A framework to overcome barriers to green innovation in SMEs using BWM and Fuzzy TOPSIS

Recent years have witnessed a significant rise in exploring the barriers which obstruct adoption of green practices by SMEs. There is a constant need to innovate in terms of products, processes, and management so that we can overcome these barriers to green practices adoption and implementation. This study employs a three-phase methodology to identify barriers and solutions to overcome these barriers to green innovation in SMEs. Through extensive literature review and the opinion of selective manager's, seven main category barriers, thirty-six sub-category barriers, and twenty solutions to overcome these barriers were identified. BWM is used to rank these barriers and Fuzzy TOPSIS is used to rank solutions to overcome these barriers. Four Indian SMEs are taken to exemplify the proposed three paged model. To check the robustness of the model, a sensitivity analysis was also performed. The results of the analysis can act as a stepping stone for SME managers to eliminate and overcome barriers to green innovation in their firm and compete healthily in the market. The paper sets a framework for future studies in this area of research-work. (c) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.