IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/hal/journl/hal-02887640.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

On the Role of Faith in Sustainability Management: A Conceptual Model and Research Agenda

Author

Listed:
  • Fabien Martinez

    (Queen Mary University London)

Abstract

The objective of this article is to develop a faith development perspective on corporate sustainability. A firm's management of sustainability is arguably determined by the way decision-makers relate to the other and the natural environment, and this relationship is fundamentally shaped by faith. This study advances theoretical understanding of the approach managers take on sustainability issues by explaining how four distinct phases of faith development-improvidence, obedience, irreverence and providence-determine a manager's disposition towards sustainability. Combining insights from intentional and relational faith development theories, the analysis reveals that a manager's faith disposition can be measured according to four interrelated process criteria: (1) connec-tivity as a measure of a manager's actual engagement and activities aimed at relating to sustainability; (2) inclusivity as a measure of who and what is included or excluded in a manager's moral consideration; (3) emotional affinity as a measure of a manager's sensitivity and affection towards the well-being of others and ecological welfare; and (4) reciprocity as a measure of the degree to which a manager is rewarded for responding to the needs and concerns of 'Others', mainly in the form of a positive emotional (and relational) stimulus. The conceptual model consolidates earlier scholarly works on the psychological drivers of sustainability management by illuminating our search for a process of faith development that connects with an increasingly complex understanding of the role of business in society.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabien Martinez, 2019. "On the Role of Faith in Sustainability Management: A Conceptual Model and Research Agenda," Post-Print hal-02887640, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02887640
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3540-4
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02887640
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://hal.science/hal-02887640/document
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-017-3540-4?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. Nigel Roome & Céline Louche, 2016. "Journeying Toward Business Models for Sustainability: A Conceptual Model Found Inside the Black Box of Organisational Transformation," Post-Print hal-01183743, HAL.
    2. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
    3. Fabien Martinez & Patrick O'Sullivan & Mark Smith & Mark Esposito, 2017. "Perspectives on the role of business in social innovation," Post-Print hal-02065937, HAL.
    4. S. Brammer & Geoffrey Williams & John Zinkin, 2007. "Religion and Attitudes to Corporate Social Responsibility in a Large Cross-Country Sample," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 71(3), pages 229-243, March.
    5. Sucheta Nadkarni & Pamela S. Barr, 2008. "Environmental context, managerial cognition, and strategic action: an integrated view," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(13), pages 1395-1427, December.
    6. Diane L. Swanson, 2014. "Embedding CSR into Corporate Culture," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-30008-9, March.
    7. S. Sai Manohar & Shiv Pandit, 2014. "Core Values and Beliefs: A Study of Leading Innovative Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(4), pages 667-680, December.
    8. Fabien Martinez & Patrick O'Sullivan & Mark Smith & Mark Esposito, 2017. "Perspectives on the role of business in social innovation," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-02065937, HAL.
    9. James Crotty, 2009. "Structural causes of the global financial crisis: a critical assessment of the 'new financial architecture'," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 33(4), pages 563-580, July.
    10. Eric Van den Steen, 2005. "Organizational Beliefs and Managerial Vision," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 21(1), pages 256-283, April.
    11. S.R. Meera & Sandrine Bonin, 2014. "From 'management by materialism' to 'management by spiritual wisdom'," International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 6(1), pages 71-82.
    12. Douglas A. Bosse & Robert A. Phillips & Jeffrey S. Harrison, 2009. "Stakeholders, reciprocity, and firm performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 447-456, April.
    13. Wendy K. Smith & Michael L. Tushman, 2005. "Managing Strategic Contradictions: A Top Management Model for Managing Innovation Streams," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(5), pages 522-536, October.
    14. Cooper, Christine, 2015. "Accounting for the fictitious: A Marxist contribution to understanding accounting's roles in the financial crisis," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 63-82.
    15. Louise Metcalf & Sue Benn, 2013. "Leadership for Sustainability: An Evolution of Leadership Ability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 369-384, February.
    16. Harris, Jared D. & Freeman, R. Edward, 2008. "The Impossibility of the Separation Thesis: A Response to Joakim Sandberg," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 541-548, October.
    17. Sarah Kaplan, 2011. "Research in Cognition and Strategy: Reflections on Two Decades of Progress and a Look to the Future," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(3), pages 665-695, May.
    18. Alasdair Marshall & Denise Baden & Marco Guidi, 2013. "Can an Ethical Revival of Prudence Within Prudential Regulation Tackle Corporate Psychopathy?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(3), pages 559-568, October.
    19. Krebs Anne & Sophie Rieunier & Bertrand Urien, 2015. "Generativity : its role, dimensions and impact on cultural organizations in France," Post-Print halshs-02023629, HAL.
    20. Michele Morner & Eva-Maria Renger & Reynaldo Valle Thiele, 2010. "Unravelling the human side of the board: the role of motivational and cognitive compatibility in board decision making," International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 5(4), pages 323-342.
    21. 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.
    22. Paquet, Gilles, 1998. "Evolutionary cognitive economics," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 343-357, September.
    23. Tobias Hahn & Frank Figge & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss, 2010. "Trade‐offs in corporate sustainability: you can't have your cake and eat it," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(4), pages 217-229, May.
    24. Tian, Qing & Liu, Yan & Fan, Jianhong, 2015. "The effects of external stakeholder pressure and ethical leadership on corporate social responsibility in China," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(4), pages 388-410, July.
    25. David A. Waldman & Donald S. Siegel & Mansour Javidan, 2006. "Components of CEO Transformational Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(8), pages 1703-1725, December.
    26. Constance E. Helfat & Margaret A. Peteraf, 2015. "Managerial cognitive capabilities and the microfoundations of dynamic capabilities," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(6), pages 831-850, June.
    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. Fabien Martinez, 2019. "On the Role of Faith in Sustainability Management: A Conceptual Model and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(3), pages 787-807, March.
    2. Arménio Rego & Miguel Pina e Cunha & Daniel Polónia, 2017. "Corporate Sustainability: A View From the Top," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 143(1), pages 133-157, June.
    3. Catherine Le Roux & Marius Pretorius, 2016. "Conceptualizing the Limiting Issues Inhibiting Sustainability Embeddedness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-22, April.
    4. Nicodemus M. Mutinda & James M. Kilika, 2019. "TMT Cognitive Capability and Organizational Outcomes: A Theoretical Review," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(8), pages 31-52, August.
    5. Kirsti Iivonen, 2018. "Defensive Responses to Strategic Sustainability Paradoxes: Have Your Coke and Drink It Too!," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 309-327, March.
    6. Ozgur Isil & Michael T. Hernke, 2017. "The Triple Bottom Line: A Critical Review from a Transdisciplinary Perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1235-1251, December.
    7. Annina Lattu & Yuzhuo Cai, 2020. "Tensions in the Sustainability of Higher Education—The Case of Finnish Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-15, March.
    8. Juan Abello-Romero & Claudio Mancilla & Walter Sáez & Francisco Ganga-Contreras & Ivette Durán-Seguel, 2023. "Sustainable Development and Corporate Sustainability of Chilean State Universities: Evidence from Their Strategic Elements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Christof Miska & Mark E. Mendenhall, 2018. "Responsible Leadership: A Mapping of Extant Research and Future Directions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(1), pages 117-134, March.
    10. Andreea N. Kiss & Dirk Libaers & Pamela S. Barr & Tang Wang & Miles A. Zachary, 2020. "CEO cognitive flexibility, information search, and organizational ambidexterity," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(12), pages 2200-2233, December.
    11. Lin Wu & Nachiappan Subramanian & Angappa Gunasekaran & Muhammad Dan‐Asabe Abdulrahman & Kulwant Singh Pawar & Des Doran, 2018. "A two‐dimensional, two‐level framework for achieving corporate sustainable development: Assessing the return on sustainability initiatives," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1117-1130, December.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. Leona Aimée Henry & Tine Buyl & Rob J.G. Jansen, 2019. "Leading corporate sustainability: The role of top management team composition for triple bottom line performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 173-184, January.
    15. Annachiara Longoni & Raffaella Cagliano, 2018. "Sustainable Innovativeness and the Triple Bottom Line: The Role of Organizational Time Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(4), pages 1097-1120, September.
    16. Suparak Suriyankietkaew & Phallapa Petison, 2019. "A Retrospective and Foresight: Bibliometric Review of International Research on Strategic Management for Sustainability, 1991–2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    17. Natalie Slawinski & Pratima Bansal, 2015. "Short on Time: Intertemporal Tensions in Business Sustainability," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(2), pages 531-549, April.
    18. Annor Silva Junior & Priscilla Oliveira Martins-Silva & Katia Cyrlene Araújo Vasconcelos & Vitor Correa Silva & José Michel Rocha Monteiro & Sarah Luiza Martins Silva Brito & Tássia Calile Souza Santo, 2021. "Sustainability for Brazilian management students: integrity and opportunism," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 1292-1315, February.
    19. Hee‐Chan Song, 2021. "Buddhist approach to corporate sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 3040-3052, November.
    20. Sarah Birrell Ivory & Simon Bentley Brooks, 2018. "Managing Corporate Sustainability with a Paradoxical Lens: Lessons from Strategic Agility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 347-361, March.

    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:hal:journl:hal-02887640. 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: CCSD (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/ .

    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.