IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i23p15931-d988181.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Toward a System Theory of Corporate Sustainability: An Interim Struggle

Author

Listed:
  • Sooksan Kantabutra

    (Center for Research on Sustainable Leadership, College of Management, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand)

Abstract

In response to the prevailing sustainability problems that are difficult to solve since they are characterized by complex interdependencies, and the effort to solve one aspect of a sustainability problem may lead to other problems, the present study’s objective is to develop an interim, system-based theory of corporate sustainability to fill in significant gaps in the corporate sustainability field. The paper starts by outlining the gaps, introducing a theory building approach, followed by discussing components of the emerging theory. As a system-based theory, the emerging theory is demonstrated through the Corporate Sustainability system, comprising Sustainability Culture, Resilience and Corporate Sustainability Performance subsystems. These subsystems interact to ensure a continuous delivery of sustainability performance outputs and outcomes. The resulting theory is highly dynamic in nature with a feedback loop of learning to reflect the actual reality of high-velocity environment. Implications for corporate practitioners and theorists are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Sooksan Kantabutra, 2022. "Toward a System Theory of Corporate Sustainability: An Interim Struggle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:15931-:d:988181
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/15931/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/15931/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rezaee, Zabihollah, 2016. "Business sustainability research: A theoretical and integrated perspective," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 48-64.
    2. ManMohan S. Sodhi, 2015. "Conceptualizing Social Responsibility in Operations Via Stakeholder Resource-Based View," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 24(9), pages 1375-1389, September.
    3. Morela Hernandez, 2008. "Promoting Stewardship Behavior in Organizations: A Leadership Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 80(1), pages 121-128, June.
    4. Justin J. P. Jansen & Frans A. J. Van Den Bosch & Henk W. Volberda, 2006. "Exploratory Innovation, Exploitative Innovation, and Performance: Effects of Organizational Antecedents and Environmental Moderators," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(11), pages 1661-1674, November.
    5. Cory Searcy, 2012. "Corporate Sustainability Performance Measurement Systems: A Review and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 107(3), pages 239-253, May.
    6. Warat Winit & Sooksan Kantabutra, 2022. "Enhancing the Prospect of Corporate Sustainability via Brand Equity: A Stakeholder Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    7. Mark Grinblatt & Chuan Yang Hwang, "undated". "Signalling and the Pricing of Unseasoned New Issues," Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research Working Papers 1-89, Wharton School Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research.
    8. Schein, Edgar H., 1992. "How can organizations learn faster? : the problem of entering the Green Room," Working papers WP 3409-92., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management.
    9. Mariapia Pazienza & Martin de Jong & Dirk Schoenmaker, 2022. "Clarifying the Concept of Corporate Sustainability and Providing Convergence for Its Definition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-21, June.
    10. Wadim Strielkowski & Irina Firsova & Svetlana Azarova & Irina Shatskaya, 2022. "Novel Insights in the Leadership in Business and Economics: A Post-Coronavirus Update," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-20, February.
    11. Ingemar Dierickx & Karel Cool, 1989. "Asset Stock Accumulation and Sustainability of Competitive Advantage," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(12), pages 1504-1511, December.
    12. Gail Whiteman & Brian Walker & Paolo Perego, 2013. "Planetary Boundaries: Ecological Foundations for Corporate Sustainability," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(2), pages 307-336, March.
    13. Cláudia Sousa Silva & José Magano & Ana Matos & Teresa Nogueira, 2021. "Sustainable Quality Management Systems in the Current Paradigm: The Role of Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    14. Tobias Hahn & Frank Figge & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss, 2018. "A Paradox Perspective on Corporate Sustainability: Descriptive, Instrumental, and Normative Aspects," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 235-248, March.
    15. Levinthal, Daniel & March, James G., 1981. "A model of adaptive organizational search," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 2(4), pages 307-333, December.
    16. Ahmad Karnama & Ricardo Vinuesa, 2020. "Organic Growth Theory for Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-10, October.
    17. Sooksan Kantabutra & Nuttasorn Ketprapakorn, 2021. "Toward an Organizational Theory of Resilience: An Interim Struggle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-28, November.
    18. Rodrigo Lozano, 2013. "Are Companies Planning their Organisational Changes for Corporate Sustainability? An Analysis of Three Case Studies on Resistance to Change and their Strategies to Overcome it," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(5), pages 275-295, September.
    19. Ingemar Dierickx & Karel Cool, 1989. "Asset Stock Accumulation and the Sustainability of Competitive Advantage: Reply," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(12), pages 1514-1514, December.
    20. Olga Kassotaki, 2022. "Review of Organizational Ambidexterity Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    21. Charles H. Cho & Giovanna Michelon & Dennis M. Patten & Robin W. Roberts, 2015. "CSR disclosure: the more things change…?," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(1), pages 14-35, January.
    22. Rupert J. Baumgartner, 2009. "Organizational culture and leadership: Preconditions for the development of a sustainable corporation," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 17(2), pages 102-113.
    23. Kimberly K. Merriman, 2017. "Leadership and Perseverance," Springer Texts in Business and Economics, in: Joan Marques & Satinder Dhiman (ed.), Leadership Today, chapter 19, pages 335-350, Springer.
    24. Nader, Joelle & El-Khalil, Raed & Nassar, Elma & Hong, Paul, 2022. "Pandemic planning, sustainability practices, and organizational performance: An empirical investigation of global manufacturing firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    25. Jonathan Pryshlakivsky & Cory Searcy, 2017. "A Heuristic Model for Establishing Trade-Offs in Corporate Sustainability Performance Measurement Systems," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(2), pages 323-342, August.
    26. Grinblatt, Mark & Hwang, Chuan Yang, 1989. " Signalling and the Pricing of New Issues," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 44(2), pages 393-420, June.
    27. Veerawin Korphaibool & Pattanaporn Chatjuthamard & Sirimon Treepongkaruna, 2021. "Scoring Sufficiency Economy Philosophy through GRI Standards and Firm Risk: A Case Study of Thai Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    28. Sooksan Kantabutra, 2019. "Achieving Corporate Sustainability: Toward a Practical Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-39, August.
    29. Merriam Haffar & Cory Searcy, 2017. "Classification of Trade-offs Encountered in the Practice of Corporate Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 495-522, February.
    30. Teixeira, Eduardo de Oliveira & Werther, William B., 2013. "Resilience: Continuous renewal of competitive advantages," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 56(3), pages 333-342.
    31. Luo, Yadong, 2007. "A coopetition perspective of global competition," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 129-144, June.
    32. Suparak Suriyankietkaew, 2019. "Sustainable leadership and entrepreneurship for corporate sustainability in small enterprises: an empirical analysis," World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 15(1/2), pages 256-275.
    33. Ikujiro Nonaka, 1994. "A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 5(1), pages 14-37, February.
    34. Schein, Edgar H., 1997. "The concept of client from a process consultation perspective : a guide for change agents," Working papers WP 3946-97., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management.
    35. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    36. C. Bhattacharya & Daniel Korschun & Sankar Sen, 2009. "Strengthening Stakeholder–Company Relationships Through Mutually Beneficial Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 85(2), pages 257-272, April.
    37. Jung Ha-Brookshire, 2017. "Toward Moral Responsibility Theories of Corporate Sustainability and Sustainable Supply Chain," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(2), pages 227-237, October.
    38. Sooksan Kantabutra, 2021. "Exploring Relationships among Sustainability Organizational Culture Components at a Leading Asian Industrial Conglomerate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-32, February.
    39. Jonathan Schad & Pratima Bansal, 2018. "Seeing the Forest and the Trees: How a Systems Perspective Informs Paradox Research," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(8), pages 1490-1506, December.
    40. O'Reilly, Charles A., III & Tushman, Michael L., 2013. "Organizational Ambidexterity: Past, Present and Future," Research Papers 2130, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    41. Ioanna Giannoukou & Christina C. Beneki, 2018. "Towards sustainability performance management system of tourism enterprises: a tourism sustainable balanced scorecard framework," International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 17(2/3), pages 175-196.
    42. Jane Boeske & Peter A. Murray, 2022. "The Intellectual Domains of Sustainability Leadership in SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, February.
    43. Ante Glavas & Jenny Mish, 2015. "Resources and Capabilities of Triple Bottom Line Firms: Going Over Old or Breaking New Ground?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(3), pages 623-642, March.
    44. Vasja Roblek & Oshane Thorpe & Mirjana Pejic Bach & Andrej Jerman & Maja Meško, 2020. "The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Sustainability Practices: A Comparative Automated Content Analysis Approach of Theory and Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-27, October.
    45. Suparak Suriyankietkaew & Krittawit Krittayaruangroj & Nacharee Iamsawan, 2022. "Sustainable Leadership Practices and Competencies of SMEs for Sustainability and Resilience: A Community-Based Social Enterprise Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-36, May.
    46. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    47. Kantur, Deniz & Ä°ÅŸeri-Say, Arzu, 2012. "Organizational resilience: A conceptual integrative framework," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(6), pages 762-773, November.
    48. Hasan Fauzi & Goran Svensson & Azhar Abdul Rahman, 2010. "“Triple Bottom Line” as “Sustainable Corporate Performance”: A Proposition for the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(5), pages 1-16, May.
    49. Olivier Boiral & Yves Gendron, 2011. "Sustainable Development and Certification Practices: Lessons Learned and Prospects," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(5), pages 331-347, July.
    50. Vuong, Quan-Hoang, 2016. "Global Mindset as the Integration of Emerging Socio-Cultural Values Through Mindsponge Processes," OSF Preprints c3jza, Center for Open Science.
    51. Sooksan Kantabutra, 2020. "Toward an Organizational Theory of Sustainability Vision," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-26, February.
    52. Stephanie Duchek, 2020. "Organizational resilience: a capability-based conceptualization," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(1), pages 215-246, April.
    53. Laura Mervelskemper & Daniel Streit, 2017. "Enhancing Market Valuation of ESG Performance: Is Integrated Reporting Keeping its Promise?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 536-549, May.
    54. Benston, George J., 1982. "Accounting and corporate accountability," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 87-105, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sooksan Kantabutra & Nuttasorn Ketprapakorn, 2021. "Toward an Organizational Theory of Resilience: An Interim Struggle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-28, November.
    2. Sooksan Kantabutra, 2021. "Exploring Relationships among Sustainability Organizational Culture Components at a Leading Asian Industrial Conglomerate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-32, February.
    3. Phallapa Petison & Sooksan Kantabutra, 2022. "A Quest for a Sustainable Social Enterprise Model: The Case of Amphawa Chaipattananurak, the Kingdom of Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-31, December.
    4. Nay Chi Khin Khin Oo & Sirisuhk Rakthin, 2022. "Integrative Review of Absorptive Capacity’s Role in Fostering Organizational Resilience and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, October.
    5. Lin, Hsing-Er & Hsu, I-Chieh & Hsu, Audrey Wenhsin & Chung, Hsi-Mei, 2020. "Creating competitive advantages: Interactions between ambidextrous diversification strategy and contextual factors from a dynamic capability perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    6. Warat Winit & Sooksan Kantabutra, 2022. "Enhancing the Prospect of Corporate Sustainability via Brand Equity: A Stakeholder Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    7. Yuan, Chun & Xue, Doudou & He, Xin, 2021. "A balancing strategy for ambidextrous learning, dynamic capabilities, and business model design, the opposite moderating effects of environmental dynamism," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    8. Kai Hockerts & Cory Searcy, 2023. "How to Sharpen Our Discourse on Corporate Sustainability and Business Ethics—A View from the Section Editors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(2), pages 225-235, October.
    9. Julio Cesar Acosta Prado & Reynaldo Hernández Reyes, 2012. "Externalización de procesos de negocio en tecnologías de la información y la gestión estratégica del conocimiento. Una revisión de la literatura," Dimensión Empresarial, Universidad Autónoma del Caribe, December.
    10. Chin‐jung Luan & Chengli Tien & Pei‐hua Wu, 2013. "Strategizing Environmental Policy and Compliance for Firm Economic Sustainability: Evidence from Taiwanese Electronics Firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(8), pages 517-546, December.
    11. Simone Carmine & Valentina De Marchi, 2023. "Reviewing Paradox Theory in Corporate Sustainability Toward a Systems Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(1), pages 139-158, April.
    12. Malen, Joel, 2015. "Motivating And Enabling Firm Innovation Effort: Integrating Penrosian And Behavioral Theory Perspectives On Slack Resources," Hitotsubashi Journal of commerce and management, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 49(1), pages 37-54, October.
    13. Patnaik, Swetketu & Munjal, Surender & Varma, Arup & Sinha, Sujay, 2022. "Extending the resource-based view through the lens of the institution-based view: A longitudinal case study of an Indian higher educational institution," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 124-141.
    14. Der-Fang Hung, 2015. "Sustained Competitive Advantage and Organizational Inertia: The Cost Perspective of Knowledge Management," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 6(4), pages 769-789, December.
    15. Jensen, Peter D. Ørberg, 2012. "A passage to India: A dual case study of activities, processes and resources in offshore outsourcing of advanced services," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 311-326.
    16. Mehmet Ali Köseoglu & John A. Parnell & Melissa Yan Yee Yick, 2021. "Identifying influential studies and maturity level in intellectual structure of fields: evidence from strategic management," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(2), pages 1271-1309, February.
    17. Jeremy Galbreath, 2016. "When do Board and Management Resources Complement Each Other? A Study of Effects on Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 281-292, June.
    18. Lippert, Inge, 2008. "Perspektivenverschiebungen in der Corporate Governance: Neuere Ansätze und Studien der Corporate-Governance-Forschung," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Knowledge, Production Systems and Work SP III 2008-302, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    19. Rezaee, Zabihollah, 2016. "Business sustainability research: A theoretical and integrated perspective," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 48-64.
    20. Bradley, Steven W. & Wiklund, Johan & Shepherd, Dean A., 2011. "Swinging a double-edged sword: The effect of slack on entrepreneurial management and growth," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 537-554, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:15931-:d:988181. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.