The role of aesthetics and art in organizational sustainability: A conceptual model and exploratory study in higher education

Abstract

There has been increased interest in the aesthetic dimension of environmental and social issues. This research explores the aesthetic dimension of sustainable development and sheds light on how organizational sustainability might be related with aesthetics and art. First, based on literature, a conceptual model is proposed, envisioning organizational sustainability as a continuous process of creating and consuming technical, social and aesthetic values, by and for different stakeholders. The model provides a novel approach to managing organizational sustainability as it complements previously developed technical approaches with aesthetics and art‐based practices. Second, utilizing the model, several in‐depth interview questions are developed, and directed to the executives of 11 universities located in Istanbul, Turkey to understand the role of aesthetics and art in organizational sustainability from a practical standpoint which is largely ignored in literature. Face‐to‐face meetings with the executives indicate that aesthetics and art appear to be underutilized as strategic elements such that no participant measures organizational aesthetic value. However, the executives regard stakeholder involvement as an integral part of a potential measurement process. They cite lack of awareness and harmony among stakeholders, budget constraints and limited vision of management as the major barriers to creating aesthetic value. Although the executives have diverse views about the future role of aesthetics and art, and their relationship with organizational sustainability, they tell that aesthetics and art‐based practices contribute primarily to social sustainability while making partial and indirect contributions to economic and environmental sustainability, respectively.

Co-creating cultures of sustainability and co-imagining the teaching green building: the use of a participatory Photovoice process in a HPGB context

“…Further, the importance of considering building aesthetics was raised in various forms by participants, in particular via emphasis on the lack of art or visual creative expression in the building, and lack of greenery around evolv1. This reflects a growing recognition by researchers that the beauty of architecture and built environments can also play an integral role in their overall longevity and environmental and social sustainability (e.g., [ 76 , 77 ]).…”

Aesthetic categories: construction and validation of the AESCATScale

“…Although debates deal with aesthetics in the advanced organizational context and are still silent in an implicit way in daily corporate life, the literature advocates that the aesthetic approach is still neglected or adopted within organizations (e.g., Turan & Cetinkaya, 2020;2022;Shrivastava, Schumacher, Wasieleski & Tasic, 2017;Saifer & Dacin, 2021;Bazin & Korica, 2021). In line with this, we aim with this research to contribute to a more careful and enlightened evaluation of aesthetics in organizational practices through the elucidation of aesthetic categories.…”

“…This vision can contribute, for example, to a better understanding of the relationship between organizational aesthetics and various debates that directly involve the role and action of organizations, such as sustainable development, representation of organizational identity and teachinglearning relationships aligned with the job market. Turan and Cetinkaya (2022) argue that sustainable development can be a continuous process of creating and consuming aesthetic values. The search by executives for categories such as the beauty, the good and the truth guide positive management practices towards sustainable development and can create value for organizations (Ivanaj, Shrivastava & Ivanaj, 2018), while the agogic can contribute to the understanding of the rhythm of changes that focus on sustainability.…”

“…Thenceforth, the subject has become more apparent in Management studies since it conveys a sensitive dimension of knowledge. Thus, we point out the increase of aesthetic studies (e.g., Filippi & Tannery, 2009;Strati, 2010;Sorensen, 2010;Stephens & Boland, 2011;Schiavo & Antonello, 2014;Bertolin, Cappelle & Brito, 2014;Basso, Pauli & Bressan, 2014;Bouilloud & Deslandes, 2015;Ipiranga, Lopes & Souza, 2016;Turan & Cetinkaya, 2020;2022;Ivanaj, Shrivastava & Ivanaj, 2018;Kerschbaum, 2022;Edwards, Hawkins & Schedlitzki, 2019, entre outros), although these focus on the qualitative perspective to investigate the subject. Thus, we noticed the lack of studies concerned with building more objective measurements and susceptible to the generalization of aesthetics in organizations.…”

Approaching sustainable development goals: Inspirations from the Arts and Crafts movement to reshape production and consumption patterns

“…Firstly, aesthetic experience is not just a reflection of visual beauty but involves the judgement of truth and goodness (Risser, 2003; Strati, 2000). Enterprises can associate the aesthetic experience with their organisational cultures, including the care, respect, and love of social and environmental aesthetics; it also relates to companies' abilities to display their creativity and diversity (Turan & Cetinkaya, 2022). In addition, the arts can enhance companies' aesthetic awareness benefiting the creation of socio‐ecological value and better quality of life (Zsolnai & Wilson, 2016).…”