The ESG disclosure vacuum : governance gaps in Vietnamese SMEs under regulatory fragmentation | |
| Author | Le Dinh Giap |
| Call Number | AIT Proj. no.PM-ESG-26-17 |
| Subject(s) | Social responsibility of business--Vietnam Sustainable development--Vietnam Small business--Vietnam |
| Note | A project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Professional Master in ESG (Environment-Social-Governance) Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study investigates institutional challenges Vietnamese SMEs face in ESG disclosure amid regulatory fragmentation, examining how uncoordinated regulations create compliance paralysis and developing novel theoretical concepts to explain these dynamics. Grounded in Institutional Theory, the research extends existing frameworks by introducing three novel concepts: Fragmented Coercive Isomorphism (coercion without coordination), Voluntary Mandatory Paradox (dissonance between domestic voluntary and international mandatory requirements), and Institutional Opacity (informational vacuum from excessive institutions). Employing a multiple-stakeholder qualitative study design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants across three stakeholder groups (SME representatives, industry associations, ESG consultants), supplemented by document analysis. Thematic analysis, guided by Lincoln and Guba\'s (1985) trustworthiness criteria, revealed regulatory overlaps, resource constraints, and market-driven mandates as key barriers. Findings demonstrate how fragmentation leads to heterogeneous SME responses, from symbolic compliance to green-hushing. Contributions advance Institutional Theory for emerging markets, while policy recommendations - informed by a comparative analysis of ESG governance models in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia - include a National ESG Coordination Council and phased implementation roadmap (2026–2028). Implications emphasize inter-agency harmonization to enhance SME competitiveness. |
| Year | 2026 |
| Type | Project |
| School | School of Management |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Professional Master in Environment, Social & Government Managment (PMESG) |
| Chairperson(s) | Galipeau, David; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Endress, Tobias;Krishna, P. V. Gopi; |
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