Abstract
The foundation of sustainability science is the effort to understand the fundamental interactions between nature and society, and to guide these interactions along sustainable trajectories (Miller et al. Sustain Sci 9(2):240–246, 2014). More importantly, sustainability science aims at creating knowledge needed to improve relevancy and quality of sustainability decision-making processes through broader representation of knowledge and values. This study contributes to the sustainability science literature in the areas of strategic planning and decision-making. Both the values and the role of decision-making science in promoting sustainability are examined through the design of a strategic framework and application of a graphical multi-agent decision-making model (GMADM). This approach allows for analysis, valuation, and ranking of potential sustainability initiatives according to their projected benefits and gains for organizations and for society. The model is structured on three interrelated pillars: (I) stakeholder views and concerns (government, industry, academic institutions); (II) sustainable development trends and requirements (World Bank data); and (III) valuations of the benefits expected from sustainability efforts. The framework is applied to case studies of Shandong and Guangdong provinces in China. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of data obtained from three groups of stakeholders in each province confirmed the utility of the proposed decision-making approach for promoting sustainable transition in China. Results also demonstrated the convenience and effectiveness of the proposed framework for guiding organizations’ efforts toward optimizing their sustainability initiatives while supporting regional economic growth and sustainable development policies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albareda L, Lozano JM, Ysa T (2007) Public policies on corporate social responsibility: the role of governments in Europe. J Bus Ethics 74(4):391–407
Anderson MW, Teisl M, Noblet C (2012) Giving voice to the future in sustainability: retrospective assessment to learn prospective stakeholder engagement. Ecol Econ 84:1–6
Amaeshi KM, Crane A (2006) Stakeholder engagement: a mechanism for sustainable aviation. Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manag 13(5):245–260
Azapagic A (2003) Systems approach to corporate sustainability: a general management framework. Process Saf Environ Prot 81(5):303–316
Beloff B, Tanzil D (2013) Key business metrics that drive sustainability into the organization. Treatise Sustain Sci Eng. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 139–151
Bettencourt LM, Kaur J (2011) Evolution and structure of sustainability science. Proc Natl Acad Sci 108(49):19540–19545
Bieluch KH, Bell KP, Teisl MF, Lindenfeld LA, Leahy J, Silka L (2016) Transdisciplinary research partnerships in sustainability science: an examination of stakeholder participation preferences. Sustain Sci 12(1):87–104
Bossel H (1999) Indicators for sustainable development: theory, method, applications. International Institute for Sustainable Development, Winnipeg, pp 1–124
Buhmann K (2006) Corporate social responsibility in China: current issues and their relevance for implementation of law. Cph J Asian Stud 22(1):62–91
Burke L, Logsdon JM (1996) How corporate social responsibility pays off. Long Range Plan 29(4):495–502
Carbone V, Moatti V, Vinzi VE (2012) Mapping corporate responsibility and sustainable supply chains: an exploratory perspective. Bus Strategy Environ 21(7):475–494
Clarkson ME (1995) A stakeholder framework for analyzing and evaluating corporate social performance. Acad Manag Rev 20(1):92–117
Cundy AB, Bardos RP, Church A, Puschenreiter M, Friesl-Hanl W, Müller I, Vangronsveld J et al (2013) Developing principles of sustainability and stakeholder engagement for “gentle” remediation approaches: the European context. J Environ Manage 129:283–291
Dasgupta PA, Duraiappah S, Managi E, Barbier R, Collins B, Fraumeni H, Liu Gundimeda G, Mumford J (2015) How to measure sustainable progress. Science 13(35):748
de Gooyert V, Rouwette E, van Kranenburg H, Freeman E, Van Breen H (2016) Sustainability transition dynamics: towards overcoming policy resistance. Technol Forecast Soc Change 111:135–145
de la Fuente A, Armengou J, Pons O, Aguado A (2017) Multi-criteria decision-making model for assessing the sustainability index of wind-turbine support systems: application to a new precast concrete alternative. J Civil Eng Manag 23(2):194–203
Dinda S (2004) Environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis: a survey. Ecol Econ 49(4):431–455
Donaldson T (1982) Corporations and morality. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs
Duraiappah AK, Muñoz P (2012) Inclusive wealth: a tool for the United Nations. Environ Dev Econ 17(03):362–367
Freeman RE (1984) Stakeholder management: framework and philosophy. Pitman, Mansfield
Frynas JG (2005) The false developmental promise of corporate social responsibility: evidence from multinational oil companies. Int Aff 81(3):581–598
Galbreath J (2010) Drivers of corporate social responsibility: the role of formal strategic planning and firm culture. Br J Manag 21(2):511–525
Goodland R (2005) Strategic environmental assessment and the World Bank Group. Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol 12(3):245–255
Gray B, Stites J (2013) Sustainability through partnerships: capitalizing on collaboration. Network for business sustainability. Reterived from http://nbs.net/knowledge/
Gasparatos A, Scolobig A (2012) Choosing the most appropriate sustainability assessment tool. Ecol Econ 80:1–7
Harrison JS, Bosse DA (2013) How much is too much? The limits to generous treatment of stakeholders. Bus Horiz 56(3):313–322
Hou S, Li L (2014) Reasoning and differences between CSR theory and practice in China, the United States and Europe. J Int Bus Ethics 7(1):19
Jang YJ, Zheng T, Bosselman R (2017) Top managers’ environmental values, leadership, and stakeholder engagement in promoting environmental sustainability in the restaurant industry. Int J Hosp Manag 63:101–111
Jamali D (2008) Stakeholder approach to corporate social responsibility: a fresh perspective into theory and practice. J Bus Ethics 82:213–231
Jamali D, Mirshak R (2007) Corporate social responsibility (CSR): theory and practice in a developing country context. J Bus Ethics 72(3):243–262
Jamali D, Lund-Thomsen P, Jeppesen S (2015) SMEs and CSR in developing countries. Bus Soc 56(1):11–22
Kates R (2000) Sustainability science. In: Presentation at world academies conference: transition to sustainability in 21st century, Tokyo
Kolk A, Hong P, Van DW (2010) Corporate social responsibility in China: an analysis of domestic and foreign retailers’ sustainability dimensions. Bus Strategy Environ 19(5):289–303
Lachman DA (2013) A survey and review of approaches to study transitions. Energy Policy 58:269–276
Lang DJ, Wiek A, Bergmann M, Stauffacher M, Martens P, Moll P, Thomas CJ et al (2012) Transdisciplinary research in sustainability science: practice, principles, and challenges. Sustain Sci 7(1):25–43
Lattemann C, Fetscherin M, Alon I, Li S, Schneider AM (2009) CSR communication intensity in Chinese and Indian multinational companies. Corp Gov Int Rev 17(4):426–442
Lee BX, Kjaerulf F, Turner S, Cohen L, Donnelly PD, Muggah R, Davis R, Realini A, Kieselbach B, MacGregor LS, Waller I (2016) Transforming our world: implementing the 2030 agenda through sustainable development goal indicators. J Public Health Policy 37(1):13–31
Levinen M (2008) China’s CSR expectations mature with PRC stock exchanges and agencies issuing regulations on corporate social responsibility (CSR), businesses in China have new incentives to implement CSR programs. http://chinabusinessreview.com
Lieberman MB, Garcia-Castro R, Balasubramanian N (2016) Measuring value creation and appropriation in firms: the VCA model. Strategic Manag J 38:1193–1211
Lin L (2010) Corporate social responsibility in China: window dressing or structural change. Berkeley J Int Law 28(1):64–100
Lund-Thomsen P, Nadvi K (2010) Global value chains, local collective action and corporate social responsibility: a review of empirical evidence. Bus Strategy Environ 19(1):1–13
Luo S (2011) Corporate social responsibilities (CSR) in China: evidence from manufacturing in Guangdong province. Doctoral dissertation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: Hong Kong
Maon F, Lindgreen A, Swaen V (2009) Designing and implementing corporate social responsibility: an integrative framework grounded in theory and practice. J Bus Ethics 87(1):71–89
Mazurkiewicz P (2004) Corporate environmental responsibility: is a common CSR framework possible? World Bank, 2
McWilliams A, Siegel D (2001) Corporate social responsibility: a theory of the firm perspective. Acad Manag Rev 26(1):117–127
Miller TR (2013) Constructing sustainability science: emerging perspectives and research trajectories. Sustain Sci 8:279–293. doi:10.1007/s11625-012-0180-6
Miller TR, Wiek A, Sarewitz D, Robinson J, Olsson L, Kriebel D, Loorbach D (2014) The future of sustainability science: a solutions-oriented research agenda. Sustain Sci 9(2):240–246
Managi S (2017) The wealth of nations and regions. Routledge, New York
Martin S, Brannigan J, Hall A (2005) Sustainability, systems thinking and professional practice. J Geogr High Educ 29(1):79–89
Moeller HG (2011) Luhmann explained: from souls to systems. Open Court, Chicago and Lasalle, IL. http://www.opencourtbooks.com/
Moon J, Shen X (2010) CSR in China research: salience, focus and nature. J Bus Ethics 94(4):613–629
Moran P, Ghoshal S (1996) Value creation by firms. Acad Manag Proc 1:41–45
Nguyen NC, Bosch OJ (2013) A systems thinking approach to identify leverage points for sustainability: a case study in the Cat Ba biosphere reserve, Vietnam. Syst Res Behav Sci 2(30):104–115
Onat NC, Kucukvar M, Halog, A, Cloutier S (2017) Systems thinking for life cycle sustainability assessment: a review of recent developments, applications, and future perspectives. Sustainability 9(5):706
Paraschivescu A, Bontas D, Radu CE, Caprioara MF (2011) The sustainability science: challenge for an education for sustainable development. In: Proceedings of the 5th WSEAS international conference on waste management, water pollution, air pollution, indoor climate (WWAI ‘11), Iasi, pp 1–3
Porter TB (2008) Managerial applications of corporate social responsibility and systems thinking for achieving sustainability outcomes. Syst Res Behav Sci 25(3):397–411
Ramos TB (2009) Development of regional sustainability indicators and the role of academia in this process: the Portuguese practice. J Clean Prod 17(12):1101–1115
Rives F, Antona M, Aubert S (2012) Social-ecological functions and vulnerability framework to analyze forest policy reforms. Ecol Soc 17(4):21
Salter J, Robinson J, Wiek A (2010) Participatory methods of integrated assessment—a review. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Clim Change 1(5):697–717
Schmidheiny S (2006) Turning point: a view of corporate citizenship in Latin America. J Corp Citizsh 2006(21):21–24
Shuaib M, Seevers D, Zhang X, Badurdeen F, Rouch KE, Jawahir IS (2014) Product sustainability index (ProdSI). J Ind Ecol 18(4):491–507
Siche JR, Agostinho F, Ortega E, Romeiro A (2008) Sustainability of nations by indices: comparative study between environmental sustainability index, ecological footprint and the emergy performance indices. Ecol Econ 66(4):628–637
Sloan P (2009) Redefining stakeholder engagement: from control to collaboration. J Corp Citizsh (36):25–40
Srdjevic Z, Srdjevic B (2017) An extension of the sustainability index definition in water resources planning and management. Water Resour Manag 31(5):1695–1712
Stehr N (1994) Knowledge societies. Wiley, New York
Steurer R, Langer ME, Konrad A, Martinuzzi A (2005) Corporations, stakeholders and sustainable development I: a theoretical exploration of business–society relations. J Bus Ethics 61(3):263–281
Sughra G, Crowther D (2015) Do CSR determinants stimulate profits: Analysis of retail companies in UK. In: Sustainability after Rio (developments in corporate governance and responsibility), vol 8. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingly, UK, pp 123–140
Thatchenkery T, Avital M, Cooperrider DL (2010) Introduction to positive design and appreciative construction: from sustainable development to sustainable value. In: Positive design and appreciative construction: from sustainable development to sustainable value. Advances in Apreciative Inquiry. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, UK, pp 1–14
Thiry G, Roman P (2014) The inclusive wealth index. A sustainability indicator, really? Working Papers, HAL
Tompkins EL, Few R, Brown K (2008) Scenario-based stakeholder engagement: incorporating stakeholders preferences into coastal planning for climate change. J Environ Manag 88(4):1580–1592
Trapp L (2014) Stakeholder involvement in CSR strategy-making? Clues from sixteen Danish companies. Public Relat Rev 40(1):42–49
Van Marrewijk M (2003) Concepts and definitions of CSR and corporate sustainability: between agency and communion. J Bus Ethics 44(2–3):95–105
Walker B, Pearson L, Harris M, Maler KG, Li CZ, Biggs R, Baynes T (2010) Incorporating resilience in the assessment of inclusive wealth: an example from South East Australia. Environ Resour Econ 45(2):183–202
Walker D, Becker C (2016) Sustainability design: lessons from designing a “ Green Map”. Atlantis Press
Watson R, Wilson HN, Smart P, Macdonald EK (2017) Harnessing difference: a capability-based framework for stakeholder engagement in environmental innovation. J Product Innov Manag. doi:10.1111/jpim.12394
Welford RJ (1998) Editorial: corporate environmental management, technology and sustainable development: postmodern perspectives and the need for a critical research agenda. Bus Strategy Environ 7(1):1–12
Williams S, Schaefer A (2013) Small and medium-sized enterprises and sustainability: managers’ values and engagement with environmental and climate change issues. Bus Strategy Environ 22(3):173–186
Xun J (2013) Corporate social responsibility in China: a preferential stakeholder model and effects. Bus Strategy Environ 22(7):471–483
Yarime M, Trencher G, Mino T, Scholz RW, Olsson L, Ness B, Rotmans J et al (2012) Establishing sustainability science in higher education institutions: towards an integration of academic development, institutionalization, and stakeholder collaborations. Sustain Sci 7:101–113
Youguo Z (2010) Economic development pattern change impact on china’s carbon intensity. Econ Res J 4:120–133
Yu X, Xu Z (2012) Graph-based multi-agent decision making. Int J Approx Reason 53(4):502–512
Web References
International Institute for Sustainable Development http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/sustainabledevelopment. 7 July 2017
National Bureau of Statistics of China. Statistical Data http://www.stats.gov.cn/english 7 July 2017
WDI Excel File. http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators. 7 July 2017
Wikipedia (2016) China Regions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_and_southern_China. 7 July 2016
World Bank Indicators Group List. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator?tab=all. 7 July 2017
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank participants in the survey for their contributions towards and participation in discussions regarding the topics in the article. The authors are also acknowledging the great work done by Ms. Ying Zhang, Mr. Xike Cheng, and Mr. Yilong Luo during data collection in China.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Handled by Shunsuke Managi,Tohoku University, Japan.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Khalili, N.R., Cheng, W. & McWilliams, A. A methodological approach for the design of sustainability initiatives: in pursuit of sustainable transition in China. Sustain Sci 12, 933–956 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-017-0463-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-017-0463-z