Abstract:

Sustainable growth requires a competitive resource-efficient economy through the development of new processes and technologies, including green technologies, that accelerate the development of smart grids using ICT instruments to strengthen the competitive advantage of business environment in SMEs. SMEs must act for sustainable development, to pursue sustainable management, innovation, eco-efficiency. Climate change, ecosystem degradation, resource depletion, and social inequality are currently having undesirable effects. The sustainable development model requires the full integration of sustainability into all the SMEs strategies and operations.

Through a continuous chain of actions, education transforms the individual into an active and creative personality, corresponding to social conditions and biopsychic potential. The adaptation of the individual to the society and the digital economy in Romania is a major objective aimed at the development of the individual with autonomous personality, with entrepreneurial spirit, with active participation in society, integrated on the labor market. It is a priority to make better use of digital technologies in the processes of learning and assessment, in order to develop digital skills and competencies, and a prospective vision.

Learning and development programs for SMEs are preparing employees for the fourth digital revolution that analyzes strategy by mirroring passivity - action; labor force, by comparing evolution - revolution; technology, by analyzing problem solving - their prevention; social impact, by considering stability - ability to influence. The marketing activity is suitable for adapting to the requirements of the new social-economic environment. Sustainable marketing means environmental, economic and social practices.

The paper presents a tool that supports the training of employees even at work, and can be accessed online from any computer, 24/7. This tool, which assists the improvement of work skills for the economic and business environment, has two components: the theoretical course and the practical applications. The e-course includes lessons grouped in three modules:
1) basic notions of marketing (market, policies, methods, forecasting, modeling),
2) new concepts and methods (SEO, Google AdWords, Google Analytics, Social Media, etc.) developed as a result of the evolution of ICT,
3) ecological marketing (concepts, evolution, components, policies, management - strategic planning, marketing plan) which represents the newest part of the course.

FAQs, an additional recommended bibliography, and examples have been included. The practical applications are: tests with multiple answers, problems, case studies. The focus is on solving practical marketing problems and decision making like: selection of the most appropriate green product strategies, ecological pricing; selection of green distribution channels. Emphasizing the importance of sustainability efforts in business, a case study that illustrates the incorporation of its principles into the SMEs marketing activities is presented.

Keywords:

e-learning, Sustainability, Green Marketing, Decision Making.