Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Multinational Enterprise Strategies for Addressing Sustainability: the Need for Consolidation

  • Review Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper examines the growing number of publications on multinational enterprise management of sustainability issues. Based on an integrative literature review and thematic analysis, the paper analyses and synthesises the current state of knowledge about main issues arising. Key issues identified include the following: choice of sustainability strategies; management of the views of headquarters towards sustainability; local cultural sustainability perspectives in developed and developing host countries; MNEs with home in developing/emerging countries; and resource availability for implementing sustainability initiatives. Findings indicate that although the literature is tending towards growing acceptance about sustainability and its challenges most researchers have focused on corporate social responsibility and investigate their own niche problem, industry, and country, using their own chosen theory and do not consider the need for consolidation and integration of social, environmental and economic performance. Avenues for future research are identified which will provide a means for the ethical foundations of theory and practice to be improved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguilera-Caracuel, J., Aragón-Correa, J. A., Hurtado-Torres, N. E., & Rugman, A. M. (2012). The effects of institutional distance and headquarters’ financial performance on the generation of environmental standards in multinational companies. Journal of Business Ethics, 105(4), 461–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aguilera-Caracuel, J., Hurtado-Torres, N. E., Aragón-Correa, J. A., & Rugman, A. M. (2013). Differentiated effects of formal and informal institutional distance between countries on the environmental performance of multinational enterprises. Journal of Business Research, 66(12), 2657–2665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altuntas, C., & Turker, D. (2015). Local or global: Analyzing the internationalization of social responsibility of corporate foundations. International Marketing Review, 32(5), 540–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amba-Rao, S. C. (1993). Multinational corporate social responsibility, ethics, interactions and Third World governments: An agenda for the 1990s. Journal of Business Ethics, 12(7), 553–572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arenas, D., & Ayuso, S. (2016). Unpacking transnational corporate responsibility: Coordination mechanisms and orientations. Business Ethics: A European Review, 25(3), 217–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Axinn, C. A., Blair, M. A., Heorhiadi, A., & Thach, S. V. (2004). Comparing ethical ideologies across cultures. Journal of Business Ethics, 54(2), 103–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bansal, P., & Song, H. C. (2017). Similar but not the same: Differentiating corporate sustainability from corporate responsibility. Academy of Management Annals, 11(1), 105–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barkemeyer, R., & Figge, F. (2014). CSR in multiple environments: The impact of headquartering. Critical Perspectives on International Business, 10(3), 124–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barsoum, G., & Refaat, S. (2015). We don’t want school bags. Discourses on corporate social responsibility in Egypt and the challenges of a new practice in a complex setting. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 35(5/6), 390–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartlett, C. A., & Ghoshal, S. (1989). Managing across borders: The transnational solution. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beddewela, E., & Fairbrass, J. (2016). Seeking legitimacy through CSR: Institutional pressures and corporate responses of multinationals in Sri Lanka. Journal of Business Ethics, 136, 503–522.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berliner, D., & Prakash, A. (2014). The United Nations global compact: An institutionalist perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 122(2), 217–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bondy, K., Moon, J., & Matten, D. (2012). An institution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Multi-National Corporations (MNCs): Form and implications. Journal of Business Ethics, 111(2), 281–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bondy, K., & Starkey, K. (2014). The dilemmas of internationalization: Corporate social responsibility in the multinational corporation. British Journal of Management, 25(1), 4–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brammer, S. J., Pavelin, S., & Porter, L. A. (2006). Corporate social performance and geographical diversification. Journal of Business Research, 59(9), 1025–1034.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brenkert, G. G. (2018). Mind the gap! The challenges and limits of (Global) business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3902-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D., & Knudsen, S. J. (2012). Managing corporate responsibility globally and locally: Lessons from a CR leader. Business and Politics, 14(3), 1–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. T., Eden, L., & Miller, S. R. (2012). Multinationals and corporate social responsibility in host countries: Does distance matter? Journal of international business studies, 43(1), 84–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, R. Y. (2010). Corporate environmentalism pursuit by foreign firms competing in China. Journal of World Business, 45(1), 80–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhri, V. A. (2006). Organising global CSR. A case study of Hewlett–Packard’s e-inclusion initiative. Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 23, 39–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S., & Bouvain, P. (2009). Is corporate responsibility converging? A comparison of corporate responsibility reporting in the USA, UK, Australia, and Germany. Journal of Business Ethics, 87(1), 299–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christmann, P. (2004). Multinational companies and the natural environment: Determinants of global environmental policy. Academy of Management Journal, 47(5), 747–760.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christmann, P., & Taylor, G. (2001). Globalization and the environment: Determinants of firm self-regulation in China. Journal of International Business Studies, 32(3), 439–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christopherson, S., & Lillie, N. (2005). Neither global nor standard: Corporate strategies in the new era of labor standards. Environment and Planning A, 37(11), 1919–1938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chudnovsky, D., & Lopez, A. (2003). Diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies by multinational corporations in developing countries. International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development, 2(1), 5–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2017). Thematic analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 297–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz, L. B., & Boehe, D. M. (2010). How do leading retail MNCs leverage CSR globally? Insights from Brazil. Journal of Business Ethics, 91(2), 243–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz, L. B., & Pedrozo, E. A. (2009). Corporate social responsibility and green management: Relation between headquarters and subsidiary in multinational corporations. Management Decision, 47(7), 1174–1199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Chiara, A., & Russo Spena, T. (2011). CSR strategy in multinational firms: Focus on human resources, suppliers and community. Journal of Global Responsibility, 2(1), 60–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de la Cruz Déniz-Déniz, M., & Garcia-Falcon, J. M. (2002). Determinants of the multinationals’ social response. Empirical application to international companies operating in Spain. Journal of Business Ethics, 38(4), 339–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doh, J., Husted, B. W., & Yang, X. (2016). Guest editors’ introduction: Ethics, corporate social responsibility, and developing country multinationals. Business Ethics Quarterly, 26(03), 301–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowell, G., Hart, S., & Yeung, B. (2000). Do corporate global environmental standards create or destroy market value? Management Science, 46(8), 1059–1074.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duran, J. J., & Bajo, N. (2014). Institutions as determinant factors of corporate responsibility strategies of multinational firms. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 21(6), 301–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dyllick, T., & Hockerts, K. (2002). Beyond the business case for corporate sustainability. Business Strategy and the Environment, 11(2), 130–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, M., & Roy, M. J. (1998). Managing corporate environmental performance: A multinational perspective. European Management Journal, 16(3), 284–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, M. J., & Roy, M. J. (2007). Implementing a corporate environmental strategy: Establishing coordination and control within multinational companies. Business Strategy and the Environment, 16(6), 389–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Escobar, L. F., & Vredenburg, H. (2011). Multinational oil companies and the adoption of sustainable development: A resource-based and institutional theory interpretation of adoption heterogeneity. Journal of Business Ethics, 98(1), 39–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Famiola, M., & Adiwoso, S. A. (2016). Corporate social responsibility diffusion by multinational subsidiaries in Indonesia: Organisational dynamic and institutional effect. Social Responsibility Journal, 12(1), 117–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Figge, F., Hahn, T., Schaltegger, S., & Wagner, M. (2002). The sustainability balanced scorecard–linking sustainability management to business strategy. Business strategy and the Environment, 11(5), 269–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filatotchev, I., & Stahl, G. K. (2015). Towards transnational CSR. Corporate social responsibility approaches and governance solutions for multinational corporations. Organizational Dynamics, 44(2), 121–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forcadell, F. J., & Aracil, E. (2017). Sustainable banking in Latin American developing countries: Leading to (mutual) prosperity. Business Ethics: A European Review, 26(4), 382–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fortanier, F., Kolk, A., & Pinske, J. (2011). Harmonization in CSR reporting: MNEs and Global standards. Management International Review, 51, 665–696.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garriga, E., & Melé, D. (2004). Corporate social responsibility theories: Mapping the territory. Journal of Business Ethics, 53(1), 51–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gifford, B., Kestler, A., & Anand, S. (2010). Building local legitimacy into corporate social responsibility: Gold mining firms in developing nations. Journal of World Business, 45(3), 304–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gond, J. P., Grubnic, S., Herzig, C., & Moon, J. (2012). Configuring management control systems: Theorizing the integration of strategy and sustainability. Management Accounting Research, 23(3), 205–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gruber, V., & Schlegelmilch, B. B. (2015). MNEs’ regional headquarters and their CSR agenda in the African context. International Marketing Review, 32(5), 576–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hah, K., & Freeman, S. (2014). Multinational enterprise subsidiaries and their CSR: A conceptual framework of the management of CSR in smaller emerging economies. Journal of Business Ethics, 122(1), 125–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haugh, H. M., & Talwar, A. (2010). How do corporations embed sustainability across the organization? Academy of Management Learning and Education, 9(3), 384–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayward, R., Lee, J., Keeble, J., McNamara, R., Hall, C., & Cruse, S. (2013). The UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study on Sustainability 2013: Architects of a Better World. Retrieved January 17, 2018 from https://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/news_events/8.1/UNGC_Accenture_CEO_Study_2013.pdf.

  • Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Beverly-Hills: SAGE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hörisch, J., Burritt, R. L., Christ, K. L., & Schaltegger, S. (2017). Legal systems, internationalization and corporate sustainability. An empirical analysis of the influence of national and international authorities. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 17(5), 861–875.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • House, R. J., Hanges, P. J., Javidan, M., Dorfman, P., & Gupta, V. (2004). Culture, leadership and organisations: The GLOBE Study of 62 Societies. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huemer, L. (2010). Corporate social responsibility and multinational corporation identity: Norwegian strategies in the Chilean aquaculture industry. Journal of Business Ethics, 91(2), 265–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Husted, B. W. (2005). Culture and ecology: A cross-national study of the determinants of environmental sustainability. Management International Review, 45, 271–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Husted, B. W., & Allen, D. B. (2006). Corporate social responsibility in the multinational enterprise: Strategic and institutional approaches. Journal of International Business Studies, 37(6), 838–849.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Husted, B. W., Montiel, I., & Christmann, P. (2016). Effects of local legitimacy on certification decisions to global and national CSR standards by multinational subsidiaries and domestic firms. Journal of International Business Studies, 47(3), 382–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ilhan-Nas, T., Koparan, E., & Okan, T. (2015). The effects of the CSR isomorphism on both CSP and CFP. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 9(3), 251–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain, R., & De Moya, M. (2013). Global, local, or glocal: Investigating CSR strategies of best corporate citizens in India. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 7(3), 207–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamali, D. (2010). The CSR of MNC subsidiaries in developing countries: Global, local, substantive or diluted? Journal of Business Ethics, 93(2), 181–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolk, A. (2010). Social and sustainability dimensions of regionalization and (semi) globalization. Multinational Business Review, 18(1), 51–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolk, A. (2016). The social responsibility of international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainable development. Journal of World Business, 51(1), 23–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolk, A., & Fortanier, F. (2013). Internationalization and environmental disclosure: the role of home and host institutions. Multinational Business Review, 21(1), 87–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolk, A., & Levy, D. (2004). Multinationals and global climate change: issues for the automotive and oil industries. In Lundan, S. M. (Ed.), Multinationals, environment and global competition (Research in global strategic management) (pp. 171–193). Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

  • Kolk, A., & Perego, P. (2010). Determinants of the adoption of sustainability assurance statements: An international investigation. Business Strategy and the Environment, 19(3), 182–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolk, A., & van Tulder, R. (2010). International business, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. International Business Review, 19(2), 119–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kourula, A., Pisani, N., & Kolk, A. (2017). Corporate sustainability and inclusive development: Highlights from international business and management research. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 24, 14–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacy, P., Haines, A., & Hayward, R. (2012). Developing strategies and leaders to succeed in a new era of sustainability: Findings and insights from the United Nations Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study. Journal of Management Development, 31(4), 346–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam, M. L.-L. (2009). Beyond credibility of doing business in China: Strategies for improving corporate citizenship of foreign multinational enterprises in China. Journal of Business Ethics, 87(1), 137–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam, M. L.-L. (2011). Challenges of sustainable environmental programs of foreign multinational enterprises in China. Management Research Review, 34(11), 1153–1168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemke, F., & Luzio, J. P. P. (2014). ‘Exploring Green Consumers’ Mind-Set toward Green Product Design and Life Cycle Assessment. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 18(5), 619–630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linnenluecke, M. K., & Griffiths, A. (2013). Firms and sustainability: Mapping the intellectual origins and structure of the corporate sustainability field. Global Environmental Change, 23(1), 382–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maak, T., & Pless, N. M. (2006). Responsible leadership in a stakeholder society—A relational perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 66(1), 99–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Málovics, G., Nagypál Csigéné, N., & Kraus, S. (2008). The role of corporate social responsibility in strong sustainability. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 37(3), 907–918.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marano, V., & Kostova, T. (2016). Unpacking the institutional complexity in adoption of CSR practices in multinational enterprises. Journal of Management Studies, 53(1), 28–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marano, V., Tashman, P., & Kostova, T. (2017). Escaping the iron cage: Liabilities of origin and CSR reporting of emerging market multinational enterprises. Journal of International Business Studies, 48(3), 386–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matten, D., & Crane, A. (2005). Corporate citizenship: Toward an extended theoretical conceptualization. Academy of Management Review, 30(1), 166–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meho, L. I., & Yang, K. (2007). Impact of data sources on citation counts and rankings of LIS faculty: Web of Science versus Scopus and Google Scholar. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 58(13), 2105–2125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miska, C., Hilbe, C., & Mayer, S. (2014). Reconciling different views on responsible leadership: A rationality-based approach. Journal of Business Ethics, 125, 349–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miska, C., Stahl, G. K., & Mendenhall, M. E. (2016). Intercultural competencies as antecedents of responsible global leadership. European Journal of International Management, 7(5), 550–569.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miska, C., Szőcs, I., & Schiffinger, M. (2018). Culture’s effects on corporate sustainability practices: A multi-domain and multi-level view. Journal of World Business, 53, 263–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miska, C., Witt, M. A., & Stahl, G. K. (2016). Drivers of global CSR integration and local CSR responsiveness: Evidence from Chinese MNEs. Business Ethics Quarterly, 26(3), 317–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morand, M., & Rayman-Bacchus, L. (2006). Think global, act local: Corporate social responsibility management in multinational companies. Social Responsibility Journal, 2(3/4), 261–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muller, A. (2006). Global versus local CSR strategies. European Management Journal, 24(2), 189–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neuman, W. L. (2006). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Boston: Pearson Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orlitzky, M., Schmidt, F. L., & Rynes, S. L. (2003). Corporate social and financial performance: A meta-analysis. Organization Studies, 24(3), 403–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, B. I., & Ghauri, P. N. (2015). Determinants influencing CSR practices in small and medium sized MNE subsidiaries: A stakeholder perspective. Journal of World Business, 50(1), 192–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, Y.-R., Song, S., Choe, S., & Baik, Y. (2015). Corporate social responsibility in international business: Illustrations from Korean and Japanese Electronics MNEs in Indonesia. Journal of Business Ethics, 129(3), 747–761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng, Y.-S., & Lin, S.-S. (2008). Local responsiveness pressure, subsidiary resources, green management adoption and subsidiary’s performance: Evidence from Taiwanese manufactures. Journal of Business Ethics, 79(1–2), 199–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, M. M., & Amatucci, M. (2014). Local and global influences on the social responsibility performance of multinational corporations in the Brazilian automotive industry. International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 14(2), 121–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinkse, J., & Kolk, A. (2012). Multinational enterprises and climate change: Exploring institutional failures and embeddedness. Journal of International Business Studies, 43(3), 332–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinkse, J., Kuss, M. J., & Hoffmann, V. H. (2010). On the implementation of a ‘global’ environmental strategy: The role of absorptive capacity. International Business Review, 19(2), 160–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pisani, N., Kourula, A., Kolk, A., & Meijer, R. (2017). How global is international CSR research? Insights and recommendations from a systematic review. Journal of World Business, 52(5), 591–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pless, N. M., & Maak, T. (2011). Responsible leadership: Pathways to the future. In Responsible Leadership (pp. 3–13). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pless, N. M., Maak, T., & Waldman, D. A. (2012). Different approaches toward doing the right thing: Mapping the responsibility orientations of leaders. Academy of Management Perspectives, 26(4), 51–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preuss, L., Barkemeyer, R., & Glavas, A. (2016). Corporate social responsibility in developing country multinationals: identifying company and country-level influences. Business Ethics Quarterly, 26(3), 347–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasche, A., & Waddock, S. (2014). Global Sustainability governance and the UN global compact: A rejoinder to critics. Journal of Business Ethics, 122(2), 209–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rathert, N. (2016). Strategies of legitimation: MNEs and the adoption of CSR in response to host-country institutions. Journal of International Business Studies, 47(7), 858–879.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, C. D., & Hamann, R. (2018). Distance makes the (committed) heart grow colder: MNEs’ responses to the state logic in African variants of CSR. Business and Society, 57(3), 562–594.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reimann, F., Rauer, J., & Kaufmann, L. (2015). MNE subsidiaries’ strategic commitment to CSR in emerging economies: the role of administrative distance, subsidiary size, and experience in the host country. Journal of Business Ethics, 132(4), 845–857.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rockström, J., Steffen, W., Noone, K., Persson, A., Chapin, F. S., Lambin, E. F., Lenton, T. M., Scheffer, M., Folke, C., Schellnhuber, H. J., Nykvist, B., de Wit, C. A., Hughes, T., van der Leeuw, S., Rodhe, H., Sorlin, S., Snyder, P. K., Costanza, R., Svedin, U., Falkenmark, M., Karlberg, L., Corell, R. W., Fabry, V. J., Hansen, J., Walker, B., Liverman, D., Richardson, K., Crutzen, P., & Foley, J. A. (2009). A safe operating space for humanity. Nature 461(7263), 472–475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruud, A. (2002). Environmental management of transnational corporations in India—Are TNCs creating islands of environmental excellence in a sea of dirt? Business Strategy and the Environment, 11(2), 103–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salzmann, O., Ionescu-Somers, A., & Steger, U. (2005). The business case for corporate sustainability: Literature review and research options. European Management Journal, 23(1), 27–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S. (2011). Sustainability as a driver for corporate economic success: Consequences for the development of sustainability management control. Society and Economy, 33(1), 15–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R. (2018). Business cases and corporate engagement with sustainability. Exploring ethical motivations. Journal of Business Ethics, 147(2), 241–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S., Beckmann, M., & Hockerts, K. (2018). Collaborative entrepreneurship for sustainability. Creating solutions in light of the UN sustainable development goals. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 10(2), 131–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S., Burritt, R., Zvezdov, D., Hörisch, J., & Tingey-Holyoak, J. (2015). Management roles and sustainability information. Exploring corporate practice. Australian Accounting Review, 25(4), 328–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S., & Burritt, R. L. (2005). Corporate sustainability. In H. Folmer & T. Tietenberg (Eds.), The international yearbook of environmental and resource economics 2005/2006. A survey of current issues (pp. 185–222). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S., & Burritt, R. L. (2010). Sustainability accounting for companies: Catchphrase or decision support for business leaders? Journal of World Business, 45(4), 375–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaltegger, S. & Hörisch, J. (2017). In search of the dominant rationale in sustainability management. Legitimacy- or profit-seeking? Journal of Business Ethics, 145(2), 259–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scherer, A. G. (2015). Can hypernorms be justified? Insights from a discourse-ethical perspective. Business Ethics Quarterly, 25(4), 489–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scherer, A. G., & Palazzo, G. (2011). The new political role of business in a globalized world: A review of a new perspective on CSR and its implications for the firm, governance, and democracy. Journal of Management Studies, 48(4), 899–931.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sethi, S. P., & Schepers, D. H. (2014). United Nations global compact: The promise–performance gap. Journal of Business Ethics, 122(2), 193–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah, K. U., & Arjoon, S. (2015). Through thick and thin? How self-determination drives the corporate sustainability initiatives of multinational subsidiaries. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(6), 565–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, D., Hobdari, B., & Oh, C. H. (2018). Natural resources, multinational enterprises and sustainable development. Journal of World Business, 53(1), 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharfman, M. P., Shaft, T. M., & Tihanyi, L. (2004). A model of the global and institutional antecedents of high-level corporate environmental performance. Business and Society, 43(1), 6–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrivastava, P. (1995). The role of corporations in achieving ecological sustainability. Academy of Management Review, 20(4), 936–960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stahl, G. K., Pless, N. M., Maak, T., & Miska, C. (2017). Responsible global leadership. In M. E. Mendenhall, J. S. Osland, A. Bird, G. R. Oddou & M. L. Maynevski (Eds.), Global leadership research, practice, and development (3nd Edition ed.), pp. 363–388). London/New York: Routledge.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Surroca, J., Tribó, J. A., & Zahra, S. A. (2013). Stakeholder pressure on MNEs and the transfer of socially irresponsible practices to subsidiaries. Academy of Management Journal, 56(2), 549–572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, J. (2009). Institutional structure and firm social performance in transitional economies: Evidence of multinational corporations in China. Journal of Business Ethics, 86, 171–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, J., & Wang, L. (2011). MNC strategic responses to ethical pressure: An institutional logic perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 98(3), 373–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatoglu, E., Bayraktar, E., Sahadev, S., Demirbag, M., & Glaister, K. W. (2014). Determinants of voluntary environmental management practices by MNE subsidiaries. Journal of World Business, 49(4), 536–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timur, S., & Getz, D. (2009). Sustainable tourism development: how do destination stakeholders perceive sustainable urban tourism? Sustainable Development, 17, 220–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torraco, R. J. (2005). Writing integrative literature reviews: Guidelines and examples. Human Resource Development Review, 4(3), 356–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torraco, R. J. (2016). Writing integrative literature reviews: Using the past and present to explore the future. Human Resource Development Review, 15(4), 404–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vachon, S. (2010). International operations and sustainable development: Should national culture matter? Sustainable Development, 18(6), 350–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Marrewijk, M. (2003). Concepts and definitions of CSR and corporate sustainability: Between agency and communion. Journal of Business Ethics, 44, 95–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Marrewijk, M., & Werre, M. (2003). Multiple levels of corporate sustainability. Journal of Business Ethics, 44(2), 107–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voegtlin, C., & Pless, N. M. (2014). Global Governance: CSR and the Role of the UN Global Compact. Journal of Business Ethics, 122(2), 179–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, J., Weber, K., & Margolis, J. (2003). Social issues and management: Our lost cause found. Journal of Management, 29(6), 859–881.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weidema, B. P., Pizzol, M., Schmidt, J., & Thoma, G. (2018). Attributional or consequential life cycle assessment: A matter of social responsibility. Journal of Cleaner Production, 174, 305–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weyzig, F. (2009). Political and economic arguments for corporate social responsibility: Analysis and a proposition regarding the CSR Agenda. Journal of Business Ethics, 86(4), 417–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteman, G., Walker, B., & Perego, P. (2013). Planetary boundaries: Ecological foundations for corporate sustainability. Journal of Management Studies, 50(2), 307–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X., & Rivers, C. (2009). Antecedents of CSR practices in MNCs’ subsidiaries: A stakeholder and institutional perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 86(2), 155–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, J., & Jamali, D. (2016). Strategic corporate social responsibility of multinational companies’ subsidiaries in emerging markets: Evidence from China. Long Range Planning, 49(5), 541–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yorks, L. (2008). What we know, what we don’t know, what we need to know—Integrative literature reviews are research. Human Resource Development Review, 7(2), 139–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zyglidopoulos, S., Williamson, P., & Symeou, P. (2016). The corporate social performance of developing country multinationals. Business Ethics Quarterly, 26(3), 379–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was partially funded by the Management Discipline Group Research Grants Scheme, University of Technology Sydney Business School, Sydney, Australia, Grant Number 103010/0210595.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fenner School of Environment and Society, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    Roger Leonard Burritt

  2. Centre for Sustainability Governance, University of South Australia Business School, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia

    Katherine Leanne Christ

  3. UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Hussain Gulzar Rammal

  4. Centre for Sustainability Management, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, C11.311, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany

    Stefan Schaltegger

Authors
  1. Roger Leonard Burritt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katherine Leanne Christ
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hussain Gulzar Rammal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stefan Schaltegger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roger Leonard Burritt.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Professor Roger Burritt declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dr Katherine Christ declares that she has no conflict of interest. Associate Professor Hussain Rammal has received a research Grant from his employing university, the University of Technology Sydney (Number103010/0210595), and has no conflict of interest. Professor Stefan Schaltagger declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Burritt, R.L., Christ, K.L., Rammal, H.G. et al. Multinational Enterprise Strategies for Addressing Sustainability: the Need for Consolidation. J Bus Ethics 164, 389–410 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-4066-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-4066-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation