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Multi-stakeholder Engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals: Introduction to the Special Issue

Author

Listed:
  • G. Abord-Hugon Nonet

    (Jönköping International Business School)

  • T. Gössling

    (KEDGE Business School)

  • R. Tulder

    (Rotterdam School of Management)

  • J. M. Bryson

    (University of Minnesota)

Abstract

The world is not on track to achieve Agenda 2030—the approach chosen in 2015 by all UN member states to engage multiple stakeholders for the common goal of sustainable development. The creation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) arguably offered a new take on sustainable development by adopting hybrid and principle-based governance approaches, where public, private, not for profit and knowledge-institutions were invited to engage around achieving common medium-term targets. Cross-sector partnerships and multi-stakeholder engagement for sustainability have consequently taken shape. But the call for collaboration has also come with fundamental challenges to meaningful engagement strategies—when private enterprises try to establish elaborate multi-stakeholder configurations. How can the purpose of businesses be mitigated through multi-stakeholder principle-based partnerships to effectively serve the purpose of a common sustainability agenda? In selecting nine scholarly contributions, this special issue aims at advancing this discourse. To stimulate further progress in business studies, this introductory essay, furthermore, identifies three pathways for research on multi-stakeholder engagement processes in support of the Decade of Action along three coupling lines: multi-sector alignment (relational coupling), operational perception alignment (cognitive coupling) and goal and strategic alignment (material coupling).

Suggested Citation

  • G. Abord-Hugon Nonet & T. Gössling & R. Tulder & J. M. Bryson, 2022. "Multi-stakeholder Engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals: Introduction to the Special Issue," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(4), pages 945-957, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:180:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05192-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05192-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Luminita Lazar & Laura Boicenco & Elena Pantea & Florin Timofte & Oana Vlas & Elena Bișinicu, 2024. "Modeling Dynamic Processes in the Black Sea Pelagic Habitat—Causal Connections between Abiotic and Biotic Factors in Two Climate Change Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-24, February.
    4. repec:aif:journl:v:31:y:2024:i:1:p:64-75 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Yeboah, Samuel, 2023. "Navigating Sustainability: Unveiling Responsible Consumption and Production in Developing Economies for SDG 12 Achievement," MPRA Paper 118214, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 25 Jul 2023.
    6. Zhao, Shasha & Peerally, Jahan Ara & De Fuentes, Claudia & Gonzalez-Perez, Maria Alejandra, 2024. "The determinants of multinational enterprises' sustainable innovations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(5).
    7. Alan Bandeira Pinheiro & Gabriel Gusso Mazzo & Gabriele da Cunha Lopes & Manuel Castelo Branco, 2023. "A Bird’s Eye View: Uncovering the Impact of Stakeholder Pressure on Sustainable Development Goal Disclosure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-15, November.

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