scholarly journals Renewable energy commitments versus greenwashing: Board responsibilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3, special issue) ◽  
pp. 423-437
Author(s):  
Hugh Grove ◽  
Maclyn Clouse
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Business Plans ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Global Corporations

Since many companies are making renewable energy commitments, boards of directors have responsibilities to monitor such commitments for enhanced corporate governance. This paper develops such board corporate social responsibilities for renewable energy commitments, especially in response to activist investors. In the existing literature, there are no research papers that addressed the major research question, and corresponding relevance, of this paper. What are the boards of directors’ responsibilities for monitoring their companies’ commitments to renewable energy and are they making significant efforts, or just greenwashing, i.e., just making commitments or pledges without any substantial subsequent performance? The shifting energy landscape to renewables, especially for carbon-free electricity, and the affordability and reliability of renewables are developed. Global corporations committed to 100% renewable electricity are cited for boards to monitor. Following guidelines from activist investors, boards of directors can assess whether their companies are reporting in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures or other reporting systems. Boards can monitor how their companies’ business plans are compatible with transitioning to a net-zero economy and how such plans are incorporated into long-term strategies. They can monitor if sustainability connections to stakeholders are driving long-term durable profits and delivering value to shareholders, customers, employees, and communities. Future research could investigate these board responsibilities with case studies or empirical studies, especially to see if greenwashing exists

scholarly journals Climate change risk: Challenge for corporate governance

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2, special issue) ◽  
pp. 258-268
Author(s):  
Hugh Grove ◽  
Maclyn Clouse ◽  
Tracy Xu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Climate Change Risk ◽  
Climate Change Risks

The major research question of this paper is to analyze climate change risk as a challenge to corporate governance. Climate action failure was the environmental risk most frequently listed in the top ten country risks. It also becomes a major reason that many companies are taking their own initiatives on climate change action which poses an imminent challenge for corporate governance as boards of directors track and assess such initiatives by their own companies. Boards can play a key role in guiding their organizations into the next new normal in the wake of global pandemic, economic disruptions, and ongoing climate change problems. This paper identifies and studies the corporate governance risks and opportunities related to global climate change risk and provides recommendations to boards of directors. The major sections of this paper are global climate change risks, corporate climate change pledges, climate-related financial disclosures, major topics in the Global Climate Change report, whether companies are ready to manage major climate change risks and opportunities, climate-related investment benchmarks, and conclusions. Future research could investigate this climate change risk challenge with case studies or empirical studies.

scholarly journals Sustainable long-term value creation: New finance focus for boards of directors

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Hugh Grove ◽  
Maclyn Clouse ◽  
Tracy Xu
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Sustainable Value ◽  
And Performance

The major research question of this paper is how boards of directors’ practices and performance can facilitate the new finance focus on sustainable, long-term value creation. This new finance focus presents opportunities to strengthen corporate performance which enhances the gatekeeper role of boards of directors in helping both shareholders and stakeholders. The following topics are discussed and analyzed in this paper: potential examples, strategic analysis, sustainability analysis, and the circular economy. We discovered several guiding principles based on previous literature, regulatory proposals, and industry practices. Effective boards of directors need to be engaged in sustainable strategy formation and make sure long-term sustainable value creation continues to develop and does not erode. They need to have relevant industry knowledge, diverse expertise, and a proclivity for thinking independently in both good times and bad times, such as the coronavirus pandemic. They also need to develop a clear understanding of sustainable business strategies and how long-term value is created and driven through innovation and the deployment of resources. In addition, we find that boards can assess and monitor ways to measure and manage long-term value creators and drivers and encourage their companies to become involved in the circular economy with its $4.5 trillion investment opportunities. Future research could use case studies and board interviews to investigate boards of directors’ practices and performance, concerning how boards have helped develop strategies and procedures to facilitate this new finance focus on long-term sustainable value creation.

Advancement of behavioral energy interventions in commercial buildings

Facilities ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 367-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heta Karoliina Kosonen ◽  
Amy Ahim Kim
Keyword(s):  
Energy Savings ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Commercial Buildings ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Screening Protocol ◽  
Structured Analysis ◽  
Comparative Feedback

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify opportunities, barriers and guidelines for future research in behavioral energy interventions in commercial buildings. Design/methodology/approach The study methodology includes a three-step screening protocol with a collection of prior publications, clustering of related studies and results and analysis of the findings of the prior studies. Findings The review showed that commercial energy interventions were generally successful at impacting occupant energy consumption. Most energy savings were obtained by applying comparative feedback and energy competition strategies, but the lack of long-term effect measurements prevents drawing conclusions regarding their long-term effectiveness. The authors suggest that future studies should explore the impacts that occupant characteristics, environment and community and intervention implementation have on the success of the energy intervention, and integrate these findings into the intervention design. In addition, the authors call for more discussion on the feasibility issues that researchers, policymakers and educators face when implementing these energy interventions to streamline sustainability efforts in the future. Originality/value Research on assessing the effectiveness of occupant behavior interventions has increased considerably over the past decade. This review includes a structured analysis of prior studies of behavioral energy interventions in commercial buildings and encompasses studies conducted between 2005 and 2015. The review is unique in that it focuses on comparing empirical studies that quantified measured energy savings.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and tourist mobility at destinations: a literature review and emerging research agenda

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Viana-Lora ◽  
Antoni Domènech ◽  
Aaron Gutiérrez
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
The Future ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper aims to review conceptual and empirical studies that analyse the impact of the pandemic on mobility and tourism behaviour at destinations in order to identify proposals, forecasts and recommendations to guide the future research agenda on the subject.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a systematic literature review to synthesise information from scientific articles published in journals indexed in the Web of Science database related to tourism mobility at destinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsThis article found that, according to the existing literature, the COVID-19 pandemic is acting as a catalyst for the sustainable transition of tourism. Although the findings reveal a lack of empirical research on the impact of the pandemic on tourism mobility at destinations, the article synthesizes the short- and long-term impacts of the pandemic and sets out the future research agenda on tourist mobility at destinations.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first systematic review of the impact of the pandemic on mobility and tourism behaviour at destinations that attempts to describe the emerging challenges and the agenda for future research.

scholarly journals The Rhetoric of Twitter in Terms of the Aristotelian Appeals (Logos, Ethos, and Pathos) in ESL/EFL Educational Settings

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Ahdab Saaty
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Educational Settings ◽  
Current State ◽  
Writing Genres ◽  
Twitter Users ◽  
State Of Research

The article argues that the Aristotelian appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos) can be taught through the use of Twitter as an educational tool to build connections between everyday informal writing on social media and academic writing. It highlights the utilization of Twitter in English second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) educational settings for supporting learners’ rhetorical awareness and understanding of different writing genres. The main purpose of this article is to provide pedagogical implications and future research potentials on the use of Twitter in ESL/EFL educational settings. The Aristotelian appeals are discussed as the framework for the analysis of Twitter’s content in ESL/EFL educational contexts. In this regard, this research question is addressed: How can Twitter serve as a tool for teaching the fundamentals of writing competency in terms of the Aristotelian appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos) in ESL/EFL educational settings? To explore the current state of research and inform future studies, the researcher reviews selected academic articles on the use of Twitter in ESL/EFL language classes. All articles were accessed using Google Scholar, ERIC, and ProQuest databases. The researcher examines empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals as well as non-empirical studies. This article addresses Twitter users’ constructions of logos, ethos, and pathos, and presents some of the accessible characteristics of Twitter. Also, it briefly provides pedagogical implications of understanding the Aristotelian appeals through Twitter in ESL/EFL educational contexts that can support the teaching and learning processes. Lastly, the researcher proposes potential research directions for Twitter use in ESL/EFL educational settings.

scholarly journals Broad donor consent for human biobanks in Germany and Europe: a strategy to facilitate cross-border sharing and exchange of human biological materials and related data

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 291-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Jahns ◽  
Jörg Geiger ◽  
Irene Schlünder ◽  
Daniel Strech ◽  
Matthias Brumhard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Samples ◽  
Biological Material ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Working Party ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Broad Consent ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Cross Border

Abstract Background Human biobanks are generally recognized as essential resources for effective biomedical research. All over the world biosamples and data from human subjects are collected in large biobanks. The biological material is stored long term for current and future (undetermined) research issues, which often require cross-border exchange of biosamples and related data. Content Commonly, the informed consent for research on human biospecimen is intended to cover only defined, specific research objectives. In June 2016, the biobank Task-Force of the Working Party of the German Medical Ethics Committees (WP-GMEC) updated its template for the broad use of human biological samples and related data. It complies with the current Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and World Medical Association (WMA) recommendations and furnishes a framework that permits long-term storage and multi-purpose research use of human biological material and related data, including cross-border research. However, both (i) human biobanks storing and (ii) research projects requesting “broad consent” biological samples generally require an ethical approval; in addition, “broad consent” conditions should be reciprocated by making biobank processes transparent and by fostering both donor and public involvement. Outlook The broad consent template of the WP-GMEC clearly states that biological samples and data donated for medical research serve to address current and future research questions. It appears perfectly suited as a template for a Europe-wide harmonized broad consent facilitating biobank-based cross-border research.

Promising avenue or dead end street? A meta analytic review of the Forbes and Milliken model of board behaviour

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-489
Author(s):  
Klaas Heemskerk
Keyword(s):  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Cognitive Conflict ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dead End ◽  
Analytic Review ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Use Of Knowledge

Purpose Over the past decades, growing interest in the behaviour of boards of directors has brought forth empirical studies on actual board behaviour. An important stream within this research followed the model proposed by Forbes and Milliken in 1999 in which the board processes, effort norms, cognitive conflict and the use of knowledge, are hypothesized to influence the performance of boards of directors. This paper aims to take stock of the results from this stream of research. The sometimes inconsistent results, and assumed methodological flaws of this research, leave open the question whether it makes sense to continue with this line of research. Design/methodology/approach Through a research synthesis of 17 primary studies on (parts of) the model proposed by Forbes and Milliken (1999), this question is addressed directly by clarifying what is known from the research done so far and by identifying possible distorting methodological moderators. Findings Strong empirical support is found for the effect of effort norms and the use of knowledge and skills on board task performance. The evidence for cognitive conflicts however was found to be inconclusive. Common method and respondent bias seem to be a lesser concern than often stated. Research limitations/implications Future studies should not only look closely at the construct validity of conflict, but should also have to account for the multidimensionality of conflicts and the interdependency and endogeneity in the relationship between behaviour and performance in boards. Originality/value This is the first paper that systematically integrates and reviews the empirical results of the research following the Forbes and Milliken model and sketches roads for future research on board behaviour.

scholarly journals Human resource reporting: Implications for corporate governance

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 26-36
Author(s):  
Hugh Grove ◽  
Maclyn Clouse ◽  
Tracy Xu
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
White Collar Crime ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Reporting Requirements

The major research question of this study is how boards of directors can monitor human resource reporting, especially with emerging reporting requirements from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for all domestic and foreign public companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges. Boards can develop advising and monitoring practices to help their companies meet the SEC’s human capital reporting requirements, as shown by the following topics discussed and analyzed in this paper: criticisms of the modernization of Regulation S-K by using principle-based versus rules-based disclosures; a way forward on the modernization of Regulation S-K; sustainability accounting standards; human resource accounting; board responsibility for white-collar crime risk; and collegiality conundrums. We find that a possible way forward in modernizing human capital reporting would be to combine a rules-based approach with a principles-based approach. We recommend boards to closely follow the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and create opportunities to steer their companies towards a sustainable future. We also research the newly developed accounting standards to address human resource risks and promote sustainable human capital reporting. In addition, we identify the strategies for boards to monitor the risk of white-collar crime and highlight the balance between collegiality and effectiveness in the boardroom. Future research could use case studies and interviews of company boards to investigate how they have developed strategies and procedures to facilitate human resource management and reporting

scholarly journals Long-term stockholder and stakeholder value and corporate governance implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh Grove ◽  
Mac Clouse ◽  
Tracy Xu
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Initial Step ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Sustainable Value ◽  
Key Indicators

The key research question of this paper is to explore the major implications for corporate governance from the emergence of long-term stockholder and stakeholder value perspectives for the purpose of a corporation. The major implication for corporate governance is the significant opportunity for boards of directors to play a vital role in helping companies create long-term sustainable value. An initial step is to develop a clear understanding of the company’s business strategy and how long-term value is created through innovation and deployment of resources. Boards of directors need to understand what really creates long-term value in their companies and then make sure their companies develop ways to measure and manage such value in order to be able to “govern like owners” and fulfill their fiduciary roles. To facilitate this fiduciary role, McKinsey & Company’s Corporate Horizon Index with its five key indicators, investment, earnings quality, margin growth, quarterly management, and earnings-per-share growth, and their related hypotheses and measurement approaches can be used as a roadmap.

scholarly journals Gårsdagens suksess – morgendagens begrensning? Strategisk relevant handlingsrom: En rikere forståelse av leders handlingsrom

2020 ◽  
pp. 111-134
Author(s):  
Jarle Bastesen ◽  
Birthe Kåfjord Lange
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Managerial Discretion ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Leadership Studies ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Relevant Alternatives ◽  
Future Challenges

Managerial discretion is said to be a fundamental condition for effective leadership. Studies of managerial discretion have to a large degree focused on the magnitude of managers’ discretion and how different factors influence managers’ perceived level of discretion (Hambrick, 2007; Hambrick & Finkelstein, 1987; Hutzschenreuter & Kleindienst, 2013). In this chapter, we argue that it is insufficient to study the size of managers’ room for discretion. We also need to understand the content included in leaders’ discretionary rooms. In a study of ten successful logistics companies, one of which was studied more in-depth, we find that the managers perceive their room for managerial discretion as large. However, the alternatives considered are to a large extent operational and short-term, at the expense of more long-term, strategically relevant alternatives facing future challenges. Hence, we develop the concept “strategically relevant managerial discretion”, which, in addition to the alternatives that managers are aware of and that are acceptable for the mangers’ stakeholders, also includes a new dimension: to what extent the alternatives are strategically relevant for future challenges. We conclude the chapter by pointing out interesting directions for future research, including a call for empirical studies of the conceptual model developed in this chapter.

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