One of the biggest challenges of a modern enterprise is finding a balance between achieving environmental goals and being competitive in the era of Industry 4.0 requirements. The digital revolution is forcing companies to overcome various challenges that contribute to reducing energy consumption. Micro and small enterprises carry out activities in the field of energy efficiency by implementing measures to save energy and reduce total energy consumption. However, these activities are limited by many barriers to resources, which means that these activities are much smaller than those in large companies. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of micro and small enterprises following environmental objectives in improving energy efficiency. The research study, based on a structured and standardized survey questionnaire, was conducted with the use of the CATI technique between April and May 2022 among the owners of micro and small enterprises operating in Poland. The study showed that: (a) the activities of Polish micro- and small-sized companies were aimed at improving energy efficiency through the implementation of environmental objectives; (b) the operation of enterprises in accordance with contemporary environmental requirements improved energy efficiency; and (c) Polish micro- and small-scale enterprises took actions in compliance with environmental requirements.

Empirical studies exploring particular mechanisms that the country’s institutional profile, such as regulatory and normative dimension are internalised into scientists’ cognitive process of commercialising their research re...

The energy transition is one of humanity’s most significant challenges. All micro, small, medium, and large enterprises will have to face it, and some are already making progress. This paper focuses on the involvement of the smallest actors in the energy transition. Micro and small enterprises comprise the largest part of the economy and significantly impact its development. Concerning the broad scope of their activities, these entities are characterized by a specific owner–manager relationship. This means that the final decision is influenced by business objectives, the manager’s approach, their awareness of change, and personal and other factors. Based on the analysis of data from 400 companies, it was found that the involvement of micro and small enterprises in the energy transition is related to their market and financial success.

The area of research related to entrepreneurship is not homogeneous. Therefore, the interdisciplinary approach is the one that may successfully expand the domains of activities linked to making decisions about establishing and running an enterprise. This is especially important now, in the midst of a crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which has not only affected the economy but has also significantly influenced decision-making by individuals.