Professional Ethics and Sustainable Business Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Imo State

Résumé fourni par la source

This study investigated the association between professional ethics and sustainable business development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Imo State. The study focused on three dimensions of professional ethics: integrity, accountability, and fairness and examined their relationship with the three pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. The research was guided by the stakeholder theory and the triple bottom line framework. The study adopted a correlational survey design. A sample size of 330 SMEs was drawn from a population of 1,886 SMEs using Taro Yamane sample size determination formula. A stratified random sampling technique with Bowley’s (1964) proportional allocation was used to determine the sample subjects. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. However, only 247 copies of questionnaire were returned given a response rate of 74.84%. Content validity was ensured through two academic scholars in the field of business administration and entrepreneurship. Reliability of the instrument was tested using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient and all the items scored above 0.70 threshold. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 significance level using Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science version 25.0. Findings revealed that integrity, accountability and fairness had positive significant relationship with the measures of sustainability (economic, social and environmental). The study concludes that professional ethics are vital drivers of SME sustainability and recommends institutionalizing ethical practices, strengthening accountability frameworks, and promoting fairness in stakeholder relations to enhance competitiveness and long-term development.