and idealistic goals. Understanding this dynamic helps navigate the complex landscape of the coffee industry, and this lesson is applicable to other sectors as well.
- Research
- Strategic Management, Sustainable Development and CSR