Linking Responsible Leadership and Sustainability Challenges

Abstract

Leadership in business and society is responsible for a large part of the decision-making related to policymaking and resource allocation that in turn influences social and environmental outcomes and economic windfalls. The theory and practice of education and learning in business schools is being called on for reforms in order to nurture responsible leadership for business and society that may align well with the triple bottom-line challenge of sustainability (i.e., economic, social, and environmental). We can find state-of-the-art research studies from definition to historical evolution and dimensions of responsible leadership specifically related to corporate sustainability. The role of curriculum design is central to enabling business schools to nurture responsible leaders who are considerate toward the external effects of their internal decision-making, thus seeking to balance the broader stakeholders’ objectives. Several global initiatives have been undertaken by multilateral institutions such as the UN, business schools, and enterprises in the corporate sector to foster a commitment to responsible leadership and allied reforms in teaching in business schools regarding corporate sustainability. These forums, at both the corporate and academic fronts, have contributed to theoretical development and practices for teaching and learning related to responsible leadership in higher education, specifically in business schools. These initiatives stress that business schools and their academic faculty, who intend to serve as custodians of business and society, must make necessary curriculum reforms to meet the challenges of sustainability by embracing their own transformation.

Systematic Review and Development of Responsible Leadership Scale

“…Maak and Pless considered RL as an ethical and relational phenomenon that takes place in social interactions with stakeholders. RL balances diverse stakeholders' claims to achieve long-lasting trustful relations and sustainable development of corporations as well as society (Maak, 2007;Siddiqui et al, 2020). The stakeholders' perspective of RL defines that every stakeholder is important in the eyes of the leader (Javed, Akhtar, Hussain, Junaid, & Syed, 2021;Muff et al, 2022).…”

“…If RL is linked with stakeholders theory and corporate sustainability debate, it looks like the idea of sustainable development at large (Maak & Pless, 2006). Responsible leadership takes care of economic, social, and environmental aspects simultaneously without ignoring anyone (Siddiqui et al, 2020).…”

“…Leadership role in organizations shifted from the single, profit-based bottom line to the triple bottom line approach that includes social, economic and environmental perspectives (Elkington, 2001;Googins, Mirvis, & Rochlin, 2007). A business leader of the 21 st century is an individual who is responsible for ethics, responsibility and accountability (Siddiqui et al, 2020). Instead of short-term benefits, responsible leaders tend to move towards long-term sustainable development (Dassah, 2010).…”

“…It is imperative to elaborate on RL in the context of the 3BL approach that covers economic responsibility, social responsibility and environmental responsibility (Figure 1). This 3BL approach links and synthesizes the concept in an actionable way (Siddiqui et al, 2020)…”

“…(Muff, 2013). Siddiqui defined RL in the perspective of the triple bottom approach as "RL takes care of economic, social, and environmental aspects simultaneously" (Siddiqui, Viswanathan, & Rasheed, 2020). Understanding oneself and colleagues, their way of reacting toward decision and their approach to attaining shared goals are helpful for responsible leaders.…”