Institutionalisation of Sustainability Initiatives
2023, I-iECONS e-proceedings
https://doi.org/10.33102/IIECONS.V10I1.133Abstract
This study provides in-depth explanation on institutionalisation of sustainability initiatives. This study applies a qualitative research method, i.e. case study, to address the specific research objective. The findings revealed that a structured and strategic process of sustainability initiatives institutionalisation starting from a clear vision and mission is reflecting the commitment for accountability and legitimacy. The processes involve participation and engagement, self-regulation and assurance, performance assessments and evaluations, and reporting and disclosure statements. Two essential dimensions emerged in the findings to support the institutionalisation process, namely corporate image and culture. The findings of this study provide managers and policymakers with evidence to what extent sustainability initiatives could be institutionalised starting with a clear vision and mission. As sustainability initiatives are an important effort of the company towards materialising sustainability effort, is thus crucial to reflect the commitment for accountability and legitimacy. Past studies have primarily focused on sustainability initiatives from the perspective of several external stakeholders such as customers. However, this study examined the internal process of institutionalisation involving the four processes, in turn, introducing to the existing literature on sustainability initiatives.
Key takeaways
AI
AI
- The study reveals a structured process for institutionalising sustainability initiatives, emphasizing vision and mission.
- Four main processes of institutionalisation: participation, self-regulation, performance assessment, and reporting are critical.
- The Malaysian palm oil sector represents 30% of global production, highlighting its economic importance and sustainability challenges.
- The company achieved a SPOTT assessment score of 74%, indicating strong transparency in sustainability practices.
- This research provides insights for managers on effectively embedding sustainability into corporate culture and accountability.
References (32)
- Alshbili, I., Elamer, A. A., & Beddewela, E. (2019). Ownership types, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility disclosures: Empirical evidence from a developing country. Accounting Research Journal, 33(1), 148-166. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARJ-03-2018-0060
- Aslaksen, H. M., Hildebrandt, C., & Johnsen, H. C. G. (2021). The long-term transformation of the concept of CSR: towards a more comprehensive emphasis on sustainability. International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40991-021-00063-9
- Atkinson, P. E. (2012). Culture Shock: A Handbook For 21st Century Business (Google eBook), 288. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=BdJCXa1WK60C&pgis=1
- Boiral, O., & Heras-Saizarbitoria, I. (2020). Sustainability reporting assurance: Creating stakeholder accountability through hyperreality? Journal of Cleaner Production, 243, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118596
- Christensen, H. B., Hail, L., & Leuz, C. (2021). Mandatory CSR and Sustainability Repoerting : Economic analysis and literature review. Review of Accounting Studies, 26(3), 1176-1248.
- Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (1994). Grounded theory methodology: An Overview. Handbook of Qualitative Research, 000, 273-285.
- Dacin, M. T. (1997). Isomorphism in context: The power and prescription of institutional norms. Academy of Management Journal, 40(1), 46-81. https://doi.org/10.2307/257020
- Dettman, S., & Gomez, E. T. (2020). Political Financing Reform: Politics, Policies and Patronage in Malaysia. Journal of Contemporary
- Asia, 50(1), 36-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472336.2019.1571218
- DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism in Organizational Fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147-160.
- Ganesan, V., & Varkkey, H. M. (2022). State-owned Enterprise and Environmental Decision-making: omapring FELDA and FGV. Malaysian Journal of Tropical Geography, 48(1), 45-63.
- Hashim, F., Amran, A., Nejati, M., & Ismail, Z. (2016). Examining the determinants of sustainability web-reporting by local authorities in Malaysia. International Journal of Society Systems Science, 8(2), 155. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijsss.2016.077012
- Kobrossy, S., Karaszewski, R., & AlChami, R. (2022). The Institutionalization of Implicit and Explicit CSR in a Developing Country Context: The Case of Lebanon. Administrative Sciences, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci12040142
- Kohn, L. T. (1997). Methods in Case Study Analysis. The Center for Studying Health System Change, (2), 1-8.
- Lowndes, V. (1996). Varieties of New Institutionalism : Public Administration, 74(Summer), 181-198.
- March, J. G., & Olsen, J. P. (2006). The New Institutionalism: Organisational Factors in Political Life. American Political Science Review, 66(3), 1010-1012. https://doi.org/10.1017/S000305540027603X
- Matten, D., & Moon, J. (2020). Reflections on the 2018 decade award: The meaning and dynamics of corporate social responsibility. Academy of Management Review, 45(1), 7-28. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2019.0348
- Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Structure as Myth and Ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 340(2), 340-363. Retrieved from https://security.ufpb.br/gets/contents/documentos/meyer_rowan_teoria_institucional.pdf
- Orazalin, N., & Mahmood, M. (2020). Determinants of GRI-based sustainability reporting: evidence from an emerging economy. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 10(1), 140-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-12-2018-0137
- Pérez Cañizares, P. (2021). "Corporate Sustainability" or "Corporate Social Responsibility"? A Comparative Study of Spanish and Latin American Companies' Websites. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly, 84(4), 361-385. https://doi.org/10.1177/23294906211023799
- Randma-Liiv, T. (2022). Adoption is not enough: Institutionalization of e-participation initiatives. Public Policy and Administration, 0(0), 095207672110691. https://doi.org/10.1177/09520767211069199
- Rinaldi, L. (2019). Accounting for Sustainability Governance: The Enabling Role of Social and Environmental Accountability Research. Social and Environmental Accountability Journal, 39(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/0969160X.2019.1578675
- Scott, W. R. (1987). The Adolescence of Theory Institutional. Science, 32(4), 493-511.
- Scott, W. R. (1995). W. Richard SCOTT (1995), Institutions and Organizations. Ideas, Interests and Identities. M@n@gement, 17(2), 136. https://doi.org/10.3917/mana.172.0136
- Silverman, D. (2017). David Silverman discusses qualitative research. SAGE Publications. Stake, R. E. (1995). The Art of Case Study Research, 192.
- Stake, R. E. (2005). The Sage handbook of qualitative research / editors, Norman K. Denzin, Yvonna S. Lincoln. In Handbook of qualitative research.
- Star, T. (2023). Palm oil demand to rise in 2023 to 20 million tonnes. The Star. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2023/03/07/palm-oil-demand-to-rise-in- 2023-to-20-million-tonnes#:~:text=On a global scale%2C palm,uptrend from 2021 and %2F2022.
- Tolbert, P. S., & Barley, S. R. (1997). the Links between Action and Institution. Organization Studies, 18(1), 93-117.
- Varkkey, H. (2013). Malaysian investors in the Indonesian oil palm plantation sector: Home state facilitation and transboundary haze. Asia Pacific Business Review, 19(3), 381-401. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602381.2012.748262
- Weerakkody, V., Omar, A., El-Haddadeh, R., & Al-Busaidy, M. (2016). Digitally-enabled service transformation in the public sector: The lure of institutional pressure and strategic response towards change. Government Information Quarterly, 33(4), 658-668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2016.06.006
- Xu, S., & Woo, D. J. (2022). Key Players in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Institutionalization: An Analysis of Multinational Companies' Interorganizational Positioning via CSR Reports. Management Communication Quarterly, 37(1), 3-31. https://doi.org/10.1177/08933189221095770
- Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications. Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods.