Key leaders' sustainable decision making: The roles of key leaders' sustainability mindset

Abstract

AbstractIn order to achieve a competitive advantage in the market, enhance a positive brand reputation, and respond to consumers' requirement, organizations' key leaders may have to make sustainable decisions for the sake of the environment, the society and the organization simultaneously. In this study, Buddhism and compassion are proposed to extend the sustainability mindset framework in understanding key leaders' sustainable decision making to achieve a balance between concerns for environmental, societal, and economic outcomes. Data from a survey of 142 key leaders who are business owners, entrepreneurs, and managers in SMEs and startups in Vietnam provide evidence that Buddhist teaching and lifestyles are important predictors of key leaders' sustainable decision making through the mediator of compassion. Furthermore, the study also revealed that Buddhism positively and significantly influences compassion. This research, thus, makes contribution to the extant literature regarding factors influencing key leaders' sustainable decision making. Practical implications are also discussed.