Management of Strategic Risks for the Sustainability of SMEs in the Manufacturing Sector in Antioquia
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1. Introduction
The current scenario in economic, environmental, and social terms shows the constant alterations of the environment and the significance of these changes in the results, which increasingly affect financial well-being, maturity, market confidence, and reputation [1]. Latin America, for example, is facing environmental changes, inequality, and increasing violence, which generates constant uncertainty for people and, therefore, for companies [2]; these face challenges, threats, and disruptive situations [3].
Under this scenario, risk management has emerged as a mechanism to counteract uncertainty and has enabled companies to achieve objectives [4] and maximize value [5]. Specifically, strategic risk management is fundamental, given that when these risks are not managed in good time, some of their residual parts can accumulate over time, generating much more essential risks that become out of control in the future [6]. Strategic risks refer to the possibility that the formulation or strategic actions do not generate the expected results or, on the contrary, generate an opportunity [7]. Management of these impacts the organization’s competitive advantage through growth opportunities, the ability to prepare in advance, and the ability to respond to economic, political, and social crises [8,9].
Given this context, organizations must implement strategic risk management to improve performance. Sustainable companies are those that have superior value—in economic, social, and environmental terms—to the market. They seek to reduce the negative impacts and improve the positive effects of the actions carried out in the organization; thus optimizing natural, economic and human resources [10,11]. In this sense, it is essential to focus these analyses on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) since they are the most significant part of the business fabric and are fundamental for growth, innovation, employment, social inclusion, and social sustainability [12,13].
Following on from the above, the research question is: how do SMEs in the manufacturing sector in Antioquia manage strategic risks for sustainability? The research aims to analyze the management of strategic risks for the sustainability of SMEs in the manufacturing sector in Antioquia; to respond to this, ten interviews were conducted with risk managers or leaders of SMEs. Initially, the strategy of each organization is understood. From there, strategic risks are derived, and then how the organization manages strategic risks from the identification, analysis evaluation, and treatment actions, in addition to the challenges associated with risk management for SME organizations; finally, the relationship between strategic risk management and sustainability is discussed.
The first section contains a literature review of strategic risks, their management, and their relationship with sustainability; this is followed by a description of the methodological aspects of the research, the results, and their analysis concerning the theory; and, finally, the conclusions are presented.
3. Methodology
This research aims to analyze the management of strategic risks for the sustainability of SMEs in the manufacturing sector in Antioquia. Qualitative research focuses on understanding and detailing phenomena from the subjective perspective of the participants about the context [52], which is the input for the research development. The scope is descriptive, given that it expects to accurately show the dimensions around the object of analysis [52]. The collection of information was carried out using semi-structured interviews through a protocol that was tested in advance, which can be found in the final appendix of the article (see Appendix A). This method has gained much participation in generating knowledge; it allows one to approach how the subjects understand the phenomena and has validity due to the possibility of deepening or clarifying the data collection process [53].
The protocol was constructed by the literature review, initiated with the research objectives, in addition to critical definitions of the fundamental terms strategic risks, strategic risk management, and sustainability; this allowed the interviewees to have clarity about the framework of the analysis. The academic purposes of the interview and the questions based on the analysis categories were also considered. The interviews were conducted with the executives or managers of the companies; the data were obtained in the participants’ natural environments and are mainly perceptions based on individual experiences or those of the corresponding organizations.
The categories of analysis used seek to highlight the central theme of the research; they were extracted from the literature review and are: strategic risks; strategic risk management (identification, analysis and evaluation, treatment actions, challenges of strategic risk management); and the relationship of sustainability with strategic risk management. After the interviews were conducted, they were transcribed and coded to analyze the information.
The study implemented careful measures to safeguard the rights, safety, and welfare of research participants, ensuring compliance with essential ethical standards. This included prioritizing the protection of human subjects from potential harm. Respect was given to principles such as informed consent and confidentiality. Data processing practices and protective measures were employed to uphold the rights and well-being of participants.
Selection of the Participating Companies
SMEs are essential for growth, innovation, employment, social inclusion, and social sustainability [12]. This global reality is fundamental for Latin America and Colombia, where the production of goods and provision of services is mainly represented by SMEs [13]. In Colombia, according to DANE, SMEs generate 78% of the jobs in the country and represent 99% of the companies in the country [54]. The survival outlook for organizations is complex; according to a study conducted in 2019, in the first year of life, 3 out of 4 companies survive (77.6%); and in the fifth year, 1 out of 2 companies remain in business (53.4%) [55].
Large companies have an advantage over SMEs due to their access to better-quality resources [56]. It was identified that implementation of sustainability-related practices is hindered in SMEs due to a lack of resources [57,58,59]. SMEs have different sources of disturbances that generate deviations in the organization’s results and jeopardize its ability to survive [60,61]; the lack of financial management and management planning does not mobilize the development of this type of organization. [61]. Given that SMEs are more exposed to changes in their environment [62,63], adopting sustainable practices should be incremental [64].
The transition to sustainability involves significant threats and opportunities for the industry in product development [45]. The manufacturing industry faces high pressures due to market freedom, changes in customer preferences, new legislation, and technological changes [65]. Their leading daily challenges are related to the resources to carry out their operations. However, planning and future perspective are necessary due to the demands of the environment, since they have a decisive role in the transition to a sustainable society [66]. For manufacturing companies to move towards sustainability, they require intelligent risk management [46], which involves more significant efforts in quality systems, adaptability, and innovation in their processes [46].
Notably, the manufacturing industry has a fundamental role in the development of Antioquia/Colombia. From an analysis between 2019 and 2021 of SMEs in Antioquia, it was identified that companies in the manufacturing sector have high participation in the business composition of the region and is where more Antioquian SMEs have been liquidated in the last three years, while their financial indicators are in the most unfavorable position compared to the other sectors for the period analyzed [67]. The analysis consisted of two stages, one of which was reactive and the other from a different perspective. In the first stage, the identification of the sectors where more SMEs have been liquidated in the last three years was carried out. In the second stage, the relevance of each industry in several companies and the respective financial results were analyzed based on profitability, indebtedness, and liquidity indicators [67]. A normalization exercise identified that the manufacturing sector is where more Antioquian SMEs have been liquidated in the last three years (25% of the total number of liquidated SMEs), while its participation in several companies places it in the second position of relevance (20% of companies correspond to this sector). Its financial indicators are in the most unfavorable position compared to the other sectors for the period analyzed.
It was defined for the development of the research that the type of organizations to be analyzed are SMEs in the manufacturing sector, the participating companies are selected randomly, the invitation to participate is made, and ten companies are prioritized in order of response, belonging to the manufacturing sector and the most relevant economic activities in income, which are: textile and food. Additionally, it is validated that they meet the conditions of SMEs in terms of revenue between 23,563 UVT and 204,995 UVT [68] and that they have established the strategy in the organization.
Interviews were conducted until a sufficient diversity of ideas had been explored, and subsequent interviews or observations did not yield any new elements. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as reaching the saturation point. This resulted in a sample of ten manufacturing SMEs in the food, textile, and kerosene processing subsectors. Some of their features are described in Table 1 below and listed to ensure confidentiality.
The information from the interviews allowed the purpose of this research to be fulfilled; that is, to collect information.
4. Results
The results are obtained from an analysis of how SMEs in the manufacturing sector manage strategic risks for sustainability; and from the collection of the perceptions of the leaders of the organizations on the relationship between strategic risk management and sustainability. The main strategic risks to which the organizations are exposed, the stages of the risk management process, and the connection of these with sustainability within the framework of the economic, social, and environmental pillars are identified. For the analysis of the interviews carried out, comparisons were made between the answers given by the interviewees in each category of study, which arise from the literature; in addition, a section corresponding to the strategy of the organizations is annexed, which is a fundamental element for the understanding of strategic risks. A summary of the main findings by category is presented below in Table 2:
To begin to analyze the results, it is essential to know each organization’s strategy and thus understand its strategic risks. In general, the managers of the companies interviewed have identified elements of the strategy; E1, E5, E6, E7, E8, and E9 have a deliberate strategy, while the others are characterized by having an emerging strategy. It was found that the companies that have a planned strategy have definitions in the five elements that make up the strategy: purpose, market, value proposition, core competencies and capabilities, and administrative system; however, companies that have an emergent strategy do not have some of the elements above; E2, E3, E4, and E10 do not have core competencies or administrative systems.
4.1. Strategic Risks
Based on the strategy, we inquired about the organization’s strategic risks; the following is a summary of the strategic dangers most frequently mentioned by the people interviewed in the Table 3.
All the companies analyzed identified the risk of human talent management and when asked about the causes high staff turnover, competition, low competitive salaries, and informality were identified. Regarding the first, E6 points out that “for some time we have been experiencing a phenomenon of personnel turnover because we know that our location is very prone to many people migrating” (E6); E7 considers that “many of these young people prefer not to stay working, they do not like the work in the field” (E7); and also, regarding competition, the person in charge of risk management in E7 recognizes that “there are also other companies dedicated to the dairy industry that have more experience, that is more multinational, that offer any little extra thing and go with the competition”. The other element that influences is the informality in the market, which limits the development of talent over time. E2 affirms that “there is a lot of informality, even the process of the fabric is formalized (…), but when the fabric comes in, the garment business is more informal” (E2); and E1 considers that “the garment labor force is decreasing because there is less and less of it. What can we call it? It is less attractive for young people to say: I am going to spend my whole life working for a minimum wage glued to a machine” (E1).
Another risk highlighted is regulatory risk, which was identified by E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, and E7, concerning the causes, the changes in the sector’s applicable regulations, tax requirements, and the capital requirement to be able to support the implementation of rules stand out. This risk makes it difficult for SMEs to be competitive with large organizations in the market; E4 points out: “To grow, there must be capital, a significant injection of capital and, behind that injection of capital, there is also everything that has to do with compliance with legal regulations required by our national government to be competitive in the market” (E4).
The risk of competition was identified by E2, E3, E6, E7, E9, and E10; the interviewees described the leading causes of risk for all subsectors as aggressive price competition and market atomization. In the textile market, there is a high turnover of products, which has meant that organizations are attentive to changes in competition and create highly similar products; in the food subsector, disputes are created by human talent and customers. This is a relevant risk for SMEs, given that competition is not only among them but also with large companies with more significant financial muscle and aggressive strategies. E10 points out: “Competition worries us, but not because we are not able to face it, but because there is a competition that is economically very well supported (…) and they have sales policies that I would say are not healthy, because they almost give away the merchandise and have huge promotions, and we do not have much capital” (E10).
A risk present in several companies is the risk of supplier dependence, which the leaders of companies E2, E3, E6, and E7 mentioned. This risk is fundamental for the manufacturing sector since it is responsible for transforming products in the textile and food subsectors; the supplier generates a bottleneck because it limits the raw material, and prices vary significantly depending on availability. E5 (textile) mentions that: “getting raw material at this time is complicated, one goes to look for fabrics and it is difficult, it is practically necessary to pay cash, and when you find them they are at high prices” (E5); and E8 (food), highlights that “we had a complex situation with the issue of milk management, there was a shortage of milk, so buying it required very high prices (E8)”.
Specifically for the textile subsector, there is a relevant risk: changes in customer preferences due to fashion trends, seasonality, weather conditions, and the influence of external markets. E3 says: “The risk that worries me the most is that fashion will end, that is, that there will come a point when people no longer wear dresses and the brand has been very much identified by the theme of dresses” (E3).
It is shown that SMEs in the manufacturing sector in Antioquia face a series of recurring strategic risks, including human talent management, regulatory complexity, aggressive market competition, supplier dependence, and changes in customer preferences. These risks pose significant challenges to the competitiveness and sustainability of businesses in the region, highlighting the need to address them proactively to ensure long-term success.
4.2. Strategic Risk Management
Strategic risk management must: establish the context; identify, evaluate, and formulate treatment actions; follow up, review, register, and report the risk. Of the 10 company leaders interviewed, it was found that E7 and E8 have a risk management system, i.e., they have documented and standardized the process; the others perform actions that are part of the system but are not formalized in the organization. The following are how the organizations carry out the identification, analysis, evaluation, and treatment actions for strategic risks.
4.2.1. Identification
When investigating how organizations identify or recognize strategic risks, it was found that companies with a risk management system (E7 and E8) do so through organizational tools. E7 uses the SWOT matrix (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), and E8 uses the PESTEL method (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) for the identification of external risks, and there are periodic meetings with internal management to define strategic risks, Strengths, and Threats). E8 uses the PESTEL method (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) to identify external risks; and there are periodic meetings with internal management to define internal risks based on the perceptions of these stakeholders, in addition to having a risk matrix. In both companies, the actors involved in this stage are the manager, their respective primary committee, and advisory teams, which accompany the strategic development of the organizations. This is how E7 describes it:
“There is a SWOT and a committee they meet monthly to look at the mission, vision, strategy, and operational plans. There, they talk about risks, define each leader’s role and how they will address it” (E7).
E8 has been in charge of having a standardized process for risk identification, which covers strategic risks, operational risks, and financial risks. More than three years ago, the first risk matrix was made with the management team, and it is updated every year together with the organization’s teams. The internal control team that is part of the administrative management makes the first proposal, and then it is discussed with the other management (commercial, operations, human resources); they analyze whether the risks continue or have been modified and then they are validated and updated with the advisory team. Regarding this identification process, the person in charge emphasizes: “The idea is to continue growing, and now, let’s say, one has more knowledge of the risks, and it is culturizing them” (E8).
The other companies do not have defined methodologies for the identification of strategic risks; however, E1, E6, and E9 have periodic spaces in the primary committees to expose the points that may affect the achievement of the objectives of the organization, whether external or internal. They also have relationships with other companies and trade institutions related to the sector; E6 additionally provides spaces with employees and suppliers, to collect information corresponding to the risks of the organization. In E2, E3, and E10, the identification of strategic risks is solely in the hands of the organization’s manager. However, they complement their vision with external actors. In the case of E2, the perception of employees and suppliers is considered; in E3, external advisors are consulted; and in E10, the perception of clients and suppliers is considered.
This section examines how companies identify strategic risks, finding that those with risk management systems use tools such as the SWOT matrix and the PESTEL method, and hold regular meetings to define risks. However, some companies lack defined methodologies, relying on management perception and input from employees, suppliers, and external advisors. This highlights the importance of promoting a risk management culture for comprehensive risk identification and effective risk management.
4.2.2. Analysis and Evaluation
In the development of the interviews, questions about how the companies analyze and prioritize the risks were deepened. In the development of the methodology, companies with risk management systems (E7 and E8) evaluate the risks based on frequency and impact. The person in charge of risk management at E8 mentions regarding the process and evaluation criteria:
“I meet, in the company of the SIGA (Integrated Management and Self-Control System) coordinator, with each of the directorates and those directorates, in turn, with their work teams, and we define if the challenges that are continuing, what qualification is given to them because we have some measurement variables, which are: the probability of occurrence, the magnitude of the impact and the controls that are in place” (E8).
In the other companies, risks are not analyzed systematically but according to need, market knowledge, and, in some cases, as a result of consultancies received. In company E1, using quantitative and qualitative analyses carried out by the organization’s leaders, actions are defined in the primary committees in addition to monitoring the indicators and, based on this, resources are allocated. In companies E3 and E5 these analyses are outsourced, and the managers of the organizations receive the respective evaluation inputs.
This section delves into how companies analyze and prioritize risks. Those with risk management systems evaluate risks based on frequency and impact, employing structured processes such as meetings with directorates and work teams to assess ongoing challenges, using variables such as probability of occurrence, impact magnitude, and existing controls. This systematic approach facilitates informed decision-making. In contrast, other companies analyze risks based on market knowledge, needs, and sometimes external consultations. This highlights the diverse approaches companies employ in risk assessment, which may impact the effectiveness of their risk management strategies and their ability to address business challenges.
4.2.3. Treatment Actions
The actions undertaken based on the identification of strategic risks were investigated. Below, the actions corresponding to the strategic risks most referenced by the companies classified in the types of treatment measures are presented in the Table 4.
When classifying the treatment actions, it was found that no actions were associated with transferring or pursuing strategic risks. Among the treatment actions that stand out is the one executed by E7, corresponding to the execution of the supplier development program. In this initiative, a system was created that works as circular economy, in which the company (E7) markets the inputs required for the development of the raw material, the supplier (producer of the raw material) buys them and then sells raw material to the company. The strategy allows the supplier to have more accessible prices from the beginning, create a long-term relationship with the organization, and improve its socioeconomic conditions. The purpose of the initiative refers to:
“They have an area of livestock promotion; it is an area of negotiation and welfare, which is the one that is pending to try to maintain relations with these producers, to listen to their complaints, and to try to solve” (E7).
The organization ensures the availability of raw materials, builds supplier loyalty and reduces price volatility. It also contributes to shaping the social and environmental fabric of the region. This company also has an incentive program, which consists of providing feedback about the quality of inputs; this has generated motivation among suppliers and improved the quality of the final product.
Another of the treatment actions that stands out is the talent retention strategy, which according to the company E9, has generated promising results perceived in the decrease of the turnover indicator. The plan is composed of two elements: on the one hand, the company created policies for attraction, i.e., given an analysis that was carried out based on risk identification, they identified that the people who rotated the most met specific attributes; therefore, they established criteria for hiring based on age, nationality, knowledge, and skills; and on the other hand, they created new incentives and mechanisms for the development and retention of talent that is already in the organization. Regarding this point, E9 highlights:
“Our company has been generating talent retention strategies, such as additional benefits to what other companies similar to ours have, for example, two non-wage extralegal bonuses, discounts for company personnel in the purchase of products, other credit benefits directly with the company, direct contract and not through a temporary company, and also recreational benefits” (E9). The company constantly monitors risk and, as changes are perceived, makes adjustments to the actions implemented.
In the treatment category, it was observed that few actions were taken specifically to transfer or mitigate strategic risks, with most actions focusing on managing risks internally. Notably, one company implemented a supplier development program, fostering a circular economy model to ensure a stable supply chain and improve socioeconomic conditions for suppliers. This initiative not only secures raw material availability but also enhances supplier loyalty and reduces price volatility, contributing to regional social and environmental well-being. Additionally, another company implemented talent retention strategies, resulting in decreased turnover rates. These strategies include tailored hiring criteria and additional benefits to retain existing talent, demonstrating a proactive approach to mitigating human capital-related risks.
4.2.4. Risk Management Challenges
The most common reason among the leaders for which it is difficult for them to have a risk management system is financial resources. E1, E2, E4, and E10 agree with this argument; in particular, E1 highlights that their main limitation is “having the money to do it. It is not enough to think about tomorrow because we are still thinking about it today” (E1). E10 also states that “it is difficult because SMEs generally work more than anything else so that they can sustain themselves in the market because to move forward there must be financial muscle” (E10).
Another reason is the knowledge of risk management, which was started by E3, E4, E5, E7, and E8. SMEs, in some cases, do not have entrepreneurs in charge who are trained in risk management, the daily management of organizational concerns consumes the time that could be implemented to create such knowledge, or organizations overestimate the chances of success. Against this point E5 and E3 state:
“The limitation at this time of SMEs, for me, is the training of entrepreneurs” (E5). “We may not have so many worries, suddenly we are very positive and one never sees negative scenarios that something is going to happen, no, one tries to have everything under control” (E3). E8 also mentions that risk management is limited because it must be at the forefront of what is happening in the market, which is highly changeable.
4.3. Sustainability and Strategic Risk Management
In the interviews, we inquired about the strategic risks that the organization has, but we were asked to prioritize these risks in terms of sustainability in the deepening of what are the priorities for the sustainability of the same. Most organizations have different perceptions depending on the context in which they operate. E1, E3, and E8 mentioned how their most critical risks for sustainability are: the risk of misguidance in strategy formulation, the risk of misguidance in the design of the value proposition, and the risk of misguidance in the deployment of the strategy. In all three companies, it is essential to know the long-term outlook of the organization. E2 considers that the most critical risk is liquidity risk; E4 considers the risk of crucial resources the most critical; E5, E6, and E9 identify the risk of human talent management as the most important; E7 highlights the risk of dependence on suppliers; and E10 the risk of competition.
Respondents were also asked about the benefits of strategic risk management in the sustainability of the organization. E1, E7, and E8 consider that the most relevant is the organization’s ability to anticipate and be prepared for any contingency; as organizations create different scenarios and ready to respond to them, they will have more time and better capabilities at the time they materialize and, therefore, do not significantly sacrifice results, as will happen to those who are not prepared. E7 also considers that risk management has allowed close management that considers global and particular elements and has helped to identify opportunities for improvement.
In addition, the consequences generated by managing strategic risks on the organization’s sustainability were consulted in economic, social, and environmental terms. In the first element, it was found that, according to E1, the management of strategic risks allows companies to anticipate and, therefore, have the liquidity and cash flow necessary to respond to contingencies that affect the development of their strategic objectives. E2 considers that the organization manages to be sustainable to the extent that there are financial resources, and that implies good portfolio management. E7 and E8 mention that adequate management of financial resources and achieving the break-even point are essential elements for sustainability. The following was stated by the person interviewed in E7:
“The management of financial resources, because sometimes there is waste, there is waste and returns that, if minimized and controlled, also impact natural resources, labor; because that is important for sustainability” (E7).
Some of the actions established consider the stakeholders. For example, E3, from the identification of the risk of dependence on suppliers, has made payment agreements that balance the financial welfare of the parties to keep them over time, reducing the variability of prices related to raw materials. E3, E5, and E8 have sought advice on financial issues to improve the development of management plans of the organization, and this outsourcing alternative has contributed to the management and identification of strategic risks, for the development of the organization.
It was also found that organizations develop actions related to social and environmental issues; however, not all are related to risk management, and some come from regulatory compliance or management aspirations. E1, from its strategic formulation, considers that the company’s purpose is not financial; it is to generate jobs and build a country. E3 and E4 have sought to reduce the environmental impact of raw materials and design processes; E5, E6, E7, E8, and E9 have an environmental management system and are increasingly committed to compliance with environmental regulations and improving ecological conditions.
In general, risk management allows one to highlight elements that, if properly managed, lead to better organizational results. In the case of E7, mentioned above, the construction of the supplier development strategy arises from the identification of the risk of high dependence on suppliers for the fulfillment of objectives; in this case, it is fundamental how the organization implements a strategy that contributes to the social development of the region, as well as to a better circulation of resources to achieve better performance in its results, i.e., it contemplates the three pillars of sustainability. Finally, the person interviewed in E8 explicitly states the importance of strategic risk management for sustainability:
“I would think that the priority risks for the sustainability of the organization are the strategic ones because the issue of structure, the issue of direction, lead to knowing where the organization is going, it is the strategic planning, hence if you do not know where you are going, it is difficult for things to go” (E8).
In the sustainability and strategic risks category, organizations were asked to prioritize strategic risks concerning sustainability. Findings revealed varied perceptions among companies, with risks ranging from misguidance in strategy formulation to liquidity risk, human talent management, and competition. The benefits of strategic risk management highlighted anticipation and preparedness for contingencies, enhancing organizational resilience. The consequences of managing risks were discussed in economic, social, and environmental terms, emphasizing the importance of financial resource management, stakeholder engagement, and environmental compliance. Actions taken by organizations reflected efforts to address risks and promote sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions, underscoring the integral role of strategic risk management in organizational sustainability.
5. Discussion
The development of the research presents how SMEs in the manufacturing sector carry out strategic risk management and how this contributes to sustainability; for this purpose, the strategic risks that the companies have, the elements of risk management, the challenges of their development, and the relationship between risk management and sustainability were analyzed. When addressing the strategic risk management of these companies, similarities were found with the information consulted in the literature review of bibliographic references in the field. It was found that, in general, the interviewees understand the strategic risks to which they are exposed and recognize the importance of managing them for sustainability.
In the first place, when it comes to understanding these risks, many organizations consider that they are those that divert them from achieving their objectives, or that they are those of which they may be unaware or that do not allow the continuity of the business. Some of these companies have already faced bankruptcy or the closure of their operations and have associated the risks mentioned to these critical moments. The literature currently acknowledges a range of viewpoints regarding strategic risks, which may encompass both favorable and unfavorable outcomes. It not only acknowledges potential losses but also identifies opportunities. This broad perspective enhances the spectrum of risk management [14]. Some authors define them as the probability of deviation in the achievement of strategic objectives, also as the uncertainty of the strategy, or as the consequences of the choices of the decision-maker of the organizations; and, finally, there are those who establish them as the risks that threaten the survival of the organization [19].
Furthermore, the findings validate that strategic risks are defined as internal and external circumstances capable of hindering the realization of the strategy aimed at creating value for shareholders and stakeholders [22]. These identified risks are evident in both the formulation and implementation phases of the strategy [19]. For example, the risk of misjudgment/error in strategy formulation and, in the second case, the risk of dependence on suppliers. Likewise, according to the literature, that strategic risks depend on the organizational context [21] is evident that given the characteristics shared by the sector and the region where they are located. Many of these companies share risks that condition the fulfillment of their objectives. However, each has at least one particular risk for its context.
For the execution of strategic risk management, it was found that many of these companies do not have a formalized system. However, the literature states that risk management is a systematic and continuous process that includes resources, procedures, and practices [33]. However, they do implement some practices related to risk management. Within these, some methodologies were found for the identification of risks in the organization, follow-up of crucial figures and indicators, prioritization, and creation of corrective actions, which are combined, depending on the case. This coincides with the literature review, which establishes that, depending on the context, a technique or combination of these can be used [14]. Most companies have these activities of identification, evaluation, and development of treatment actions, headed by senior management or administrative or financial teams; and they are complemented by external advisory teams and other institutions or guilds. The literature establishes that the success of risk management is the leadership of senior management and its inclusion in organizations is increasingly required [38].
In the identification of strategic risks, two cases were presented of companies that use the DOFA and PESTEL tools, and the others make empirical analyses with work teams or supported by third parties. However, the literature recommends other tools that can be useful for the analysis of the external and internal context such as Porter’s five forces analysis to analyze the industry, the Delphi method, scenario analysis, understanding the business model through the Osterwalder and Pigneur Canvas, and the analysis of resources and capabilities [19].
During the analysis and evaluation of strategic risks, it was identified that companies without risk management systems do not utilize techniques to analyze and assess risks, confirming what has been previously found in the literature and highlighting the importance of having comprehensive risk management systems [35]. However, the leaders, based on their knowledge, experience, or external support, determine the level of priority of the risks. The criteria for this decision are usually varied and are not formalized. On the other hand, companies that have strategic risk management systems analyze and evaluate their risks based on frequency and impact. This contrasts with the literature review, in which techniques are used to understand the probability or consequences of risks, such as risk registers, risk maps, probability-impact tables, risk matrices, failure rates, waiting models, and preliminary cause analysis [19].
Based on the strategic risks identified in each organization, treatment actions have been adopted around the principles of: avoid, prevent, protect, and retain. None of the organizations mentioned adopting actions related to transfer or pursue; the first refers to sharing the impact of the materialization with a third party and the second is to assume more significant risks in the search for new opportunities [14,34]. The companies consider that the establishment of treatment actions has allowed them to meet their organizational objectives and find exit mechanisms in complex situations, which is consistent with what is established in the literature, given that companies that implement risk management or have practices related to it state that they have positive impacts on the results of the organizations [5].
According to the literature, there are some challenges for risk management in organizations, such as the lack of experience or knowledge of the leaders in the field and uncertainty due to the incidence of external risks [44]. In unity with the literature, the people interviewed also point out knowledge and uncertainty among the elements that currently hinder strategic risk management. However, the main challenge mentioned by the interviewees is the difficulty in obtaining resources for development; this element is not mentioned in the referenced literature analysis, given that in this case the analysis is carried out on a business segment of small and medium-sized companies, which do not yet have the financial muscle to support this system.
Regarding the advantages of strategic risk management, as mentioned in the literature, the people interviewed recognize that it allows companies to anticipate and respond to crises [39]. Furthermore, the interviewees emphasized the importance of conducting effective management of these types of risks to support the achievement of companies’ strategic objectives. This reinforces what is highlighted in the literature, indicating that understanding and early attention to strategic risks benefit organizational objectives [40]. A relationship between risk management and sustainability is identified, and it is found that those risks prioritized from this approach are usually long-term, with a low possibility of occurrence and high severity due to the connection with the strategy [46].
The connection of strategic risk management with sustainability is marked in the three pillars: economic, social, and environmental. It is identified that the interviewees recognize from their practices that the organization’s sustainability is related to all the pillars. However, the economic pillar predominates in most of them. It is found that companies that manage strategic risks manage to have better levels of liquidity and establishment of financial resources, i.e., financial stability [43]. Some actions were also identified that have been carried out by organizations that have an impact on environmental and social development, based on the management of strategic risks. Finally, it is highlighted that most companies refer to the need to consider the three pillars of sustainability to be competitive and remain in force over time, which is consistent with the literature [46].
6. Conclusions
The results of the research show the main conclusion that the management of strategic risks contributes to the sustainability of organizations in the economic, social, and environmental pillars. This represents a relevant finding when investigating the relationship between these two fields of study. It was found that the strategic risks most referred to by the managers of SMEs as priorities for sustainability are long-term risks, related to the formulation and definition of the strategy and the value proposition, as well as the risk of human talent management; the latter risk being present in all the organizations analyzed. It was also identified that some organizations do not have strategic risk management systems; however, this is not a limitation since they all have practices for identifying, analyzing, and implementing actions derived from strategic risks.
These analyses validate the need for organizations to strengthen their risk management practices from the top management to improve organizational results in different areas, especially in a scenario of high uncertainty currently affecting SMEs. It is also very relevant that academia and associations create and execute joint strategies for conceptual strengthening organizational leaders in managing strategic risks.
6.1. Practical Implications
The research has practical implications for SME organizations wishing to implement strategic risk management for sustainability. The study shows that companies with practices related to managing strategic risks can improve their results. These risks, being directly related to the fulfillment of objectives, are a focus of management in small and medium-sized organizations that currently have essential challenges in sustainability. In the development, some of the strategic risks most referenced by the leaders interviewed are presented. These can be similar to the companies that share characteristics of the analyzed sample; additionally, some of the practices and challenges that these companies have in the implementation of risk management are presented, which can be helpful in the creation of processes or implementation of good practices in the companies. Some of the strategies carried out by the SME organizations that connect with sustainability and that have helped them to have better performance in different areas are also presented, which becomes a fundamental element for the economic and social development of the region, given that SMEs currently represent the majority of the business fabric.
The development of the research also addresses one of the significant challenges that risk management currently faces in SMEs, and that is the lack of knowledge of the people who lead the organizations and their processes around risks and how to manage them. This research provides transversal elements that can be put into practice within the organizations.
6.2. Theoretical Implications
The research results show the importance of strategic risk management for organizations’ sustainability within the economic, social, and environmental pillars. This allows uniting of two currents that are increasingly gaining strength in the academic field, given the relevance of sustainability and strategic risk management for the development of organizations. In addition, the analysis is carried out on a business segment that increasingly requires integration with academia for the economic and social development of the region.
6.3. Limitations and Future Research
The study acknowledges its limitations in focusing solely on companies from one emerging country. Future research should consider examining companies from various industries in developed countries to validate and expand upon these findings. Furthermore, the study is limited to the relationship between two fields of study such as strategic risk management and sustainability, and can be further expanded in other research to provide different complementary approaches to the topic. While our qualitative approach provides valuable data and insights, conducting further quantitative analysis would be beneficial to broaden the research. From the results obtained in this study, several opportunities for future research were also identified. One of them is to develop research with a quantitative approach to determine the impact of strategic risk management on the sustainability of the organization; another possible line is how to strengthen risk management from the social and environmental approach. In addition, to deepen in the stages of strategic risk management in SMEs, to promote the use of some tools; it is then proposed to work on the question of how it is possible to implement risk management with limited resources; this has significant importance because it was the main challenge highlighted by the companies, as well as the articulation of the practices that SMEs currently carry out that can have an impact on sustainability.
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