COVID-19 pandemic digitization lessons for sustainable development of micro-and small- enterprises

What is corporate sustainability

The perceived relationship between digitalization and ecological, economic, and social sustainability

Implementing circular economy (CE) requires complex and dynamic changes in technical and behavioural aspects. Few studies spend efforts to understand the organizational behavioural side of CE transition. Thus, this study proposes a theoretical framework that addresses the requirements for the transition towards CE from the organizational perspective. We conducted a systematic review aiming to identify the relations between CE and organizational culture. As a result, we developed a theoretical framework composed of five building blocks (mindsets, values, behaviours, capabilities and competences) that guide the transition towards a CE‐oriented culture aiming to achieve sustainability in business. We also identified several gaps for future researches. We concluded that the framework could enrich the literature discussion in the field and be used by practitioners for the identification of paths to implement CE from the organizational culture perspective. In addition, the use of this framework could lead to the achievement of the sustainable development.

Circular economy and sustainability: The role of organizational behaviour in the transition journey

Industry 4.0 impacts on responsible environmental and societal management in the family business

The relationship between organizational culture, sustainability, and digitalization in SMEs: A systematic review

Information systems (IS) play a central role in promoting corporate sustainability and pro-environmental behavior. This study explores the use of mobile apps for fostering sustainability-oriented corporate culture. It accentuates issues relating to sustainability-oriented corporate culture (RQ1), app meta-requirements as a strategic approach to addressing these issues (RQ2), as well as design and implementation principles (RQ3). Referring to the literature on sustainability apps, gamification, and nudging, our qualitative research design combines an analysis of four corporate apps intending to promote sustainable behavior and expert interviews (Grounded Theory). The proposed framework supports the planning, realization, and monitoring of this targeted app use. Single cultural dimensions inform seven issues in culture development. Five meta-requirements address this multi-dimensionality, challenges provided by new digital working environments, and principles of Green IT. Four design principles support, extend, and integrate current knowledge on app features, nudging, and gamification. Five variables determine the app intervention and maturity level. We conclude that this targeted app use should intend to foster the sustainability orientation within all dimensions of corporate culture instead of being limited to promoting sustainable behavior.

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Exploring the Use of Mobile Apps for Fostering Sustainability-Oriented Corporate Culture: A Qualitative Analysis

Transport operations are climate sensitive. Despite this, scientific literature and corporate practice present little evidence on how corporate actors use climate adaptation measures to prepare their transport operations for climate change. This paper explores two research questions: How can the acceptance among corporate decision-makers towards climate adaptation measures for their transport operations be explained? Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Diffusion of Innovations we develop a theoretical framework for dealing with climate adaptation measures for transport operations (step 1). We support the use of this framework through a literature review (1989–2020) (step 2) and semi-structured interviews with German companies that have implemented best practice measures (step 3). The results show that the handling of climate adaptation measures for transport operations can be described in three acceptance phases: acceptance of attitude, action, and use. We conclude that these phases determine the approaches required for promoting climate change adaptation.

Acceptance of climate adaptation measures for transport operations: Conceptual and empirical overview

Sustainable artificial intelligence: A corporate culture perspective

In the race against climate change, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a fundamental role. To clarify the contribution of corporate culture to SMEs' emission reduction, three perspectives can be useful: corporate culture as driver and barrier, current and planned corporate culture development actions, and the corporate culture profile as an outcome. As the first application of the extended Belief-Action-Outcome framework, this single case study exemplifies the role of corporate culture in an SME from the steel construction and manufacturing sector in Germany. The investigated SME has achieved emission reduction while increasing its revenue and is an early adopter of sustainable and digital development. The rich insights from an employee survey, semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis allowed us to outline an informed approach toward corporate culture development that emphasizes vision development of the desired corporate culture and the role of information systems for promoting emission reduction. 

Carmen Isensee

Papers

The relationship between organizational culture, sustainability, and digitalization in SMEs: A systematic review

Exploring the Use of Mobile Apps for Fostering Sustainability-Oriented Corporate Culture: A Qualitative Analysis

Acceptance of climate adaptation measures for transport operations: Conceptual and empirical overview

Sustainable artificial intelligence: A corporate culture perspective

How can corporate culture contribute to emission reduction in the construction sector? An SME case study on beliefs, actions, and outcomes