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A governance puzzle to be solved? A systematic literature review of fragmented sustainability governance

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  • Jens Heidingsfelder

    (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • Markus Beckmann

    (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

Abstract

To address global sustainability challenges, adequate governance solutions are needed. Yet, sustainability governance is typically fragmented. This fragmentation poses a key challenge for practitioners and researchers and receives growing scholarly attention in different academic disciplines. So far, however, these research streams are missing a comprehensive mapping of the scholarly work on fragmented sustainability governance. While this lack of knowledge consolidation inhibits further academic learning, it also fails to provide corporate actors with practical guidance about the interplay between firms and fragmented sustainability governance. To address these gaps, we apply a mixed-method approach consisting of a systematic literature review and a citation network analysis to derive the following contributions. First, we elaborate on the composition and development of the research field on fragmented sustainability governance, including a citation network analysis. Second, we introduce a conceptual framework of overarching types of fragmentation regarding the ends, means, context, and outcomes of sustainability governance. Third, we introduce three types of managing fragmentation: coordination, convergence and integration, and meta governance. Fourth, we derive implications for future research regarding the role of business in fragmented sustainability governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Heidingsfelder & Markus Beckmann, 2020. "A governance puzzle to be solved? A systematic literature review of fragmented sustainability governance," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 70(3), pages 355-390, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:manrev:v:70:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s11301-019-00170-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11301-019-00170-9
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    2. Agnieszka Szewczyk & Zbigniew Stempnakowski, 2021. "Social Energy as the Driving Force behind Crowdfunding—Analysis and Classification of Selected Attributes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-32, September.
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    4. Jyrki Luukkanen & Jarmo Vehmas & Jari Kaivo-oja & Tadhg O’Mahony, 2024. "Towards a General Theory of Sustainable Development: Using a Sustainability Window Approach to Explore All Possible Scenario Paths of Economic Growth and Degrowth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-31, June.

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