Differences in sustainability practices and stakeholder involvement

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -This research aims to describe sustainability practices adopted by companies and the influence they have with the involvement of stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach -Qualitative investigation, using case study methodology, was undertaken in 17 companies that use strategic sustainability practices in some way. The companies were observed under the theoretical perspective of social responsibility and sustainability, and with the approach of strategic practices. Findings -Interpreting the data produces an alternative framework of analysis for strategic organizational activities oriented toward the understanding of practices of sustainability, especially in processes aimed at catering to and/or involving stakeholders. The research further supports the idea that sustainability practices, regardless of their level of implementation, have a strong relationship, in these companies, with stakeholder interests. Originality/value -The intent is that the proposed analytical framework will allow further debate toward better understanding of actions focused on environmental determinism and internal company conditions.

Developing a theory of focal company business sustainability efforts in connection with supply chain stakeholders

“…Those stakeholders with which the company does not have formal relationships typically encompass government agencies, as well as community groups, and are referred to as secondary stakeholders (Gupta, 1995). Regardless of the stakeholder category, Bulgacov et al (2015) point out that organisational activities aimed at implementing sustainable practices need to acknowledge the inclusion of stakeholder interests in strategy. Such stakeholder involvement and support facilitate the implementation of sustainability practices by fully considering stakeholder requirements and challenges and how they might impact on the strategy.…”

Stakeholder engagement in sustainability transitions

“…While this level examines actors and their actions rather than stakeholder relationships and interactions, it is frequently addressed in the literature and therefore warrants discussion (Fischer & Newig, 2016;Goodman et al, 2017;Koistinen et al, 2020). At the firm level, stakeholder engagement refers to relationships and interactions between a firm and its internal and external stakeholders, such as its employees, suppliers or customers (Bulgacov et al, 2015;Loorbach et al, 2010;Pelenc et al, 2015;Sulkowski et al, 2018). The industry level involves various firms that, together with their stakeholders, interact with other companies and their stakeholder sets within the same industry, creating networks in order to address common concerns (McKee et al, 2014;Millar et al, 2012;Mutoko et al, 2014).…”

“…This level refers to stakeholder engagement occurring within a firm as well as between a firm and its stakeholders. The focus is on the firm's direct stakeholders, referring to those who are vital for its operations and/or for implementing corporate sustainability practices that trigger sustainability transitions (Bulgacov et al, 2015).…”

Effect of Stakeholders-Oriented Behavior on the Performance of Sustainable Business

“…A growing body of literature, which has included environmental and social concerns, has experienced a research shift related to conventional performance measurement, such as economic or financial performance [4]. The implementation of sustainability practices requires the inclusion of stakeholder concerns in the organizational strategy, assessing their effects [5]. Engaging stakeholders in the organizational strategy may promote co-created sustainable value [6].…”