Empowering Women on Boards: Gender Quotas and Waste Generation

The <scp>SDGs</scp>: A change agenda shaping the future of business and humanity at large

In business environment, corporate social and environmental responsibility is becoming increasingly an important issue. In today's world there are many components to consider when managing corporate social and environmental responsibility. The most dangerous are: air, water and soil toxifcation, climate change, exhaustion of resources (oil, water, forests), destruction of biological diversity and extermination of animal and plant species, environmental noise pollution, unmanaged waste; which overcome the potential of nature to purify and renew itself. There is no recipe for actualizing corporate social and environmental responsibility. However, the companies should be aware of this fact and accordingly, we may observe that the long term survival in the 21st century depends on wise leaders of companies and learning organizations who would manage CSR and environmental responsibility as an imperative. It is important to take into account philosophical aspect of such kind of managing, where the main questions are: what is the responsibility of the companies that generate long-term competitive advantage and what is type of implication of such success on the environment, society and the consumers. By adopting social and environmental responsible practices, company achieves better performance, reputation and overall commitment. It generally has a positive effect on company‘s support for the environment, adoption of corporate environmental responsibility and green practices. Governmental support strongly creates the effect of green management and encourages policies that are supported by financial aid and technical resources. The meaning of a corporate social and environmental responsibility concept of companies is a conscious ethical investment based on innovations and moral upgrading of managing. Such approach can be seen as an investment for sustainable value creation. The main aim is long term gain. The great social capital and environmental safety can be obtained through such kind of managing approach. It is important to underline that high and middle management can upgrade their ethical approach by managing corporate social and environmental responsibility with high integrity and deep respect for the environment, in order to avoid irreparable form of exploitation. That is the new way of doing business by implementing the understanding for specific needs of different environments, which involves elaborating the new responsible business models. It can be concluded that responsible development of sustainable innovations has to be done in order to respect positive socio-economic, ethical, political and environmental features and differences. Traditional, PR-seeking corporate and environmental responsibility is no longer enough in 21st century, because the paradigm of human survival is inseparable from our global ecosystem. Proactive corporate social and environmental responsibility jointly brings harmony to the whole society.

ABSTRACTThis study addresses the question of whether a critical mass of female directors positively contributes to corporate social responsibility (CSR) outcomes. Based on stakeholder‐agency and critical mass theories, a structured literature review of 92 archival critical mass studies on the impact of board gender diversity (BGD) on CSR performance and reporting was conducted. Separating absolute and relative measures of critical mass, country‐specific studies were also grouped according to board structures and board gender quotas of respective regimes. The review indicates a positive impact of at least three female directors on CSR outcomes. This relates to cross‐country studies as well as to countries with a one‐tier system. Interestingly, the positive relationship between at least three women on boards and CSR relates to countries with voluntary and mandatory board gender quotas. To the best of our knowledge, this paper presents the first literature review with a focus on critical mass theory in BGD and CSR, as it structures the main variables that have been recognized in prior studies, stresses key research gaps, and presents major recommendations for future research. Among others, future studies should address potential moderators and recognize interactions with other board characteristics. The study is also highly relevant for regulatory bodies and business practice to recognize a critical mass of female directors for listed companies.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a first impact assessment of the Italian quota law in order to explore whether “gender equality by law” contributes to redefining, albeit in part, consolidating and establishing positions of power and decision making. The paper analyses these dynamics by focusing on a specific economic sector, the banking sector. The analysis strives to determine: whether binding quotas are giving rise to an apparent enforcement by building up new distortionary equilibria (such as new forms of horizontal segregation); what extent the financial crisis has impacted on the rhetoric of female representation, and whether it has pushed towards a “regenerative” organizational change aimed at achieving a more inclusive and egalitarian image.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is organized as follows. Section 2 reviews the theoretical and empirical debate on gender diversity and quota impact. Section 3 reports macro and micro data on the italian system; Section 4 describes the Italian banking system and gives a first impact assessment on Italian banks of the mandatory gender quotas in Italy (the so-called “Golfo-Mosca law,” named after MPs who proposed the law); some qualitative considerations are carried out on the reactions of Italian banks to the financial crisis in terms of “bridge policies” aimed at corresponding to a higher demand of customer satisfaction and fairness. Section 5 concludes and summarizes the finding of the study.FindingsThe Italian banking system is not so dramatically ranked among the EU countries as in the recent past. The gender rebalance in management bodies could be considered rather satisfying. If we compare ten-year-old findings, the number of women on board of directors has tripled. But data clearly show a dichotomy due to significant differences between listed and non-listed banks. In non-listed banks, women are still relegated to an under-represented position, reaching only 13 percent on boards of directors (as against 33 percent in listed banks). The data confirm the results found in non-financial sector that women are significantly better represented on audit boards. In accordance with all previous studies, no relevant changes can be noticed on key-decision roles: no CEOs or Directors general are women in listed banks, and women are always more represented in non-executive functions.Originality/valueThe paper analyses the law experience in Italy as a significant case study by proving that rules such as temporary binding gender quotas (introduced by law in 2011) can be useful, but not always enough to remove blocking or distortive factors in organizational ladders.

Corporate governance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are integral components of sustainability in the oil and gas industry, shaping the sector's environmental and social impact. This review explores current trends, challenges, and best practices in corporate governance and CSR for sustainability within the oil and gas sector. The review examines how corporate governance frameworks influence CSR strategies, highlighting the importance of board oversight and stakeholder engagement in driving sustainable practices. It also delves into the evolving role of oil and gas companies in addressing environmental concerns, such as climate change and resource depletion, through CSR initiatives and transparent reporting. Challenges faced by the industry, such as regulatory complexity, stakeholder expectations, and balancing short-term profitability with long-term sustainability, are analyzed. The review underscores the need for robust governance structures and effective CSR programs to navigate these challenges and maintain social license to operate. Best practices in corporate governance and CSR are explored, emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainability into core business strategies. Case studies illustrate successful approaches to CSR implementation, showcasing how companies can create shared value for stakeholders while driving positive environmental and social outcomes. In conclusion, the review calls for a proactive and holistic approach to corporate governance and CSR in the oil and gas industry. It advocates for increased transparency, stakeholder engagement, and alignment of CSR efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to enhance sustainability and mitigate risks in the sector.

PurposeThe corporate communications literature recently focused on corporate board gender diversity, specifically looking at two central aspects: gender quotas and equitable target percentages for women on corporate boards. This paper extends the debate by focusing on board gender diversity and critical mass theory.Design/methodology/approachThe paper gives a conceptual viewpoint on the issues raised in the literature on board gender diversity through a critical mass theory lens.FindingsFollowing the 2022 European Union (EU) directive, all EU member states will have to attain a 40% women representation on large corporate boards to achieve board gender diversity and what has been termed a “critical mass”. However, the literature indicates that gender diversity benefits may not be achieved if a critical mass is not composed of independent women directors who create a voice that produces a collective action. The authors highlight why a critical mass may not be achieved. The inconsistency in prior research linking corporate board gender diversity to economic performance may result from the critical mass of women directors not reflecting an independent collective action. However, as gender-diverse boards evolve, the authors argue that women will not just be seen as female directors but will be accepted on equal terms with their male counterparts and have an equal voice; gender will no longer be an issue and critical mass theory may then become irrelevant.Practical implicationsFrom a corporate communications perspective, this study will focus the minds of human resources (HR) professionals on the importance of the composition of women on corporate boards if the HR professionals wish to obtain the full potential benefits of board gender diversity. Theoretically, this study highlights the importance of critical mass and collective action when researching the economic benefits of corporate board gender diversity. Investment analysts may wish to look more closely at the structure of corporate boards and not just the numbers.Originality/valueThis paper gives a conceptual viewpoint on the critical mass theory and corporate board gender diversity, identifying that it is not just the numbers that are important but also the issue of minority independence and collective action, and this is, therefore, unique in this respect. Future research should identify if a critical mass (not just numbers) of women on corporate boards has been achieved. Only then that the linkage, based on critical mass theory, between board gender diversity and corporate performance/profitability can be made. Knowing whether board sizes are being increased to accommodate the added female directors would be also interesting, or will the new female directors replace existing male directors? However, the most important research question, once gender diversity has been achieved, could be: Is critical mass theory relevant with respect to board gender diversity?

Contents: Overview, GA ler Aras and David Crowther Part I Theoretical Overview: A Luhmannian in the playground a corporate social responsibility from a systems-theoretic perspective, Juliane Riese What is 'good' corporate governance?, Dominique Bessaire, CA(c)line Chatelin and StA(c)phane OnnA(c)e Redefining sustainability, GA ler Aras and David Crowther The social contract of business in society, Sandra Waddock The shifting meaning of sustainability, Mary A. Kaidonis, Natalie P. Stoianoff and Jane Andrew Corporate social responsibility and accounting, Stuart Cooper Responsible practices in small and medium enterprises, Antonio Vives. Part II Applying Corporate Governance: Trends in corporate governance, Wallace N. Davidson III, Sameh Sakr and Hongxia Wang Corporate governance a responsibilities of the board, Maria Aluchna Shareholder rights and stakeholder rights in corporate governance, Mirella Damiani The regulatory and legal framework of corporate governance, Hillary Shaw The agency problem and corporate governance, GA ler Aras and David Crowther Auditing, product certification and corporate social responsibility, Charles Elad Decisive risk management for corporate governance, Kurtay Ogunc Corporate social responsibility - a broader view of corporate governance, GA ler Aras and David Crowther. Part III Applying Corporate Social Responsibility: The social responsibility of major shareholders, Marc Goergen and Luc Renneboog External agencies and corporate social responsibility, David Birch How globalization is affecting corporate social responsibility a dynamics of the interaction between corporate social responsibility and globalization, A-zer Ertuna and Bengi Ertuna Responsibility and performance - social actions of firms in a transitional society, Deniz Erden and Muzaffer Bodur Feasibility of corporate social responsibility activities practised by SMEs in Uzbekistan a a stakeholders' perspective, Bokhodir Ayupov and Iroda Komilova Education for ethics and socially responsible behaviour, Kumba Jallow Socially responsible investment funds, Luc Renneboog, Jenke Ter Horst and Chendi Zhang Corporate reporting frameworks, Antonio Tencati Corporate reputation and corporate social responsibility, Stephen J. Brammer and Stephen Pavelin Corporate social responsibility rating, Henry SchAfer. Part IV Dealing with Stakeholders: Business and environmental responsibility, Ian Worthington Corporate social responsibility in the creation of shareholder value, Stephan Heblich Employer duties, Stella Vettori Whistleblowing a perennial issues and ethical risks, Wim Vandekerckhove Framing the social responsibility of business a the role of pressure groups a paradigmatic feuds, Aulvaro de Regil Castilla Corporate environmental responsibility from the perspective of systematic and dialectical science, Wang Hong and Wang Xiaoli Why people do good a promoting responsible behaviours a the myth or reality of persuasion in fundraising letters, Cubie Lau. Part V Experience in Practice: Royal Ahold a the role of corporate governance, Abe de Jong, Douglas V. DeJong, Gerard Mertens and Peter Rosenboom Embedding corporate social responsibility into the day-to-day life of organisations a a practical system thinking approach, Rob Peddle, Ian Rosam and Pavel Castka Istiqbol Dilnoza a a corporate social responsibility study of a micro/small business in Tashkent, Rowan E. Wagner Lessons learned from Washington State's sustainable business program, Kimberly Goetz Esh added value a a case study in indigenous corporate social responsibility, Riham Rizk and Suzanne Gregory A case study on the tobacco industry, social responsibility and regulation, Julia J.A. Shaw. Index.

In the last two decades an increasing number of studies have focused on the impacts of tourism development on the environment aimed at the depletion of natural resources, the generation of waste and pollution and general environmental degradation. Consequently, the huge growth in the hotel industry has considerably affected the environment at a global level as the sector consumes large amounts of energy, water and non-durable products. Hotels are therefore now urged to engage in responsible and sustainable environmental management practices. Often hotel managers are keen to engage in responsible environmental practices but are unable to do so due to certain impediments. This article examines the barriers or challenges that are faced in adopting more sustainable and responsible environmental management practices in hotels in KwaZulu- Natal, South Africa. n total, 142 hotels (including hotel chains as one entity) were identified in KwaZulu-Natal and a census approach was adopted, in that all 142 were approached to participate in the study. Sixty hotels responded. Data was collected through a web-based, online survey questionnaire. The findings reveal that hoteliers are faced with a number of barriers in the implementation of environmental management practices. These barriers include lack of knowledge and expertise, lack of resources to implement certain environmental management practices, lack of government assistance, lack of legislation and regulation and high costs. Furthermore, a noteworthy finding is that a number of hotels in KwaZulu-Natal are unaware of the savings potential associated with environmental programmes, that is, the direct benefits to their establishments.

Board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility: Is there a case for critical mass?

PurposeTaken from an institutional theory perspective, the purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of organizational-level factors, specifically diversity and corporate governance structure, on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting practices of corporations operating in developing and developed country contexts, namely, Egypt, Germany and the USA. Since developed countries are exposed to different settings, the paper argues that there is likely to be a difference in the organizational-level drivers of CSR reporting in developed vs developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe sample consists of companies listed on the Egyptian EGX 30 index, the German DAX 30 index and the US Dow Jones 30 index. Governance- and diversity-related data are gathered from multiple sources including the BoardEx and Orbis databases. Content analysis is used to analyze the CSR information of sample companies using the software package MAXQDA. To examine the relationship between the explanatory variables of the study and CSR disclosures, multiple regression analysis is used.FindingsThe results are mostly consistent with institutional theory where the effects of diversity and governance structure, observed mainly by foreign BOD, board independence and institutional ownership, are found to be significant on the CSR disclosure levels of sample Egyptian companies only. On the other hand, no significant influence of tested factors was observed on the level of CSR reporting in the USA and Germany. The results thus indicate that the influence of organizational-level factors on CSR is highly dependent on the institutional context where companies operate.Originality/valueThe influence of diversity and corporate governance on CSR has been separately studied in the management literature. Yet, the potential effects of both variables on CSR have received limited attention. In addition, no study combining such explanatory variables of CSR was carried out in the specific context of developing Middle Eastern countries. Also, illustrating how institutional contexts can influence the dynamics of interaction between organizational-level variables and CSR is still understudied. This kind of multi-level research can help broaden the understanding of the drivers and practices of CSR in developing vs developed countries that have distinct institutional environments.

Women in Australian Politics: Maintaining the Rage against the Political Machine

&lt;p&gt;Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has evolved into a strategic imperative for businesses, particularly with the increasing integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. However, the evolution and key research areas within CSR remain fragmented. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis using the SCOPUS database and VOSviewer, mapping CSR research trends across three phases: initial (1971-2010), growth (2011-2020), and stabilization (2021-2024). The results indicate that the United States, China, and the United Kingdom are the leading contributors in CSR publications and international collaborations. Through keyword co-occurrence analysis, eleven major CSR research clusters are identified, such as “Responsibility and Communication”, “Climate Change and Sustainable Development”, and “Corporate Governance and Theory”, illustrating the interdisciplinary nature of CSR. Furthermore, this study conducts two comparative analyses: the first highlights industry-specific CSR research in banking and services, and the second examines CSR’s integration with ESG. By constructing a CSR knowledge map, this study explores the intersection between CSR, ESG, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating how CSR contributes to corporate competitiveness, stakeholder trust, and regulatory compliance while supporting global sustainability initiatives. The findings provide a structured framework for businesses, policymakers, and researchers to align CSR strategies with organizational goals, industry trends, and cross-sector collaborations.&lt;/p&gt;

PurposeStudies show that corporate governance (CG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are driven by ethical practices. The relationships between corporate ethics, CG and CSR have been heavily studied indicating significant associations. The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of CG on the relationship between ethics and CSR.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through questionnaires from small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. The results were analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results indicate that ethical practices have positive impact on CG, and in turn CG has a positive impact on CSR. The results also reveal a mediating effect of CG on the relationship between ethics and CSR.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample selected is based on two countries in the MENA region, Egypt and Lebanon. Only SMEs are considered.Practical implicationsThe innovative capabilities of SMEs in developing and emerging economies could be enhanced through corporate ethical practices which guide management for more CSR engagement through good CG.Originality/valueThe study contributes to corporate ethics, CG and CSR literature by providing evidence from a significant region, with both developing and emerging economies, on the mediating role of CG on the relationship between ethics and CSR.

The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, both adopted in 2015, provide a global framework for addressing climate change. The oil and gas industry is a significant contributor to climate change, responsible for 10% of human-generated GHG emissions, with its products adding an additional 33%, totaling two-thirds of industrial emissions. Despite global sustainability efforts, there is a significant research gap in understanding the determinants of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in developing economies. This review addresses this gap by focusing on the Nigerian oil and gas industry, aiming to identify the factors influencing CSR practices in the industry and how they shape CSR strategies. Using a systematic review methodology guided by the PRISMA framework, this review consolidated evidence from peer-reviewed articles published between 2016 and 2023. The review focused on studies conducted in Nigeria's oil and gas sector addressing CSR determinants. Through thematic synthesis, the review categorises determinants into themes such as provision of public goods, business continuity strategies, corporate reputation, conflict mitigation, and corporate philanthropy. The review finds that CSR practices in Nigeria's oil and gas industry are primarily driven by business continuity and legitimacy concerns, with factors like governance failures, economic underperformance, and the need for social licence to operate being significant drivers. Understanding these determinants is crucial for developing effective CSR practices that align with business objectives, community development goals, and environmental sustainability. This review also highlights the need for more targeted research to improve CSR outcomes in developing economies.

Recently, sustainable development goals (SDGs) have been the requirement of every organization around the globe that requires researchers and regulators' focus. Hence, the present study examines the impact of corporate social responsibilities (CSR) in addressing the SDGs of manufacturing companies in Malaysia. The current article also examines the mediating impact of organizational effectiveness among the linkage of CSR and SDGs achievement. The researchers have used the survey method and taken the questionnaires for data collection. The current article has also applied the smart-PLS to analyze the data collected from selected respondents. The results indicated that CSRs have a positive linkage with the SDG’s achievement. The findings also exposed that organizational effectiveness significantly mediates among the linkage of CSR and SDGs achievement in manufacturing companies of Malaysia. The article has guided the policymakers regarding developing the regulations related to the SDG’s achievement through CSR and organizational effectiveness.