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Transformative change towards sustainability: the interaction between organisational discourses and organisational practices

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  • Venkateshwaran Narayanan
  • Carol A. Adams

Abstract

This paper adopts a case study approach to explore the complex process of organisational change towards greater social and environmental sustainability. The case study of a major global financial services organisation involved interviews and examination of company documents, and their website over the period 2000–2014. The rare longitudinal empirical evidence from different sources provides important insights to how companies are responding to increasing demands for sustainable development. Using Laughlin’s [1991. Environmental disturbances and organizational transitions and transformations: some alternative models. Organization Studies, 12 (2), 209–232] pathways of change model, the study investigates the interaction between organisational discourses (i.e. its interpretive schemes) and organisational practices (i.e. design archetypes). The findings demonstrate the centrality of organisational discourses, especially those relating to accounting calculative practices, to radical change towards sustainable development. The paper also contributes to the literature on institutional logics, particularly multiple institutional logics, and how these are implicated in change processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Venkateshwaran Narayanan & Carol A. Adams, 2017. "Transformative change towards sustainability: the interaction between organisational discourses and organisational practices," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(3), pages 344-368, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acctbr:v:47:y:2017:i:3:p:344-368
    DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2016.1257930
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    Cited by:

    1. Syed Awais Ahmad Tipu, 2022. "Organizational change for environmental, social, and financial sustainability: A systematic literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 1697-1742, August.
    2. Valeria Vannoni & Federica Palazzi & Annalisa Sentuti & Francesca Sgrò, 2024. "The Role of the Management Control System in Supporting ESG-Focused Transformation in Financial Intermediaries: A Case Study of an Italian Bank," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, January.
    3. Adams, Carol A. & Abhayawansa, Subhash, 2022. "Connecting the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing and calls for ‘harmonisation’ of sustainability reporting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    4. Narayanan, Venkateshwaran & Baird, Kevin & Tay, Richard, 2021. "Investment decisions: The trade-off between economic and environmental objectives," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    5. Susanne Arvidsson & John Dumay, 2022. "Corporate ESG reporting quantity, quality and performance: Where to now for environmental policy and practice?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1091-1110, March.

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