Consequences of Social and Environmental Corporate Responsibility Practices: Managers’ Perception in Mozambique

The objective of this paper is to analyze the relationship between the social and environmental practices of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and the economic–financial, social, and environmental performance in Mozambican companies, from the managers’ perspectives. The data were collected from a sample of 227 companies through a survey questionnaire. We used structural equation modelling to analyze how the managers correlate the different social and environmental practices with performance at the financial, social, and environmental levels. The results showed that the relationship between all major components of the social and environmental practices, and the economic–financial, social, and environmental performance is positive but insignificant with the exception of the social practices of community support, which has a weak relationship with the economic–financial performance, environmental performance, and social performance, as well as the environmental practices. The data indicate that there is a need for strengthening the appropriate economic–financial incentive policies and strategies for the agents who promote good CSR practices in the country, in order to obtain satisfactory, measurable, and comparable economic–financial, social, and environmental performance.

Key Tools for Social- and Environmental Performance, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Corporate responsibility provides the foundation for sustainable development. It is a complex sphere since there are several confusing initiatives intended to help companies incorporate sustainability. From an international perspective, the UN initiatives have had the most impact. I provide a short introduction to the history of key UN initiatives associated with environmental and social issues and how they relate to business and corporations. As the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a key global framework for sustainable development, they will be discussed in detail with special attention to challenges and practical relevance for corporations. Well-known and widely applied initiatives to evaluate corporate performance like Fair Trade Certificate and ISO 14001; greenhouse and climate reporting initiatives, like the GHG Protocol, CDP, TCFD; sustainable reporting frameworks, like GRI and IIRC; and supply chain guidance and due diligence like the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and new laws on transparency, will be presented.

Symbolic or substantive change? How a Malaysian palm oil company managed sustainability issues in words and deeds

Purpose This paper aims to explore how a Malaysian palm oil company responded to the pressure for change towards sustainability in their sustainability reporting of negative incidents and in actual sustainability practices. Design/methodology/approach The study used qualitative methodology through an interpretive case study of a palm company. The study gathered primary and secondary data via semi-structured interviews with key organisational members and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), informal conversations, focus groups, document/annual report content analyses and observations. Symbolic and substantive management was used as the theoretical lens to explain the findings. Findings After experiencing a series of negative events regarding their social and environmental performance, the case company responded by using selective disclosure and a symbolic/legitimising strategy to address the majority of recurring negative events. In actual practice, the company changed structurally but policy-implementation gaps remain despite these changes. Strategically, the company changed in terms of its expansion policy but remained unchanged in traceability issues. The increased awareness of sustainability in the company’s culture appeared to suffer in favour of profit and cost/efficiency considerations that remain prominent. Both substantive and symbolic changes were found in both reports and practice but were more inclined to be symbolic. Practical implications The study provides guidelines for companies changing towards sustainability in both practice and reporting, in their effort to contribute to sustainable development goals. Originality/value The study provides evidence of symbolic and substantive changes as complementing activities instead of a dichotomy, which was mostly assumed in previous literature and suggests companies adopt a combination of these depending on the severity of sustainability-related issues, level of scrutiny and cost/efficiency considerations.

Determining the managerial perception on triple bottom line performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine managerial perception on social and environmental performance and its effect on financial performance in the Indian banking industry. In addition, the study tests moderating role of gender and experience of bank managers in influencing the association between the constructs. Design/methodology/approach The empirical study is conducted using survey methodology. Responses were collected from 182 bank managers covering the private sector, public sector, foreign, regional rural and cooperative banks. Structural equation modelling technique was used to test hypothesized relationships between the constructs using Smart partial least squares software (3.3.2 version). Findings Results of the study endorse the stakeholder perspective. Bank managers perceive that involvement in socially responsible practices strengthens the relationship between stakeholders and banks, which eventually improves financial performance. Conversely, results indicate that environmental practices by banks do not influence financial performance, thereby sustaining shareholder perspective. Further, results suggest that gender and experience of bank managers are not effective moderators in determining the relationship between the constructs. Practical implications Findings would be valuable for investors to better assimilate social and environmental performance along with its effect on the financial performance of banks. The study would also facilitate policymakers and regulators to outline pertinent policies and rules to uphold financial strength and integrity in the banking industry. Further, bank managers’ perception would have a marked influence on customers’ understanding of social and environmental activities that might shape customer satisfaction, trust, engagement and loyalty. Originality/value The study underscores the eminence of endorsing socially responsible practices in the banks. This would facilitate in improving the sustainability in the Indian banking industry.

Better Benefits for Better Business: Certified Benefit Corporations Connected Through Internal Communications

Despite the broad body of research examining Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) communications, there remains a lack of literature discussing the expansion of Certified Benefit Corporations (B Corps), which are businesses that meet a verified social and environmental performance to advance social good. Existing research analyzes the connection of internal communications and CSR. The following research reviews this relationship and suggests that more for profit companies qualify to be an effective B Corp due to shared qualitative characteristics of internal communications. The characteristics reviewed are corporate storytelling, triple bottom line values, and the importance of key decision makers. The literature review connects CSR and internal communications to form the foundation of 21 interview questions. The interview questions were used to identify qualitative characteristics of B Corps through an in-depth interview process. Top key decision makers in B Corps were selected to interview to gather qualitative information on their internal communications. The interview questions led to an open dialogue about the influence B Corps has had on each company. Each interview was transcribed accordingly and discussed in the research below. Three themes were discovered after reviewing the primary research. The overall consensus suggests that a sense of strong internal communications in a company can be represented in a Certified Benefit Corporation.

ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE TRANSITION TO 3D PRINTING OF BUILDINGS IN THE ROUTE OF INDUSTRY 4.01

Problem statement. The high level of costs, energy and resource intensity in the field of construction leads to research aimed at improving the economic, social and environmental performance of construction processes from the standpoint of current trends in innovation in line with Industry 4.0. Especially relevant are studies adapted to the conditions of the national economy. The purpose of the article is to research of directions of development of technologies in the construction sphere, in particular technologies of 3D-printing, definition of ecological and economic advantages of transition to 3D-printing of construction objects in line with Industry 4.0. Results. The research of directions of development of 3D-printing technology is carried out, the types of 3D-printers are presented and characterized. Emphasis is placed on the need and benefits of assessment and certification of energy efficiency of buildings. The advantages of 3D printing are considered, which include the improvement of such parameters as environmental friendliness, speed and accessibility of construction. An assessment of the profitability and payback period of the construction business organization, which uses 3D-printing as the primary means of construction. It is established that the specific costs per 1m2 of 3D-construction in Ukraine will be about 4 thousand UAH, and the payback period of innovative construction business based on 3D-printing is less than a year. Scientific novelty and practical significance. For the first, an economic assessment of the construction business organization uses 3D printing as the primary means of construction, in the Ukrainian economy. The results of the study will be useful for business representatives in the field of construction, and can also be used in the training of specialists for the construction industry.

The Impact of Innovation Strategy on the Financial, Social and Environmental Performance

The core purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of innovation strategy on financial, social and environmental performance of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). The information used is from 129 companies listed on TSE in different industries between 2011 and 2018 (1032 observations). In order to analyze the data, a multivariate regression test was used. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between innovation strategy on financial performance and environmental performance. Also, the relationship between innovation strategy and social performance has a positive but insignificant. Innovation tools are also among the few management tools that can have a positive impact on both financial performance and the company's environmental performance. In this research, an attempt has been made to look at the idea of innovation from a financial point of view, and its results in the long run indicate the right choice of management to invest in the company's research and development unit.

The Impact of Innovation Strategy on the Financial, Social and Environmental Performance

The core purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of innovation strategy on financial, social and environmental performance of companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). The information used is from 129 companies listed on TSE in different industries between 2011 and 2018 (1032 observations). In order to analyze the data, a multivariate regression test was used. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between innovation strategy on financial performance and environmental performance. Also, the relationship between innovation strategy and social performance has a positive but insignificant. Innovation tools are also among the few management tools that can have a positive impact on both financial performance and the company’s environmental performance. In this research, an attempt has been made to look at the idea of innovation from a financial point of view, and its results in the long run indicate the right choice of management to invest in the company’s research and development unit.

Developing an Indicator-Based Framework to Measure Sustainable Tourism in Romania. A Territorial Approach

Sustainable tourism is gaining importance in national agendas to encourage economic growth, social inclusion, and the protection of cultural and natural assets. More than 13 million tourists (10.6 mil. Romanians and 2.6 mil. foreigners) visited Romania in 2019, the fifth consecutive year of growth for the tourism sector. The authors have selected 10 statistical indicators to highlight the main components for tourism sustainability by using the principal component analysis (PCA). The current patterns of sustainable development of tourism and the territorial inequalities at a micro-scale were assessed based on a sustainable tourism index (STI). In addition, to observe the way indicators interact and determine each other and to analyze the territorial disparities, the hierarchical ascending classification was used. The study was performed using the statistical data available at NUTS5/LAU level provided by the National Institute of Statistics. In addition, various data and information extracted from documents published by the UNWTO, National Institute for Research and Development in Tourism, the World Bank, EUROSTAT, etc., were also used. By applying an STI, the authors were able to assess the tourism development level at a national scale in Romania, delineating the most advantaged/disadvantaged areas. The analysis of sustainable tourism in Romania shows that tourism performance is more consolidated in the big cities, the Black Sea coast, the Danube Delta and the Carpathian Mountains. Studies such as the present one are meant to provide a methodological framework that will be useful to perform a quantitative assessment of the sustainable level of tourism development in terms of economic, social and environmental performance.