For Michael Porter and Mark Kramer, co-authors of the article Shared Value, there has been a looming need to reconnect the success of companies with social progress. They believe that, “Companies could bring business and society back together if they redefined their purpose as creating shared value – generating economic value in a way that also produces value for society by addressing its challenges.” The pair asserts that a shared value approach to business can drive innovation and productivity while creating competitive advantages and addressing human needs. What they are ultimately alluding to is what many social enterprises are doing through their business models.
Marketing for SMEs in the Digital Era
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent the vast majority of businesses around the globe, and are major contributors in terms of innovation, job creation, and socioeconomic progress. As technology continues to influence business practices, and more products and services are being sold online, digital tools are rapidly increasing in value among SMEs.