Exploratory evidence on anticorruption activities in the Spanish context: A sustainable governance approach

Abstract

This paper aims at discovering a sustainable corporate governance approach by analysing the interaction between the board of directors and the application of corporate corruption legislation by Spanish companies. Thus, the objective of this paper is to define the role of the board of directors in corporate corruption prevention activities. Based on a case study using the Gioia methodology, our research seeks to identify the role of the board of directors compared with that of control activities (i.e., corruption prevention activities) within the management system of the company. Thus, this study sheds light on the role of Board of Directors in the implementation of corporate corruption prevention in accordance with the anticorruption Spanish legislation (Organic Law 1/2015) as well as corporate responsibility and related compliance programs adopted by companies. Our findings are original in defining sustainable corporate governance as a means of preventing corruption and safeguarding corporate sustainability. The debate on corporate sustainability in the economic systems of several states is the point of departure for this study, which analyses characteristics of anticorruption models of the Spanish companies, offering a framework for further research on sustainable corporate governance and corporate sustainability.