Erekle Pirveli, Esther Ortiz-Martínez, Salvador Marín-Hernández and Paul Thompson
This study aims to examine how the characteristics of lobbyists – type, size and country of origin – affect the nature of the feedback submitted to the European Commission…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine how the characteristics of lobbyists – type, size and country of origin – affect the nature of the feedback submitted to the European Commission regarding the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.
Design/methodology/approach
This research is grounded in an analysis of 143 public comment letters, encompassing the entire spectrum of feedback received. The authors begin with a content analysis of the directive’s 20 key items to categorize responses, construct a feedback index based on them and then use ordinary least squares, robust and ordered logit regressions.
Findings
This analysis reveals the expanding concept of “users” in sustainability reporting, with active lobbying from both business associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). While the directive is generally well received, concerns arise regarding its broad scope, third-party assurance, forward-looking information and the rushed timeline. Lobbyists’ characteristics play a significant role in shaping their feedback. NGOs show stronger support than business associations, with companies in between. Smaller lobbyists favor simplified disclosures, and notable French support suggests a potential “reversed lobbying” effect, possibly due to the French presidency’s role in shaping the European sustainability reporting framework.
Practical implications
This in-depth content analysis of feedback on the directive provides a comprehensive summary measure that serves as a powerful tool for standard-setters to develop sector-specific sustainability standards.
Social implications
As sustainability reporting gains traction and zero-emission targets grow more urgent, understanding the standard-setting process is increasingly crucial.
Originality/value
This research shifts the focus of lobbying from financial to sustainability reporting. The authors build on regulatory capture and public interest theories by incorporating networking theory and the phenomenon of reversed lobbying to uncover key variations.
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Keywords
Rebecca Chunghee Kim, Hugh Scullion, Mohan V. Avvari, Stefan Jooss and Helal Uddin
The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical perspective on how the COVID-19 crisis shaped inclusive leadership behaviors of global business leaders.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical perspective on how the COVID-19 crisis shaped inclusive leadership behaviors of global business leaders.
Design/methodology/approach
Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the authors analyzed 240 CEO statements in 120 multinational enterprises from six countries (France, India, Japan, South Korea, UK, USA), pre- and mid-COVID-19.
Findings
Results show that CEO emphasis on inclusive leadership increased during the pandemic. More substantively, the authors identify three key behaviors of inclusive leadership – fidelity, calmness and collective resilience.
Originality/value
The authors provide empirical evidence of inclusive leadership behaviors by global business leaders. In doing so, the authors integrate inclusive leadership into societally engaged international business research.
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Shuang Tian, Lin Wu and Kulwant S. Pawar
Characterised by simultaneous food waste and shortages, our current food system is far from sustainable. Industry 4.0 has responded with technology-enabled innovations, including…
Abstract
Purpose
Characterised by simultaneous food waste and shortages, our current food system is far from sustainable. Industry 4.0 has responded with technology-enabled innovations, including digital food-sharing platforms aimed at facilitating the efficient redistribution of surplus food. However, potential users often express reluctance to adopt such platforms, prompting this study to explore the underlying reasons for their hesitations.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was conducted in China, the world’s largest platform economy, where food-sharing platforms are notably absent. Using a vignette-based qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 potential users. The data were analysed through thematic analysis to uncover insights into adoption intentions.
Findings
The findings highlight the relevance of factors identified in existing technology acceptance theories, such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, hedonic motivation, facilitating conditions and price value, in shaping adoption intentions. Additionally, content-specific and context-specific factors – such as trust in other users and the platform, concerns about “losing face” (mianzi) and safety concerns during the pandemic – emerged as critical influences on users' decisions to engage with these platforms.
Originality/value
This study contributes to scholarly discussions on enhancing the effectiveness of new technological innovations for food supply chain sustainability. The theoretical contributions expand the technology acceptance literature by incorporating factors related to platform service content and operating context.
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Chengli Shu and Keeratinun Srimuang
Despite wide awareness of the importance of digital transformation (DT) for emerging market firms, we have limited understanding of the drivers, the process or the outcomes of DT…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite wide awareness of the importance of digital transformation (DT) for emerging market firms, we have limited understanding of the drivers, the process or the outcomes of DT in emerging market firms.
Design/methodology/approach
We conducted a qualitative study on 24 case companies in Thailand and embraced thematic analysis to generate our research findings.
Findings
The framework shows that the DT process in emerging market firms proceeds over three stages—market-opportunity sensing, digital technology acquisition and leading DT—which are driven by technological dynamism, business ties and institutional support. Once DT is successfully implemented, emerging market firms can improve their operational efficiency, customer relationship management, business model innovation and human resources management.
Originality/value
This study thus contributes to the DT literature by offering a three-stage model of DT and identifying important antecedents and consequences of DT, which together specify how emerging market firms transform themselves digitally.