A Cognitive Perspective on the Business Case for Corporate Sustainability

Abstract

This paper proposes that a cognitive perspective on corporate sustainability and competitiveness might allow new insights into the question of the business case. The paper explores how respondents from 12 firms make sense of their firm's investments in corporate sustainability activities by analyzing the mental models evoked. The interviews showed that a business case perspective emerged as the dominant logic. A subsequent analysis of the content of the knowledge schemas that were elicited surfaced four dimensions of corporate sustainability induced competitive advantages: risk reduction, efficiency gains, brand building and new market creation. An analysis of the structure of these knowledge schemas revealed that respondents from firms with lower perceived sustainability performance drew on less differentiated and less integrated cognitive frameworks (focusing on risk and efficiency). Respondents from firms with higher perceived performance drew on more complex mental models to represent the links between corporate sustainability and competitiveness.

CSR and technology companies: A study on its implementation, integration and effects on the competitiveness of companies

“…On the other hand, the relationship between CSR and perceived competitiveness from technological company is confirmed in the H4 hypothesis raised in line with other studies (Hockerts, 2015). In fact, there are certain factors (e.g.…”

“…In fact, there are certain factors (e.g. COM6, COM7, COM8, COM13, COM14, COM15, COM21, COM24 and COM25) that contribute to this relationship as suggested Hockerts (2015) and Turyakira et al (2014). The opposite of what would be expected from these studies (Turyakira et al, 2014) other factors do not contribute to the competitiveness of the technology company (e.g.…”

“…Por otro lado se confirma la relación existente entre la RSC y la competitividad percibida de la empresa tecnológica planteada en la hipótesis H4 en línea con otros estudios (Hockerts, 2015). De hecho, hay ciertos factores (p.e.…”

“…Four remarkable ways established in the scientific literature whereby CSR can create competitive advantages (Hockerts, 2015). These are:…”

“…En la literatura científica se establecen cuatro maneras destacables a través del cual la RSC puede crear ventajas competitivas (Hockerts, 2015). Estas son:…”