A Critique on Theoritical Framework for Adoption of Corporate Sustainability Practices: Iintegrating Institutional Motives, Stakeholder Motives, and Managerial Motives

Abstract

Purpose: This literature review seeks to advance knowledge of the area of theories on motivation for corporate sustainability efforts as it has been researched by earlier experts. Corporate sustainability has gained more attention in academics and business since the 1990s. Still, there is a lack of literature in the area of motivational theories for corporate sustainability. This particular review paper offers an analysis of 30 articles from journals covering the area of business and management that were published between 2002 and 2022. The paper provides a summary of the growth of corporate sustainability, as well as various definitions, and theories that have been put into practice to motivate corporate sustainability efforts.
 
 Method: The researcher employed a literature search strategy, drawing from prior review articles, to investigate corporate sustainability theories and related studies by reputable academics. The electronic search focused on business and management publications, using keywords like sustainability and motivating theories for corporate sustainable adoption. The search was limited to the most recent two decades. Each identified work underwent screening to assess its essential relevance to motivational theories of corporate sustainability.
 
 Findings: The results show that the field of corporate sustainability is still developing and that several theories have been employed to measure the motives of corporate sustainability. We believe that despite the similarities and connections between the three theories: institutional theory, stakeholder theory, and managerial motives, they are complementary rather than competing. Most significantly, they can be combined with and connected to corporate sustainability activities to provide a multi-theoretical view of the motivations behind such practices.
 
 Research Implication: This study provides a theoretical framework that can be applied to studies of corporate sustainability, particularly when attempting to understand why organizations motivate to adopt corporate sustainability.
 
 Origonality/Value: This theoretical model can be used as a conceptual foundation for empirical research on the drivers of corporate sustainability initiatives in a variety of settings. To gain a deeper comprehension of corporate sustainability adoption, it makes an effort to gain valuable insights into more than one single theory.