IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v32y2024i6p6434-6448.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Building sustainable organizations online: How leaders embed sustainability into organizational culture in virtual contexts

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Edric Josef R. Lizares
  • Maria Assunta C. Cuyegkeng

Abstract

Business organizations may provide significant contributions toward sustainable development, and their leaders have a critical responsibility in incorporating sustainability into their organizational cultures. However, virtual collaboration creates specific challenges in this task. Although existing literature explores how sustainability is integrated into corporate culture in onsite contexts, a gap exists regarding this process in online teams. As such, this study explores how leaders embed sustainability into organizational culture in virtual contexts. Using thematic analysis on data gathered from interviews with 12 participants, this study suggests that leaders exhibit particular behaviors in this undertaking, including recognizing challenges, engaging employees, role modeling, crafting strategy and planning, monitoring and assessing performance, developing partnerships and activating internal communities, and aligning personal and organizational values. These may be further categorized into intrapersonal, interpersonal and functional leader behaviors, which remain salient in the new normal as organizations balance their virtual and face‐to‐face modes of interaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Edric Josef R. Lizares & Maria Assunta C. Cuyegkeng, 2024. "Building sustainable organizations online: How leaders embed sustainability into organizational culture in virtual contexts," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(6), pages 6434-6448, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:32:y:2024:i:6:p:6434-6448
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.3036
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3036
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.3036?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. House, Robert & Javidan, Mansour & Hanges, Paul & Dorfman, Peter, 2002. "Understanding cultures and implicit leadership theories across the globe: an introduction to project GLOBE," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 3-10, April.
    2. Maha Faisal Alsayegh & Rashidah Abdul Rahman & Saeid Homayoun, 2020. "Corporate Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability Performance Transformation through ESG Disclosure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, May.
    3. Kemp, April & Gravois, Renée & Syrdal, Holly & McDougal, Elizabeth, 2023. "Storytelling is not just for marketing: Cultivating a storytelling culture throughout the organization," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 313-324.
    4. Michele Pinelli & Riccardo Maiolini, 2017. "Strategies for Sustainable Development: Organizational Motivations, Stakeholders' Expectations and Sustainability Agendas," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(4), pages 288-298, July.
    5. Rodrigo Lozano & Maria Barreiro‐Gen & Afnan Zafar, 2021. "Collaboration for organizational sustainability limits to growth: Developing a factors, benefits, and challenges framework," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(4), pages 728-737, July.
    6. Maral Babapour Chafi & Annemarie Hultberg & Nina Bozic Yams, 2021. "Post-Pandemic Office Work: Perceived Challenges and Opportunities for a Sustainable Work Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-20, December.
    7. John Hopkins & Anne Bardoel, 2023. "The Future Is Hybrid: How Organisations Are Designing and Supporting Sustainable Hybrid Work Models in Post-Pandemic Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
    8. Presbitero, Alfred, 2021. "Communication accommodation within global virtual team: The influence of cultural intelligence and the impact on interpersonal process effectiveness," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    9. Gregory, Brian T. & Harris, Stanley G. & Armenakis, Achilles A. & Shook, Christopher L., 2009. "Organizational culture and effectiveness: A study of values, attitudes, and organizational outcomes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(7), pages 673-679, July.
    10. Warrick, D.D., 2017. "What leaders need to know about organizational culture," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 395-404.
    11. Chiara Pellegrini & Francesco Rizzi & Marco Frey, 2018. "The role of sustainable human resource practices in influencing employee behavior for corporate sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1221-1232, December.
    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. Minthiva Pitchaya-Auckarakhun, 2024. "The future of work: financial implications of remote and hybrid work models," Nowoczesne Systemy Zarządzania. Modern Management Systems, Military University of Technology, Faculty of Security, Logistics and Management, Institute of Organization and Management, issue 1, pages 13-38.
    2. María del Mar Ramos-González & Mercedes Rubio-Andrés & Miguel Ángel Sastre-Castillo, 2022. "Effects of socially responsible human resource management (SR-HRM) on innovation and reputation in entrepreneurial SMEs," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 1205-1233, September.
    3. Vivek Vohra & Shiwangi Singh & Tanusree Dutta, 2024. "Embracing Flexibility Post-COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Flexible Working Arrangements Using the SCM-TBFO Framework," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 25(1), pages 1-26, March.
    4. Skačkauskienė Ilona & Smirnova Juliana, 2023. "Analysis of the Methodical Basis for Evaluating the Resources of an Organization in the Aspect of Greenness," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 17(1), pages 649-659, July.
    5. Kristian Barnes & Katia Vione & Yasuhiro Kotera, 2024. "Effective leadership practice among senior leaders working from home and in the hybrid workplace across COVID-19," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 4(5), pages 1-23, May.
    6. Radziszewska Aleksandra, 2014. "Intercultural dimensions of entrepreneurship," Journal of Intercultural Management, Sciendo, vol. 6(2), pages 35-47, April.
    7. Kaja Prystupa, 2017. "The Role of Organizational Culture in KnowledgeManagement in Small Companies," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 13(3), pages 151-173.
    8. Mi Sook Lee, 2024. "The relationship between green innovation and sustainable growth in Korean companies: Moderated mediation effect of ESG score by industry," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 2797-2810, June.
    9. Richard Yeaw Chong Seow, 2024. "Determinants of environmental, social, and governance disclosure: A systematic literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 2314-2330, March.
    10. M. Ab Hamid & Z. Mustafa & F. Idris & M. Abdullah & N. Suradi & W. Ismail, 2013. "Multi-factor of cultural values: a confirmatory factor analytic approach," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 499-513, January.
    11. Rashidah Abdul Rahman & Maha Faisal Alsayegh, 2021. "Determinants of Corporate Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Reporting among Asian Firms," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-13, April.
    12. Saad, Mohsen & Samet, Anis, 2020. "Collectivism and commonality in liquidity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 137-162.
    13. Jinjia Liang & Tomio Miwa & Takayuki Morikawa, 2023. "Preferences and Expectations of Japanese Employees toward Telecommuting Frequency in the Post-Pandemic Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-16, August.
    14. Victor Oltra & Jaime Bonache & Chris Brewster, 2013. "A New Framework for Understanding Inequalities Between Expatriates and Host Country Nationals," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(2), pages 291-310, June.
    15. Dmitry A. Ruban & Natalia N. Yashalova, 2022. "Pro-environmental behavior prescribed by top companies of the world," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 7918-7935, June.
    16. Hadiqa Ahmad & Muhammad Yaqub & Seung Hwan Lee, 2024. "Environmental-, social-, and governance-related factors for business investment and sustainability: a scientometric review of global trends," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 2965-2987, February.
    17. Abdelmoety, Ziad Hassan & Aboul-Dahab, Sameh & Agag, Gomaa, 2022. "A cross cultural investigation of retailers commitment to CSR and customer citizenship behaviour: The role of ethical standard and value relevance," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    18. Vishal K. Gupta & Gizem Atav & Dev K. Dutta, 2019. "Market orientation research: a qualitative synthesis and future research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 649-670, August.
    19. Laspita, Stavroula & Breugst, Nicola & Heblich, Stephan & Patzelt, Holger, 2012. "Intergenerational transmission of entrepreneurial intentions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 414-435.
    20. Anike Sult & Janice Wobst & Rainer Lueg, 2024. "The role of training in implementing corporate sustainability: A systematic literature review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 1-30, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:wly:sustdv:v:32:y:2024:i:6:p:6434-6448. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    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.