IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i23p16142-d1284270.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Board Diversity and Corporate Sustainability Performance: Do CEO Power and Firm Environmental Sensitivity Matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Augustine Donkor

    (Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia)

  • Terri Trireksani

    (Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia)

  • Hadrian Geri Djajadikerta

    (School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia)

Abstract

The study assesses whether CEO power and firm environmental sensitivity matter to board diversity (i.e., board cultural (BCD) and board gender (BGD) diversity) and corporate sustainability performance nexus. Australian S&P/ASX300′s firm data for a period of ten years (2011–2020) were used in the study’s analysis. Although board diversity positively influences ESG performance, the presence of powerful CEOs and when firms operate in environmentally sensitive industries weaken the board diversity and sustainability performance nexus. Additionally, the study found that although board diversity is essential, the effect of BGD has a greater statistical power on sustainability than BCD, affirming the present focus on BGD.

Suggested Citation

  • Augustine Donkor & Terri Trireksani & Hadrian Geri Djajadikerta, 2023. "Board Diversity and Corporate Sustainability Performance: Do CEO Power and Firm Environmental Sensitivity Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-24, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:23:p:16142-:d:1284270
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/23/16142/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/23/16142/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Merve Kılıç & Cemil Kuzey, 2018. "Determinants of forward-looking disclosures in integrated reporting," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(1), pages 115-144, January.
    2. Kwadjo Appiagyei & Hadrian Geri Djajadikerta & Saiyidi Mat Roni, 2022. "The impact of corporate governance on integrated reporting (IR) quality and sustainability performance: evidence from listed companies in South Africa," Meditari Accountancy Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(4), pages 1068-1092, April.
    3. Kevin Campbell & Antonio Mínguez-Vera, 2008. "Gender Diversity in the Boardroom and Firm Financial Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 83(3), pages 435-451, December.
    4. Rüdiger Hahn & Regina Lülfs, 2014. "Legitimizing Negative Aspects in GRI-Oriented Sustainability Reporting: A Qualitative Analysis of Corporate Disclosure Strategies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 123(3), pages 401-420, September.
    5. Tasawar Nawaz, 2022. "How Much Does the Board Composition Matter? The Impact of Board Gender Diversity on CEO Compensation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-15, September.
    6. Jolanda Hessels & Siri Terjesen, 2010. "Resource dependency and institutional theory perspectives on direct and indirect export choices," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 203-220, February.
    7. James G. Combs & David J. Ketchen & Alexa A. Perryman & Maura S. Donahue, 2007. "The Moderating Effect of CEO Power on the Board Composition–Firm Performance Relationship," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(8), pages 1299-1323, December.
    8. Javad Oradi & Sahar E-Vahdati, 2021. "Female directors on audit committees, the gender of financial experts, and internal control weaknesses: evidence from Iran," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(3), pages 273-306, July.
    9. R. Rajesh & Chandrasekharan Rajendran, 2020. "Relating Environmental, Social, and Governance scores and sustainability performances of firms: An empirical analysis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1247-1267, March.
    10. Kathleen Herbohn & Julie Walker & Huay Yien Monica Loo, 2014. "Corporate Social Responsibility: The Link Between Sustainability Disclosure and Sustainability Performance," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 50(4), pages 422-459, December.
    11. Maretno Harjoto & Indrarini Laksmana & Robert Lee, 2015. "Board Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(4), pages 641-660, December.
    12. Al-Tuwaijri, Sulaiman A. & Christensen, Theodore E. & Hughes, K. II, 2004. "The relations among environmental disclosure, environmental performance, and economic performance: a simultaneous equations approach," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 29(5-6), pages 447-471.
    13. Augustine Donkor & Hadrian Geri Djajadikerta & Saiyidi Mat Roni & Terri Trireksani, 2022. "Integrated reporting quality and corporate tax avoidance practices in South Africa’s listed companies," Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(4), pages 899-928, January.
    14. Tricia Ong & Terri Trireksani & Hadrian Geri Djajadikerta, 2016. "Hard and soft sustainability disclosures: Australia’s resources industry," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 29(2), pages 198-217, July.
    15. Kylie de Klerk & Favil Singh, 2023. "Does Gender and Cultural Diversity Matter for Sustainability in Healthcare? Evidence from Global Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-17, July.
    16. David A. Carter & Betty J. Simkins & W. Gary Simpson, 2003. "Corporate Governance, Board Diversity, and Firm Value," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 38(1), pages 33-53, February.
    17. Slack, Keith, 2012. "Mission impossible?: Adopting a CSR-based business model for extractive industries in developing countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 179-184.
    18. Shahbaz Sheikh, 2019. "CEO inside debt, market competition and corporate risk taking," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 15(4), pages 636-657, April.
    19. Tricia Ong & Terri Trireksani & Hadrian Geri Djajadikerta, 2016. "Hard and soft sustainability disclosures: Australia’s resources industry," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 29(2), pages 198-217, July.
    20. Shahbaz Sheikh, 2019. "CEO inside debt, market competition and corporate risk taking," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 15(4), pages 636-657, April.
    21. Muhammad Ali & Yin Ng & Carol Kulik, 2014. "Board Age and Gender Diversity: A Test of Competing Linear and Curvilinear Predictions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(3), pages 497-512, December.
    22. Jing Lu & Irene M. Herremans, 2019. "Board gender diversity and environmental performance: An industries perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(7), pages 1449-1464, November.
    23. repec:eme:maj000:maj-12-2016-1498 is not listed on IDEAS
    24. Zeineb Ouni & Jamal Ben Mansour & Sana Arfaoui, 2022. "Corporate Governance and Financial Performance: The Interplay of Board Gender Diversity and Intellectual Capital," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-22, November.
    25. Liu, Yu & Wei, Zuobao & Xie, Feixue, 2014. "Do women directors improve firm performance in China?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 169-184.
    26. Akrum Helfaya & Tantawy Moussa, 2017. "Do Board's Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy and Orientation Influence Environmental Sustainability Disclosure? UK Evidence," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1061-1077, December.
    27. Katalin Takacs Haynes & Amy Hillman, 2010. "The effect of board capital and CEO power on strategic change," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(11), pages 1145-1163, November.
    28. Ahern, Kenneth R. & Daminelli, Daniele & Fracassi, Cesare, 2015. "Lost in translation? The effect of cultural values on mergers around the world," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(1), pages 165-189.
    29. Axel Haller & Chris van Staden, 2014. "The value added statement – an appropriate instrument for Integrated Reporting," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(7), pages 1190-1216, August.
    30. MuiChing Chan & John Watson & David Woodliff, 2014. "Corporate Governance Quality and CSR Disclosures," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(1), pages 59-73, November.
    31. Mohammad Badrul Muttakin & Arifur Khan & Dessalegn Getie Mihret, 2018. "The Effect of Board Capital and CEO Power on Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 41-56, June.
    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. Nooraisah Katmon & Zam Zuriyati Mohamad & Norlia Mat Norwani & Omar Al Farooque, 2019. "Comprehensive Board Diversity and Quality of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure: Evidence from an Emerging Market," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 447-481, June.
    2. Kara, Alper & Nanteza, Aziidah & Ozkan, Aydin & Yildiz, Yilmaz, 2022. "Board gender diversity and responsible banking during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Um‐E‐Roman Fayyaz & Raja Nabeel‐Ud‐Din Jalal & Michelina Venditti & Antonio Minguez‐Vera, 2023. "Diverse boards and firm performance: The role of environmental, social and governance disclosure," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1457-1472, May.
    4. Majdi Ben Selma & Wenxi Yan & Taïeb Hafsi, 2022. "Board demographic diversity, institutional context and corporate philanthropic giving," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(1), pages 99-127, March.
    5. Sara Saggese & Fabrizia Sarto & Riccardo Viganò, 2021. "Do women directors contribute to R&D? The role of critical mass and expert power," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(2), pages 593-623, June.
    6. Nguyen, Thi Hong Hanh & Ntim, Collins G. & Malagila, John K., 2020. "Women on corporate boards and corporate financial and non-financial performance: A systematic literature review and future research agenda," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    7. Talavera, Oleksandr & Yin, Shuxing & Zhang, Mao, 2016. "Managing the diversity: board age diversity, directors’ personal values, and bank performance," MPRA Paper 71927, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Zabihollah Rezaee & Ling Tuo, 2019. "Are the Quantity and Quality of Sustainability Disclosures Associated with the Innate and Discretionary Earnings Quality?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(3), pages 763-786, March.
    9. Nurshahirah Abd Majid & Amar Hisham Jaaffar, 2023. "The Effect of Women’s Leadership on Carbon Disclosure by the Top 100 Global Energy Leaders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-26, May.
    10. Nicola Cucari & Salvatore Esposito De Falco & Beatrice Orlando, 2018. "Diversity of Board of Directors and Environmental Social Governance: Evidence from Italian Listed Companies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(3), pages 250-266, May.
    11. Lucrezia Songini & Anna Pistoni & Patrizia Tettamanzi & Fabrizio Fratini & Valentina Minutiello, 2022. "Integrated reporting quality and BoD characteristics: an empirical analysis," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(2), pages 579-620, June.
    12. Dorota Dobija & Claudia Arena & Łukasz Kozłowski & Joanna Krasodomska & Justyna Godawska, 2023. "Towards sustainable development: The role of directors' international orientation and their diversity for non‐financial disclosure," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 66-90, January.
    13. Samuel Benjamin & Mansi Mansi & Rakesh Pandey, 2020. "Board gender composition, board independence and sustainable supply chain responsibility," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(4), pages 3305-3339, December.
    14. Rizwan Ali & Muhammad Safdar Sial & Talles Vianna Brugni & Jinsoo Hwang & Nguyen Vinh Khuong & Thai Hong Thuy Khanh, 2019. "Does CSR Moderate the Relationship between Corporate Governance and Chinese Firm’s Financial Performance? Evidence from the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    15. Rakesh Pandey & Pallab Kumar Biswas & Muhammad Jahangir Ali & Mansi Mansi, 2020. "Female directors on the board and cost of debt: evidence from Australia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(4), pages 4031-4060, December.
    16. Paul B. McGuinness & João Paulo Vieito & Mingzhu Wang, 2020. "Proactive government intervention, board gender balance, and stakeholder engagement in China and Europe," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 719-762, September.
    17. Talavera, Oleksandr & Yin, Shuxing & Zhang, Mao, 2018. "Age diversity, directors' personal values, and bank performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 60-79.
    18. Thi H.H. Nguyen & Mohamed H. Elmagrhi & Collins G. Ntim & Yue Wu, 2021. "Environmental performance, sustainability, governance and financial performance: Evidence from heavily polluting industries in China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2313-2331, July.
    19. Conyon, Martin J. & He, Lerong, 2017. "Firm performance and boardroom gender diversity: A quantile regression approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 198-211.
    20. Atif, Muhammad & Hossain, Mohammed & Alam, Md Samsul & Goergen, Marc, 2021. "Does board gender diversity affect renewable energy consumption?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).

    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:15:y:2023:i:23:p:16142-:d:1284270. 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.