PRESSURE FROM STAKEHOLDERS ON THE APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL QUALITY CERTIFICATES BY SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN VIETNAM

Abstract

The paper employs stakeholder theory and data collected from a survey of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) conducted in Vietnam in 2015 to understand the motivations driving Vietnamese SMEs to adopt international quality certificates. The results of the binomial logistic model indicate that business associations have the greatest impact on the application of international quality certificates among SMEs in Vietnam, followed by customers, the government, and competitors. The findings will be beneficial for businesses, certification organizations, and policy makers in encouraging enterprises to adopt international quality standards in Vietnam and other emerging markets.

Keywords: Stakeholders; International quality certificates; SMEs; Vietnam.