- Mar 25, 2026
- Posted by:
- Category: Abstract of 8th-icnmbe
Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on New Trends in Management, Business and Economics
Year: 2026
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Reframing SME Resilience Capabilities under Climate Change: A Qualitative Exploration of Barriers, Enablers, and Strategic Adaptation Needs
Ioannis Thanos, Evita Psoni, Ilias Kapoutsis, Stavros Vourloumis, Antonia Lampaki
ABSTRACT:
This study examines the determinants shaping SME resilience in the context of accelerating climate change, using qualitative evidence derived from focus groups with 21 participants, including SME owners, green transition experts, and policy makers. The findings demonstrate significant heterogeneity in how resilience is understood and operationalized across actors, revealing variation in risk interpretation, strategic horizons, and perceived agency over adaptation. Also, they indicate limited institutional guidance, insufficient access to resources, and restricted technical knowledge as primary constraints to climate‐aligned transformation pathways. Furthermore, regulatory fragmentation and administrative complexity are identified as systemic barriers that undermine the integration of resilience considerations into strategic planning and organizational decision-making. Alongside constraints, the study identifies insurance mechanisms, strengthening internal capabilities, and targeted training in green practices as critical enablers for building future preparedness. The study argues that developing a unified, actionable, and SME‐appropriate resilience indicator framework is a necessary prerequisite for mainstreaming adaptation across diverse business contexts. These insights support the design of management tools and policy mechanisms that reinforce resilience capacity and accelerate sustainable, climate‐aligned transformation trajectories within the SME ecosystem.
Keywords: SME resilience, climate adaptation, green transition, organizational capability, regulatory complexity