Faith in the future: On a mission to integrate sustainability into management theory and practice

Abstract

We challenge existing corporate sustainability theory by exploring how the concept of syncretism contributes new insights that may help us to reconsider the role of business agents in driving society towards a more sustainable future. The theoretical model distinguishes between 'syncretic missionaries' who preach a faith and 'syncretic believers' who are preached to. We draw upon the (hitherto disconnected) literatures on syncretism and corporate sustainability to define the critical role of missionaries and believers in business. Using analogical reasoning, we argue that business missionaries and believers are characterised by varying levels of (1) sensibility to sustainability issues and (2) capacity to open themselves to 'external' idea systems and viewpoints. The type of relationships that are developed amongst and between themselves is alleged to critically shape a firm's sustainability performance. The article ends with an outline of implications for the future of corporate sustainability theory, referring to theories and concepts recently developed in the field (i.e., organisational and institutional logics multiplicity, paradox perspective).

Monitoring the Implementation of Exponential Organizations through the Assessment of Their Project Portfolio: Case Study

“…As far as the sustainability part is concerned, there are different studies that analyze how it has been tried to be incorporated into the management models [43,44]. Traditionally, the development of tools for sustainability has focused mainly on products or has taken a broad view of eco-innovation [45,46].…”

Sustainable human resource management the mediating role between work engagement and teamwork performance

“…Following this idea, the interest in this problem is reflected in the literature through the proliferation of academic studies on sustainability in different fields of knowledge, such as economics [ 11 ], management [ 12 ], social responsibility corporate [ 13 , 14 ], etc. This concern is also materialized from a political perspective through the framework established by the UN in the 17th Sustainable Development G oals (SDGs).…”

A Review of the Underpinnings of Management and Human Resource Management

“…To do this, we will first turn to management theory which underpins human resource management. Martinez et al (2021) considered Frederick Taylor as among the pioneers of the management theory. He developed the concept of modern management in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.…”