Strategic Corporate Sustainability in a Post-Acquisition Context

Abstract

To reach the global sustainability goals, multinationals, regardless of origin, play a significant role. Given their market power and globally distributed operations, they have the position to either accelerate or inhibit sustainability changes. Knowledge about how corporate sustainability (CS) develops within internationalization strategies such as post-acquisition integration is, however, sparse. The purpose of this paper was to analyze and evaluate the development of CS strategies of originally distant companies within an international post-acquisition context. The paper drew on the resource-based view (RBV) to provide a holistically integrated framework for the systematic evaluation of CS strategies and applied the framework to a longitudinal in-depth case study. Findings indicated that long-term perspective, partnering approach and, emphases on learning positively influenced the integration process and the maturity level of the common corporate sustainability strategies. In contributing with an in-depth understanding of strategic CS integration within a post-acquisition case, the study generated implications for proactive management in similar post-acquisition contexts. While the focus of this paper was neither on the differences in legislations and regulations as influencing factors nor on the national and organizational culture and their impact on the integration of strategic CS, these are relevant areas of interest, and future research could consider incorporating those into the new evaluation framework.

Sustainability Within the HRD Field: A Systematic Review

“…However, given the current focus on sustainability in the corporate environment, research in the HRD fields is lacking. In particular, it is noteworthy that social sustainability has begun to draw significant attention within the last 5 years (D’Souza et al, 2019; McDonald & Hite, 2018; Quartey & Wells, 2020; Vincze et al, 2021). In this respect, Cooperrider and Fry (2012) mentioned that sustainability is undoubtedly crucial to human development in the 21st century.…”

“…From these studies, the authors defined its concept in three primary areas: (a) organization, (b) learning, and (c) leadership, as shown in Figure 5. As regard organization classification, the term sustainability has been coupled with various business terms, such as business sustainability (Hermelingmeier & von Wirth, 2021; Yusoff et al, 2019; Zgrzywa-Ziemak & Walecka-Jankowska, 2021), corporate sustainability (Ardichvili, 2013; Baek & Kim, 2014; Iarossi et al, 2011; Vincze et al, 2021), firm sustainability (Wan Mohamed Radz et al, 2015), organizational sustainability (Chan et al, 2022), and industry sustainability (Quartey & Wells, 2020). In addition, related to the triple bottom line model, two terms—social sustainability (McDonald & Hite, 2018) and environmental sustainability (Abbas et al, 2022; Bianchi & Testa, 2022; Dicle & Köse, 2014; Kola-Olusanya, 2013; Law et al, 2017)—were used.…”

“…The articles selected for this systematic review repeatedly emphasized that organizational learning plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainability (Brandi & Thomassen, 2021; Ipiranga & Aguiar, 2014). Significantly, Vincze et al (2021) argued that adopting a long-term perspective, implementing a partnering approach, and prioritizing learning positively affected sustainability. However, the organization recognized a lack of implementing sustainability learning within their systems, including rules, processes, and practices, due to related initiatives blocking support (Duarte, 2017).…”

“…Establishment of trust in and satisfaction with the organization among employees through the training, which in turn promoted employees' organizational commitment toward corporate sustainability (knowledge and attitude). Vincze et al (2021) Long-term perspective, partnering approach and, emphases on learning positively influenced the integration process and the maturity level of the common corporate sustainability strategies. Ketschau (2017) There is a positive relationship between CSR, HRD, and life-long learning.…”

Toward a view of integrating corporate sustainability into strategy: A systematic literature review

“…The organization's location is another factor which may add particular conditions that favor specific strategies. For example, while social sustainability is a focus in developing countries, environmental sustainability matters receive the most attention in developed countries (Vincze et al, 2021).…”