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A Review of Corporate Purpose: An Approach to Actioning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Author

Listed:
  • Dayana Jimenez

    (Faculty of Business, Economics & Law, St Lucia Campus, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia)

  • Isabel B. Franco

    (Australian Institute for Business and Economics (AIBE), St Lucia Campus, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia)

  • Tahlia Smith

    (Australia-Latin America Business Council (ALABC), St Lucia Campus, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia)

Abstract

This journal article explores Corporate Purpose as an approach to action the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It achieves this objective by presenting a review of existing literature on Corporate Purpose and SDGs from the disciplines of business ethics, management studies, economics and psychology. The review showcases contributions exploring whether and how Corporate Purpose-led strategy facilitates the operationalization of the SDGs and proposes an emerging research agenda. This article employed an inductive approach methodology through grounded theory to develop a critical analysis of scientific evidence-based work for theory construction on Corporate Purpose. One of the major findings of this review is that to achieve the SDGs companies need to shift found from the “business as usual” approach, which perceives sustainability as an externality, to incorporating sustainability factors in the company’s underlying purpose. The article also (1) identifies trends in research outputs and reveals five major antecedents of the phenomenon (drivers to purpose), (2) identifies key gaps within the existing literature, (3) distinguishes three current approaches to Corporate Purpose and (4) elaborates on current theories of Corporate Purpose and SDGs linkages to identify opportunities and aid future research. In summary, this article unpacks Corporate Purpose mechanisms to action the SDGs and stimulates academic discussion of business transformational approaches to long-standing sustainability challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Dayana Jimenez & Isabel B. Franco & Tahlia Smith, 2021. "A Review of Corporate Purpose: An Approach to Actioning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:3899-:d:528062
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nikolai Brosch, 2023. "Corporate purpose: from a ‘Tower of Babel’ phenomenon towards construct clarity," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(4), pages 567-595, May.
    2. Javier Martínez-Falcó & Bartolomé Marco-Lajara & Eduardo Sánchez-García & Luis A. Millan-Tudela, 2023. "Sustainable Development Goals in the Business Sphere: A Bibliometric Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Martin Ritter & Heiner Schanz, 2021. "Carsharing Business Models’ Strategizing Mindsets Regarding Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez & Víctor Amor‐Esteban & Cristina Aibar‐Guzmán & Beatriz Aibar‐Guzmán, 2023. "Translating the 2030 Agenda into reality through stakeholder engagement," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(2), pages 941-958, April.
    5. María Garrido-Ruso & Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán & Albertina Paula Monteiro, 2022. "Businesses’ Role in the Fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-35, July.

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