Title: Sustainability in the hierarchy: how corporate sustainability is anchored in the organisational structure

Authors: Kristine Bryan-Kjær

Addresses: Department of Strategy and Management, Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), Helleveien 30, No – 5045 Bergen, Norway

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to contribute to our understanding of corporate sustainability practice by looking at where and how corporate sustainability is anchored in the organisational structure. An empirical case study finds three main anchors for corporate sustainability: with the board of directors, in the executive management, and in a specialised corporate sustainability unit. Based in case study findings, the article explores how the different anchors practice their corporate sustainability mandates. Directing attention to the different anchor points can increase chances of successfully integrating sustainability into core business practices, a main goal of strategic corporate sustainability. This study contributes to the literature by illuminating where responsibility for corporate sustainability is placed in the organisational structure, and exploring key tasks and practices for each of the anchor points.

Keywords: corporate sustainability; corporate governance and leadership; corporate social responsibility; CSR; business strategy; strategic management; value creation; the business case for CS; organisation; sustainability leadership; sustainability governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCSSR.2017.084300

International Journal of Corporate Strategy and Social Responsibility, 2017 Vol.1 No.2, pp.179 - 192

Received: 03 May 2016
Accepted: 14 Feb 2017
Published online: 24 May 2017 *

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