The Impact of Servant Leadership on Vietnam SME Performance

This report investigates the impact of servant leadership on the global value chain, Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) within manufacturing SMEs in Vietnam. The study begins with an introduction, research background, significance, aims, objectives, and hypotheses. It then provides an extensive literature review, examining servant leadership's influence on organizational performance, GVCs, and CSR. The research methodology section outlines the research philosophies, strategies, and data collection methods. The report hypothesizes a significant relationship between servant leadership and GVC, CSR, and OCB. The conceptual framework illustrates the relationships between the independent variable (servant leadership) and the dependent variables (CSR, OCB, and GVC). The report aims to explore the understanding of servant leadership and its impact on various aspects of SME performance and recommends leadership strategies to effectively implement global value chain and organizational citizenship behavior, and corporate social responsibility in SME’s of Vietnam. The report also includes ethical considerations and time frame for the study.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Research title..........................................................................................................................2
Research background..............................................................................................................2
Research significance.............................................................................................................3
Research aim and objectives..................................................................................................3
Research hypothesis...............................................................................................................4
Literature review........................................................................................................................5
Chapter 3: Research methodology...........................................................................................10
Introduction..........................................................................................................................10
Research philosophies..........................................................................................................10
Research strategies...............................................................................................................10
Research approaches............................................................................................................11
Research designs..................................................................................................................11
Data collection methods.......................................................................................................11
Data evaluation methods......................................................................................................12
Sampling methods................................................................................................................12
Research limitation...............................................................................................................13
Ethical consideration............................................................................................................13
Time Frame..............................................................................................................................13
References................................................................................................................................15

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Introduction
Research title
Impact of servant leadership on the global value chain, Organizational Citizenship
Behavior and corporate social responsibility of Manufacturing SMEs in Vietnam
Research background
In the current period, the organization should need to comprehend different leadership
behaviors as it would be effective to soulfully implementing the corporate social
responsibility, global value chain and Organizational Citizenship Behavior in the
organizational process. As an result, organization would be able to get the positive result
towards the specified aim and objectives of the organization. Leaders are essential for all
forms of organisations, holding different functions as well as performing various essential
functions within a company. Nowadays the aim of any company is to survive by increased
performance and retaining its entity (Harjoto, Laksmana, & Lee, 2015). (Grayson & Hodges,
2017).
It is examined that servant leaders are influential as each member of team could not
deny duty which has been allocated by their leader. It is examined that, servant leadership
is effective of SME's. It is also found that the servant management (SL) and CSR partnership
for its enormous benefits that provide to the organization. SL is an integrated management
approach that includes followers with many benefits on the front in various dimensions such
as moral, social, ethical and interpersonal (Harjoto, Laksmana, & Lee, 2015). (Grayson &
Hodges, 2017).
Organizations fostering the philosophy of servant management have led to higher
consumer satisfaction, which in turn contributes to company loyalty throughout the method
of regular transactions and encouraging voice, hence translating into increases in sales. For
effectively operating the business act of SME’S, organization has used the servant leadership

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behavior over other leadership behavior and effectively implementing the global value chain,
corporate social responsibility, and organizational citizenship behavior (Spears, & Lawrence,
2016).
Research significance
This study can be effective in comprehending global value chains in the SME’s. It is
illustrated that servant leadership is best suited to an organization where there is low power
gap among leaders and workers and leader works closely with the team. The study does not,
however, explicitly test Vietnam's position at a local level. This study is effective in
exploring newer knowledge as to how servant leadership could attract Vietnamese culture.
This research is effective in the contribution of CSR in society. This study is vital
ineffective in getting reliable information concerning the research issue. This study leads to
comprehending the relationship between CSR and servant leader. This research will follow
latent trait analysis to untangle difficulty of evaluating several servant leadership histories
such as temperament, motivation, engagement with organizational features.
Research aim and objectives
The main aim of this study is to determine the impact of servant leadership on the
global value chain, Organizational Citizenship Behavior and corporate social responsibility of
Manufacturing SMEs in Vietnam. The following objectives will be accomplished by the
researcher:
 To explore the conceptual understanding of servant leadership, organizational
citizenship behavior, global value chain, and customer relationship management
 To explore the impact of servant leadership on the global value chain, Organizational
Citizenship Behavior and corporate social responsibility of Manufacturing SMEs in
Vietnam

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 To recommend leadership strategies for effectively implementing global value chain
and Organizational Citizenship Behavior, and corporate social responsibility in
SME’s of Vietnam
Research hypothesis
Hypothesis 1
H0: There is significant relation between servant leadership behavior and Global value chain
H1: There is no significant relation between servant leadership behavior and Global value
chain
Hypothesis 2
HO: There is significant relation between servant leadership behavior and Corporate Social
Responsibility
H2: There is no is significant relation between servant leadership behavior and Corporate
Social Responsibility
Hypothesis 3:
H0: There is a is significant relation between servant leadership behavior and Organizational
Citizenship behavior
H3: There is no significant relation between servant leadership behavior and Organizational
Citizenship behavior

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Literature review
Crane, Matten, & Spence, (2019) stated that Leaders are essential for all forms of
organisations, holding different functions as well as performing various essential functions
within a company. Nowadays the aim of any company is to survive by increased performance
and retaining its entity. To be extremely competitive in market, companies need to always
increase their efficiency. The servant-leader aims to recognize others and to be empathic.
Individuals require appreciation and acknowledgement for their rare and unique personalities.
On the other side, Kessler, et al. (2010) examined the servant leaders are influential as
each member of team could not deny duty which has been allocated by their leader. It is
examined that, servant leadership is effective of SME's. Servant leaders rely on persuasion
when taking decisions in a company, rather than on one's hierarchical authority. The servant-
leader tries to reassure others, instead of coercing obedience.
Wang, Tong Takeuchi & George (2016) argued that market convergence' and 'output
decomposition' are now simultaneous phenomena. Roughly 80% of global trade is presently
being performed across global systems of the production chain. Despite the recession due to
the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, global value chains tend to be at the forefront of
world trade level. GVCs are undergoing restructuring, with multinational companies (MNCs)
not a huge number of smaller suppliers but a few huge and qualified suppliers. Synergies are
forming between various values chains, and there is a convergence of lower-tier suppliers.
Globally, main consumer marketplaces are moving towards developing economies, forcing
the supply chains to grow geographically. Trade-in services take a more significant role,
connecting various players along chains. The rise of e-commerce is allowing global supply
chains to expand further.
Nguyen & Truong (2016) corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an effective source
of increasing growth of a business. It is illustrated that CSR could permit the firm for meeting

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their accountability for respect as well as support to rights of society. CSR mandate to the
SME’s for eliminating child labor entailing in every business acts as well as business
relationships. It is illustrated that the company should deal with young people's indecent
manner. It is examined that an organization should need to determine business acts as well as
facilities.
In support of this, Antonakis et al. (2014) illustrated that the CSR organization should
use effective marketing methods for promoting their business. CRS could also permit to use
campaigns and advertisement which support and encourage the rights of children. Respect
and protect the rights of minors regarding the atmosphere, and the creation and use of the
property. Respect and endorse the interests of children in protective arrangements Help to
protect children impacted by emergencies. Strengthen efforts by the society and government
to protect and uphold the rights of the children.
On the other side, Bi Huang & Wang (2016) examined that mechanisms, as well as
Motivations behind CSR Research in this conceptual issue, emphasize compliance exchange
against dedication as motives for CSR engagement. With legislative mandates in nations like
India requiring businesses to invest in CSR practices, companies may follow different
approaches or solutions for managing their CSR disclosure. For instance, an unintended
effect of provisions can be a psychological sorting out of opportunities such that activities in
CSR be a tool of distributing wealth to vanity projects with confined benefit to society,
however, by financing regional political tasks or associations becoming a mask for corruption
and incompetence.
In oppose to this, Quast & Kummritz (2015) examined that many companies prefer
not even to make their CSR practices public. Maybe there's a conflicting interest through
which social networking tasks crowd out motivations for "quiet" entrepreneurship to build
credibility or social position. The reasons behind why companies are interested in CSR might

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be expressed by how they execute and deliver on it. Such planning and considerations of
motivations and actions become valuable sources for future study. Often where organizations
have a strong social function, there can be differences in what is known as a positive
commitment or result.
On the other side, Zhang & Gallagher (2016) examined that corporations are likely to
vary in how they calculate performance, and how performance metrics not always match. To
do well in any aspect of stakeholders will impact firm success in any other parameters.
Organization with available resources attempt to cover every parameter of shareholders
simultaneously, it concentrates with one of the most important parameters, therefore that
example, you determine the ones that will be most meaningful.
Hernandez & Pedersen (2017) illustrated that incorporate small and medium-sized
businesses into global supply chains, APEC markets should aim at policies that help
companies build product and business characteristics, and ensure adequate external factors.
As a benchmark, APEC economies should make the following policies and methodologies.
Consumer attributes ecosystems may set up exchange networks for bridging knowledge gaps
among MNCs as well as SMEs, like trade fairs, meetings, forums, consulting centers or
digital platforms
On the other side, Wu et al. (2016) examined that business characteristics are intended
to improve financial validity, markets are motivated to foster supply chain financing and
provide instruction in financial skills. Industries are supported to promote cooperation and
grouping between SMEs to improve production efficiency. To help small and medium-sized
enterprises meet requirements and receive certificates, economies should synchronize
requirements and specification procedures, develop public certification programs to minimize
the pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises to receive authorizations; and provide
instruction and technical support in qualifications and validation processes.

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Zayas-Ortiz et al (2015) stated that markets can provide optimized services to enhance
stability – for illustration, provide funding to go and get information, communication, and
adaption training next to each other. Economies could guarantee economic growth, industry
openness and separation of powers transparency to allow regional location an opportunity.
Economies may promote a national ICT knowledge base well into the workplace, and set up
technology centers and fertilization centers to raise the quality of company ICT activities.
Economies should promote cooperation and dialog among institutions and the corporate
sector (along with SMEs) to improve talent and ability for creativity, and also maintain that
MNCs reasonably reward SMEs for use of innovative assets of SMEs.
In opposition to this, Bolino et al. (2015) illustrated that ensuring environmental
factors to enhance the business climate could result in economies strengthening public
institutions to promote business. Economies will also seek to introduce trade cooperation and
liberalization policies to create a favorable climate. Economies should build both behind-
border and across-the-board physical and digital infrastructure to enhance physical and digital
infrastructure, to provide appropriate technology for SME groups and platforms. Economies
may actively participate in risk management and reducing the effects of disasters, with efforts
to improve the global supply chain to resolve industry-specific factors.
Conceptual framework
In this, independent factor is servant leadership behaviour while dependent factor is
corporate social responsibility, organizational citizenship behaviour, and global value chain.
This it can be said that the dependent factor is comely rely on the independent factors. It is
also illustrated that the independent factor directly affecting to outcome. The following model
demonstrates independent and dependent factor relationship:

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Research methodology
Introduction
The research methodology section might consider different methods which could
consider many sources named as research approaches, research philosophies, strategies, data
collection methods, data evaluation methods, ethical consideration, and research limitation
(Cope, 2015). These methods are discussed below:
Research philosophies
Research philosophy can assist the investigator in gathering effective information with
respect to study the matter. In this, the investigator entailed many types of tools such as
positivism, interpretivism, and realism philosophy. The philosophy of this research can permit
an investigator to choose a tool for meeting aim. This research method could be effective to
create an approach to the research issue (Taherdoost, 2016).
This technique could facilitate to get a conceptual understanding of the research
matter. This research philosophy could permit research candidates for performing business
requirements in one direction as well as well-organized their mission. Thus, it can examine
this philosophy that could assist the researcher in accomplishing its study purpose. Herein,
Dependent Factor
Corporate Social
responsibility
Independent Factor
Servant leadership

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the positivist philosophy is not used by an investigator because this technique is not vital for
meeting the research purpose (Bresler, & Stake, 2017).
Research strategies
A research strategy can permit the investigator to get favorable data towards the study
issue. The strategies could consider different methods named as exploratory, descriptive, as
well as an explanatory research method. In this, the researcher permitted the researcher to use
this tool and deeply examine the collected information and reaching at a reliable conclusion
(Taylor, Bogdan, & DeVault, 2015).
Research approaches
The research approach can permit the researcher to find an imperative method by
which an investigator would be capable of effectively conducting the research matter.
There are different types of methods that include both inductive and deductive techniques for
researchers to carry out their work. The deductive method has been practiced by the
investigator over an inductive approach which helps the creation of research theory. The
deductive method may allow an investigator to make the hypothesis of the study on behalf of
research goals. Compared with the inductive strategy, a deductive method is an efficient one.
This method could also be crucial for greater success (Barquero & Bosch, 2015).
Research designs
Study design can also be crucial to acquire solid information on survey subject matter.
Different approaches called mixed study models, qualitative and quantitative design may be
included in study models. A mixed research design methodology was used by the interviewer
to perform this analysis, as it enables the researcher to incorporate multiple approaches such
as qualitative and quantitative techniques. This method is essential for acquiring both
empirical and theoretical knowledge on study subject matter (Pruzan, 2016).
Qualitative analysis methods can help in obtaining theoretical data on analysis issues.

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It is shown that the quantitative approach assists the investigator in collecting statistical data
on the study problem. Qualitative knowledge is collecting from available sources which may
be another investigator's research. Literature analysis is another researcher-practiced tool for
conceptualizing the topic of study. It indicates that the investigator used a statistical
instrument as the source that assisted the achievement of research goals (Sessler, & Imrey,
2015).
Data collection methods
The tool for collecting information considers different techniques which are called
primary and secondary tools for collecting data. The choice of tools for collecting information
has depended on the nature of the research (Pruzan, 2016). There are numerous sources
identified by the questionnaire as a survey, as well as an interview method. These tools are
effective in gathering information about the study matter. In this, both approaches were
entailed primary and secondary method of data collection considered. The primary data
collection tool assists the investigator in getting information about the research matter
(Barquero & Bosch, 2015).
The primary data allows reliable information to be obtained and can be gathered by
survey questionnaire consideration. This approach allows the collection of statistical
information by acquiring direct opinions regarding study questions from the study
participants. Apart from this, secondary data is examined as a method which is an important
resource for getting conceptual information against the subject. Many sources called offline,
books, papers, and journals have been known by the investigator to be successful in collecting
data for research purposes (Taylor, Bogdan, & DeVault, 2015).
Data evaluation methods
The methodology of data analysis is important when analyzing data concerning
research issues. In this study, both content analysis, as well as the statistical method, will be

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practiced for collecting the information towards the research matter (Cope, 2015). The
section on information analysis is critical in assessing collected data in the research matter's
favor. This analysis has included a variety of software such as Me-Excel software that is
included by investigators induced by analyzing the information gathered about the analysis
concern. Through this, the assessment of the data may be crucial through collecting scientific
information. Data testing can be successful in achieving the research objective (Taherdoost,
2016).
Sampling methods
Sampling is an essential strategy that encourages the selection by the researcher of an
appropriate tool for the study mission. The sampling method may recognize two types of
strategies, such as probability and non-probability sampling (Bresler, & Stake, 2017). In this,
the researcher practiced a simple random sampling tool as it permits the researcher for
meeting the aim of the research matter (Kumar, 2019). The researcher is using this technique
as well as collecting favorable data for the study query. Here, the researcher selected 100
employees SME’S to carry out this study. In this, this method was used by the investigator to
obtain the data on the study subject. This technique is vital in obtaining adequate information
about the study matter. In this, the researcher has used this source caused by the getting real
information.
Research limitation
Research constraints can take into account various sources such as cost, time and
resources. These influences may impact directly research as a whole. Lack of time, too, may
affect the study. The weakness of the study may have a direct negative effect on the whole
study. It is examined investigators should consider these factors in detail and directly affect
the entire study (Flick, 2015).

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Ethical consideration
Ethical norms may provide a mechanism for an individual to perform acceptable
actions in conducting the research. Ethical norms can be critical in keeping confidential data
safe that research candidates share during the research analysis. It helps the investigator to
create a clear relationship between both the candidates and the researchers. The investigator
called University Guidelines covers other components, including lack of plagiarism, and lack
of grammar, data manipulation and real references (Mackey & Gass, 2015).
Time Frame
The following time frame will be considered for conducting this study:
Proposed Date of
Start
Expected Date of
Completion
Determination of research topic Sept’19 Oct’19
Define research model Nov’19 Jan’20
Prepare literature review Feb’20 Mar’20
Define methodology Apr’20 Sept’20
Prepare pilot study and simulation (Post
Thesis Proposal Workshop)
Oct’20 Dec’20
Collect data Feb’21 May’21
Analyze data June’21 Aug’21
Crafting final work Sept’21 Aug’22
Submit final work Month 36 -38
Review and defense Month 42-48

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