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Purpose
In recognition of the potential for Buddhism to advance sustainability, this paper aims to investigate whether Buddhism appears to be informing the sustainability practices of corporations within a particular national context. Corporate sustainability reports are used as a site of analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
Sixteen corporate s...
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The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are increasingly used by corporations for benchmarking and communicating their sustainability performance. The SDGs have several features that make them attractive for this purpose, including their universality, specificity and, in many cases, direct linkage with corporate outcomes. Corporati...
Citations
... First, the disconnection of the framework from local community needs makes it lack the granular effect on meaningful community involvement. Accordingly, the failure of the framework to ensure the participation of beneficiary communities in CSR-related decision-making processes limits its ability to influence local realities [53]. Because the GRI framework allows that companies report their CSR activities at the corporate or global level, the significance of site-specific issues and local community needs is often diluted [54,55]. ...
Much as the operations of mining companies have inevitable implications for their hosts, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a critical redress channel for engaging stakeholders. With huge amounts of resources dedicated to the implementation of various CSR initiatives, what remains unaddressed is whether those investments really yield their intended outcomes. This study demonstrates how Western conceptualizations of CSR reporting is disconnected from the expectations of indigenous stakeholders. Data from the sustainability and annual reports of large mining companies and in-person interviews with stakeholder representatives drawn from mining communities in Ghana was used to examine the CSR initiatives of mining companies, measuring them against the expectations of their hosts. The findings suggest that although mining companies mostly engage in CSR commitments that seem to align with fundamental regulatory requirements, the expectations of locals remain largely unfulfilled. The key reasons for this include the firm-centric, top-down approach of mining companies in determining their CSR priorities, the discretionary nature of CSR and the lack of cohesion between mining companies' CSR in contrast with the expectations of beneficiary communities. To these findings, a more consultative and participatory approach in carrying out CSR projects by large mining companies is recommended.
... It emphasizes the importance of inner wisdom, compassion, and ethical principles in achieving sustainable outcomes. However, challenges exist in aligning donor expectations with authentic compassionate actions and in the standardization of corporate sustainability reporting, which may disconnect local Buddhist influences from organizational practices (Abeydeera et al., 2016). Further research is needed to explore the applicability of Buddhist-inspired development strategies across different regions and to assess their long-term impacts on sustainability outcomes. ...
... The enablers and barriers towards sustainability integration recognised by these studies may not directly apply to the developing world context. The socio-political and economic determinants of developing countries are significantly different from the developed world, and these contextual differences can majorly impact defining driving forces for sustainability integration (Abdul-Rashid et al., 2017;Abeydeera et al., 2016). A factor that may be considered a driver in developed countries can have a different impact in a developed country. ...
... The Western world has perceived developing countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh as pollution havens due to their corrupted political and regulatory systems, as well as their lenient environmental and social justice regulations (Abdel-Zaher, 2012). However, as a manufacturing setting, Sri Lanka has established some ethical manufacturing practices due to its religious and cultural norms (Abeydeera et al., 2016;Beddewela and Herzig, 2013;Perry et al., 2015). Being a part of Asia, findings from Sri Lanka will also contribute to the growing importance of sustainability issues in the Asian region. ...
Purpose
This study aims to explore the managerial conception of the determinants and barriers of sustainability integration into management control systems (MCS) of manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka. Although existing literature has explored the factors that influence the adoption of specific management controls to handle environmental and social issues, the role of management conception has been underrepresented. Specifically, literature is scarce in identifying contextual and organisational factors that influence corporates beyond mere adoption of controls but to integrate with regular controls, especially in developing countries such as Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study approach has been used to identify the management conception of barriers and enablers for sustainability control integration. The analysis is conducted based on a theoretical framework extending the work of Gond et al. (2012) and George et al. (2016). To obtain an in-depth and multifaceted view, semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers in charge of different functional departments of five manufacturing companies.
Findings
The findings identified managers’ perceived factors, such as environmental impact, stakeholder pressure (customer, competitor and regulatory authorities) and top management commitment, showing a clear difference between strongly and weakly integrated companies. Contrary to the literature, domestic regulatory pressure and multinational ownership do not sufficiently drive MCS sustainability integration.
Practical implications
The findings have implications for managers and practitioners to anticipate the potential barriers and determinants of sustainability integration and provide guidance to take proper measures to deal with them when designing and implementing their MCS.
Originality/value
The study adds value to the literature by presenting a theoretical framework based on the triangulation of different theories to recognise the significance of management idea in sustainable integration. Furthermore, because sustainable integration of MCS is a novel idea, this research is one of the earlier attempts to highlight problems from the perspective of developing countries.
... Buddhika and P.A.D. Rajini [19], the ISO 50001 is the only globally accepted EnMS practiced within the country due to its broad benefits. Furthermore, research done by Sashika Abeydeera [20] shows that Aitken Spence, Brandix Lanka Limited and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings are also following ISO 50001. Another research conducted by S.K.A. Fernando, I.S. Somarathne and A.S. Asmone [21] confirms that the Brandix's Green Factory located at Seeduwa is the first manufacturing location which got the standard ISO 50001. ...
The rapid growth of global energy demand implies a significant need for sustainable energy practices. In response to this scenario many countries adopt Energy Management Systems (EnMS) to optimize their energy consumption and to reduce environmental impact. Sri Lanka, like many other developing nations, faces to significant challenges in managing its energy needs as the significant portion of energy requirement of the country depends on the imported fossil fuels. This raises questions about the energy security of the country. Moreover, the energy crisis faced by Sri Lanka in 2022 has highlighted the importance of efficient and sustainable energy management practices for the country. The research uses a qualitative approach and a case study method to gain a deep understanding of the topic and to explore real-world complexities. Primary data for the research is collected through expert surveys and interviews while secondary data is gathered through a literature review, including documents from relevant sectors, peer reviewed academic journals, and research papers. The collected data is reviewed to identify key challenges for energy management and ISO 50001 EnMS. The relevancy of those challenges is reviewed with energy experts and industry professionals. Based on the identified challenges, this research project provides recommendations to address these challenges and enhance the energy management and EnMS in the transportation and power generation sectors of Sri Lanka. Lack of awareness, financial barriers, lack of technology, lack of knowledgeable employees and poor initiatives from the government for energy management are found as mostly affecting factors for these challenges. Since this research objectives are lined up to address the key areas of energy sector in Sri Lanka, those areas very important as a developing country to improve the energy sector. The research findings and recommendations can assist policymakers, energy managers, and industry practitioners in overcoming barriers and promoting sustainable energy management practices in Sri Lanka and similar developing countries.
... A comparative study between developed and developing economies based on sustainability reporting through content analysis by Bhatia and Tuli observed greater disclosure in developing nations compared to developed nations [10]. Yet, a study by Abeydeera [11] within a specific national context revealed that global institutions dominate sustainability reporting, limiting the potential for local institutions to transform business as usual. Sustainability reporting is seen as a tactic for impression management that organizations use to improve their public image [12]. ...
... Our findings can be explained as the importance that environmental issues have taken on in the eyes of the public, as also confirmed by studies by Connor et al. (2022), Jakučionytė-Skodienė, Krikštolaitis & Liobikienė (2022) and Wassmann, Siegrist & Hartmann (2023). Companies are recognised as sustainability leaders and use communication about sustainability to attract public attention and to increase pressure on key (Abeydeera, Tregidga & Kearins, 2016). ...
Many people now consider social media to be an integral part of their daily routines, which has enabled companies to implement successful corporate social responsibility campaigns through these platforms. The direct interaction with stakeholders offered by social media helps companies to build understanding, trust, and their image. The aim of this study was to identify key topics and trends communicated in connection with corporate social responsibility on the Twitter social network from 2017 to 2022. Analysis of 520,638 tweets by 168,134 unique users identified a predominance of environment-related topics: Sustainability, Climate Change, and Waste management. However, Charity remains the largest single topic. Based on the trend analysis, the areas of ESG, Social Impact, and Charity were identified as growth areas in communication, while Green and Philanthropy, on the other hand, were identified as decreasing.
... Some studies (Dissanayake et al., 2016;Fernando et al., 2015) show that cultural and religious awareness and convictions of the corporate decision-makers (families, top management) in Sri Lanka make domestic firms more attentive to social issues (e.g., unemployment and poverty) at the expense of environmental concerns. In contrast, Abeydeera et al. (2016) argue that Buddhist principles and local cultural values have little effect on the degree of ESG orientation of Sri Lankan firms. ...
This paper examines the corporate governance mechanisms in Sri Lanka, a country that only a little more than a decade ago emerged from a 30-year long civil war. We focus on the evolution of Sri Lanka’s corporate governance from historical, sociocultural, and institutional perspectives. Taking Sri Lanka as a case where inclusiveness and reconciliation at the board level is important, we aim to diagnose the key corporate governance issues which we then broaden towards other South Asia developing countries and provide a research agenda. Many Sri Lankan firms suffer from typical Asian-style agency problems; conflicts of interest between (i) minority and majority shareholders, (ii) shareholders and debtholders, and (iii) shareholders and stakeholders. The most prevalent agency problem is the expropriation of minority shareholders’ rights through ownership pyramids, cross-holdings, or intermediate private firms. Although creditor protection laws limit the expropriation of debtholders’ rights, firms’ widespread use of political connections forces banks to grant cheap credit at favorable terms. Poor stakeholder management creates agency problems following window dressing of ESG disclosures, corporate opacity, and ethnicity-and gender-based discrimination in the workplace. This study shows that social norms and ethical values play a non-negligible role in the functioning of the corporate governance regulation and in corporate culture in Sri Lanka.
... Some scholars believe it is necessary to introduce cultural change to develop a new approach to measurement and communication, including the role of religion as an ethical source, for sustainability reasons. The texts and scripture of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism were studied, and it was suggested that conventional CSR evolved from these religions (Abeydeera et al., 2016;Gelmini, 2017;Raimi et al., 2013). Religious doctrines on philanthropy strengthen CSR compliance and enhance social, accounting, and environmental reporting. ...
Purpose: The aim of the article is to present the role played by ethics and religion in shaping the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the example of Islam. Therefore, this paper focuses on CSR in Islamic companies and attempts to discover whether Islamic countries are a cultural circle where culture and religion are advantageous when developing CSR.
Methodology/approach: A case study was used to determine CSR disclosure in airlines.
Findings: The results showed that ethics and philanthropy were important to CSR disclosure in Islamic companies. Religion in Islamic countries has a huge impact on companies disclosing their philanthropical and ethical activities.
Practical implications: This paper will better enable academics and practitioners to understand CSR problems in Islamic countries. Our research underlines the role of ethics and religion in the context of CSR.
Originality/value: This paper makes an important contribution by highlighting the importance of ethics to CSR in Islam countries and raises the possibility of CSR reporting being adopted in Islamic companies.
... It is necessary to note special importance of the sustainable development concept [25][26][27]. Since the introduction of "sustainable development" term, scientists have formed a separate direction in economic theory and substantiated the meaning and role of sustainable development concept in the territories' socioeconomic management of any level [28][29][30][31]. This concept determines the direction of socio-economic systems' regulatory influence, incorporating social criteria in the formation of economic strategies [32,33]. ...
The purpose of the article is to study the peculiarities of the implementation of regulatory policy on the example of Eastern European countries in the context of sustainable development. The methodological basis of the study is a comprehensive approach to the improvement of the methodology for determining the system of integral indicators of the implementation of the regulatory policy of economic development through the statistical analysis of the determination of the indicators of international ratings of the business environment and the assessment of the determining integral indicators of the regulatory policy according to the criterion of sustainable development. Completing the calculations of the proposed stages of the study made it possible to rank the countries selected for analysis. The article examines the factors of sustainable development of countries that generate a set of indicators of the factor load of the system of economic, social, innovative and infrastructural components based on the results of the implementation of the regulatory policy of the studied countries. The system of directions and measures for increasing efficiency, as well as improving the regulatory policy, which are expedient to implement in order to create conditions for the sustainable development of research objects, are substantiated. Based on the results of the research, it was established that the defining directions of improving regulatory policy in the context of sustainable development of Eastern European countries at the current stage are: increasing competitiveness, increasing economic activity of economic entities, improving public administration and regulatory tools. The proposed measures are aimed at improving the effectiveness of regulatory policy implementation.
... The article Abeydeera et al. (2016) reveals a surprising presence of globalisation and sustainability reporting practices per the institutionalised efforts of different frameworks in international and local cultures. It has also been discovered that corporate representations and the context and culture of working eras aid in implementing sustainability practices. ...
Sustainability reporting is measuring, disclosing, and being accountable to internal and external stakeholders for organizational performance toward sustainable development. Using the Systematic Quantitative Assessment Technique, this study reviewed 100 Sustainability Reporting (SR) articles published over the last decade. The intention is to provide insight into the various actions and progress made by the key participants and stakeholders regarding sustainable development and the quality and currency of sustainable reports from 2011 to 2020. Besides this primary objective, this review also sought to understand these SR articles' time distribution, geographic distribution, types, and data collection methods. A study of empirical evidence revealed that SR had attracted a lot more attention in recent years but what is not very clear is the level of commitment from the various stakeholders. The review also revealed the intertwining nature of the SR and sustainable development, which is further enhanced by adopting a robust accounting system. In this case, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the most acceptable, not without criticism. It is argued that the system does not give room for local realities that are often important in providing solutions to problems.
