Managing the Tensions at the Intersection of the Triple Bottom Line: A Paradox Theory Approach to Sustainability Management

Abstract

Corporate sustainability management encompasses multiple dimensions: environmental, social, and economic. Companies are increasingly evaluated within the public sphere, and within their own organizations, according to the degree to which they are perceived to simultaneously promote this nexus of virtues. This article seeks to explore the tensions frequently faced by organizations that strive to manage these dimensions and the role of public policy in that pursuit. A multiple-case study approach is utilized in which the authors selected case organizations according to whether they were attempting to manage the three dimensions of sustainability. The authors utilize paradox theory and a typology provided by previous research to understand the nature of the tensions that emerge in the selected case study organizations. They extend this previous work by examining the role of public policy in providing the situational conditions to make these paradoxical tensions salient, and they examine organizational responses to these conditions. Directions for firms, policy makers, and future researchers are provided on the basis of this study's findings.

The Dark Side of Stakeholder Reactions to Corporate Social Responsibility: Tensions and Micro‐level Undesirable Outcomes

“…; Ozanne et al . ), but we focus on the performing and belonging tensions, which relate more directly to the stakeholder‐centric, micro‐level focus that we adopt in this paper.…”

Sustainability Tensions in Supply Chains: A Case Study of Paradoxes and Their Management

“…Currently, available papers on sustainability tensions focus on sustainability reporting practices and the link to environmental performance [39], sustainability communication in luxury goods companies [40], the poverty-CO 2 reductions paradox on a national level [41] as well as multi-industry case studies at the intersection of companies and public policy [42]. The latter paper [42] also underlines the crucial role that public policy can play in foregrounding sustainability tensions, which is an important insight in the highly regulated mining industry. No relevant overlap with our focus on tensions in the electronic industry was found.…”

“…The case of Fairphone is also interesting for policy makers, who can support pioneers in changing regional industries towards more sustainable practices [42]. In particular, Fairphone's aspiration for tackling the sustainability challenges in existing SC in the global South is promising in this regard.…”

“…The companies can then still avoid the resolution of tensions due to missing policy actions. In effect, policy makers represent critical enablers for addressing and resolving sustainability tensions [42].…”

“…These factors enable a policy driven enhancement of sustainability as the market pressure is weaker as in more globalized industries. Such a policy towards better working conditions and less environmental pollution could impact the entire electronic industry [42], as all electronic SCs cross China at some point.…”