IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i8p3391-d1378035.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How to Manage Conflicts in the Process of ESG Integration? A Case of a Japanese Firm

Author

Listed:
  • Alaa Aldowaish

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Shonan Fujisawa Campus, Keio University, Fujisawa 252-0882, Japan)

  • Jiro Kokuryo

    (Graduate School of Media and Governance, Shonan Fujisawa Campus, Keio University, Fujisawa 252-0882, Japan)

  • Othman Almazyad

    (Department of Business Administration, School of Political Science and Economics, Shonan Campus, Tokai University, Hiratsuka 259-1292, Japan)

  • Hoe Chin Goi

    (NUCB Business School, Nagoya University of Commerce and Business, Nagoya 460-0003, Japan)

Abstract

The adoption of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles has pressured firms to change their internal operations, creating conflicts regarding meeting sustainability standards. This study uses paradox theory lens to examine conflicts in ESG integration in a business model and explore resolution strategies. We used the case study of a top ESG leader in the information and technology sector—the Ricoh Group. We identified conflicts for environmental, social, and governance factors and found they adopted a synthesis strategy for conflict resolution for all ESG issues. ESG conflicts were resolved by emphasizing that ESG practices are a global requirement with ESG department support and management power. Environmental conflicts were resolved through shifting from cost-of-capital-centric to market-competitiveness-centric. Additionally, social conflicts were resolved through feedback on market needs. We state that using the ESG framework as a promise for future finance, where its adoption of ESG practices may positively impact future financial performance and might support the integration process. We stress the importance of constant feedback with all divisions about ESG regulations and their status and progress toward achieving ESG goals. We further highlight conflict-resolution strategies adopted to support the integration of the ESG framework into the business model.

Suggested Citation

  • Alaa Aldowaish & Jiro Kokuryo & Othman Almazyad & Hoe Chin Goi, 2024. "How to Manage Conflicts in the Process of ESG Integration? A Case of a Japanese Firm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:8:p:3391-:d:1378035
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/8/3391/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/8/3391/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Simone Carmine & Valentina De Marchi, 2023. "Reviewing Paradox Theory in Corporate Sustainability Toward a Systems Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(1), pages 139-158, April.
    2. Emma Avetisyan & Kai Hockerts, 2017. "The Consolidation of the ESG Rating Industry as an Enactment of Institutional Retrogression," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 316-330, March.
    3. Jaime F. Lavin & Alejandro A. Montecinos-Pearce, 2021. "ESG Reporting: Empirical Analysis of the Influence of Board Heterogeneity from an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-25, March.
    4. Tobias Hahn & Frank Figge & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss, 2018. "A Paradox Perspective on Corporate Sustainability: Descriptive, Instrumental, and Normative Aspects," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 235-248, March.
    5. Enrico Fontana & Hyemi Shin & Chikako Oka & Jos Gamble, 2022. "Tensions in the strategic integration of corporate sustainability through global standards: Evidence from Japan and South Korea," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 875-891, March.
    6. Lee, Michael T. & Raschke, Robyn L. & Krishen, Anjala S., 2023. "Understanding ESG scores and firm performance: Are high-performing firms E, S, and G-balanced?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    7. Natalie Slawinski & Pratima Bansal, 2015. "Short on Time: Intertemporal Tensions in Business Sustainability," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(2), pages 531-549, April.
    8. O. C. Ferrell, 2021. "Addressing socio-ecological issues in marketing: environmental, social and governance (ESG)," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 11(1), pages 140-144, June.
    9. Tobias Hahn & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss & Frank Figge, 2015. "Tensions in Corporate Sustainability: Towards an Integrative Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 297-316, March.
    10. Jun Xie & Wataru Nozawa & Michiyuki Yagi & Hidemichi Fujii & Shunsuke Managi, 2019. "Do environmental, social, and governance activities improve corporate financial performance?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 286-300, February.
    11. Magnus Frostenson & Sven Helin, 2017. "Ideas in conflict: a case study on tensions in the process of preparing sustainability reports," Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 8(2), pages 166-190, May.
    12. Jay Joseph & Helen Borland & Marc Orlitzky & Adam Lindgreen, 2020. "Seeing Versus Doing: How Businesses Manage Tensions in Pursuit of Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 164(2), pages 349-370, June.
    13. Michael Cappucci, 2018. "The ESG Integration Paradox," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 30(2), pages 22-28, June.
    14. Magdalena Zioło & Iwona Bąk & Anna Spoz, 2023. "Incorporating ESG Risk in Companies’ Business Models: State of Research and Energy Sector Case Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-25, February.
    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. Simone Carmine & Valentina De Marchi, 2023. "Reviewing Paradox Theory in Corporate Sustainability Toward a Systems Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(1), pages 139-158, April.
    2. Pii‐Tuulia Nikula, 2022. "Beyond compliance – Voluntary climate mitigation by New Zealand firms," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1456-1464, September.
    3. Maria Vincenza Ciasullo & Raffaella Montera & Nicola Cucari & Francesco Polese, 2020. "How an international ambidexterity strategy can address the paradox perspective on corporate sustainability: Evidence from Chinese emerging market multinationals," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 2110-2129, July.
    4. Roland Somlai, 2022. "Integrating decision support tools into businesses for sustainable development: A paradoxical approach to address the food waste challenge," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1607-1622, May.
    5. Aymen Sajjad & Gabriel Eweje & David Tappin, 2020. "Managerial perspectives on drivers for and barriers to sustainable supply chain management implementation: Evidence from New Zealand," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 592-604, February.
    6. Kai Hockerts & Cory Searcy, 2023. "How to Sharpen Our Discourse on Corporate Sustainability and Business Ethics—A View from the Section Editors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(2), pages 225-235, October.
    7. Julia Benkert, 2021. "Reframing Business Sustainability Decision-Making with Value-Focussed Thinking," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 441-456, November.
    8. Nitha Palakshappa & Sarah Dodds & Suzanne Grant, 2024. "Tension and Paradox in Women-Oriented Sustainable Hybrid Organizations: A Duality of Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(2), pages 327-346, March.
    9. Sitong (Michelle) Chen & Gabriel Eweje, 2022. "Managing tensions in sustainable development in Chinese and New Zealand business partnerships: Integrative approaches," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2568-2587, July.
    10. Enrico Fontana & Hyemi Shin & Chikako Oka & Jos Gamble, 2022. "Tensions in the strategic integration of corporate sustainability through global standards: Evidence from Japan and South Korea," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 875-891, March.
    11. Aymen Sajjad & Gabriel Eweje & Muhammad Mustafa Raziq, 2024. "Sustainability leadership: An integrative review and conceptual synthesis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 2849-2867, May.
    12. Mario Vaupel & David Bendig & Denise Fischer-Kreer & Malte Brettel, 2023. "The Role of Share Repurchases for Firms’ Social and Environmental Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(2), pages 401-428, March.
    13. Tan, Yafei & Zhu, Zhaohui, 2022. "The effect of ESG rating events on corporate green innovation in China: The mediating role of financial constraints and managers' environmental awareness," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    14. Gerard Farias & Christine Farias & Isabella Krysa & Joel Harmon, 2020. "Sustainability Mindsets for Strategic Management: Lifting the Yoke of the Neo-Classical Economic Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-14, August.
    15. Jonathan Taglialatela & Kevin Pirazzi Maffiola & Roberto Barontini & Francesco Testa, 2023. "Board of Directors' characteristics and environmental SDGs adoption: an international study," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2490-2506, September.
    16. Clementino, Ester & Perkins, Richard, 2020. "How do companies respond to environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings? Evidence from Italy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103046, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    17. Amna Farrukh & Aymen Sajjad, 2024. "Investigating sustainability tensions and resolution strategies in the plastic food packaging industry—A paradox theory approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 2868-2889, May.
    18. Li, WeiWei & Padmanabhan, Prasad & Huang, Chia-Hsing, 2024. "ESG and debt structure: Is the nature of this relationship nonlinear?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    19. Marcia Sierdovski & Luiz Alberto Pilatti & Priscila Rubbo, 2022. "Organizational Competencies in the Development of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Criteria in the Industrial Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    20. Eleonora Di Maria & Marco Bettiol & Mauro Capestro, 2023. "How Italian Fashion Brands Beat COVID-19: Manufacturing, Sustainability, and Digitalization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20, January.

    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:16:y:2024:i:8:p:3391-:d:1378035. 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.