Triple Bottom Line Performance Research Articles

Triple Top Line Thinking for Triple Bottom Line Performance: Reflections on Outcomes of CCTU Eco-Guesthouse Business Plan Development

Purpose: Using the case of a DAAD-sponsored Eco-Guesthouse project at Cape Coast Technical University, the study analysed the outcomes of a business plan development based on the reflective experiences of participants and stakeholders. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study was qualitative, following a phenomenological approach to inquiry. Structured interviews were used to collect data from a purposive sample of 12 participants and stakeholders. The data was analysed qualitatively using Constant Comparative Analysis (CCA). Findings: The study found that, for start-ups, Triple Top Line thinking allows a proactive strategic view of business. This influences the choice of business model, the approach to business planning and development, and consequently, the value placed on the outcomes of the process. The study concludes that project outcomes in the form of resulting new knowledge, skills acquisition, changes in attitudes, and the development and strengthening of new and existing relationships from a system perspective constitute a useful, albeit tacit and fuzzy construct for evaluating project performance beyond tangible outputs. Research Limitation: While the literature supports the number of participants and stakeholders (12) used for the study, the findings of such interview-based qualitative studies are often indicative, which limits the extent of generalisation. Practical Implication: This study can help us understand the value of business plan development for startups' potential success. Social Implication: The study shows that a TTL perspective of startups makes an integrated approach to business planning and development imperative and allows for interdisciplinary collaboration among stakeholders to achieve TBL performance. Originality/Value: The paper theoretically demonstrates the inextricable linkage between triple bottom line thinking and triple bottom line performance in achieving project success and the significant place of outcomes in evaluating project performance from a systems point of view.

Lean sustainability and triple bottom line performance of manufacturing industries in a developing economy: does top management commitment matter?

PurposeAlthough literature abounds on lean sustainability (LS), its contributions to manufacturing industries’ triple bottom line performance (TBLP) through top management commitment (TMC) remain scanty. This research explores the mediating role of TMC in the nexus between LS and TBLP.Design/methodology/approachGiven the study’s quantitative focus, the causal design was utilised. The structured questionnaire, a survey instrument, was used to gather primary data from 285 manufacturing organisations in Ghana, a developing country. Data analysis was done with structural equation modelling.FindingsIt was found that LS and TMC positively influence TBLP, whereas TMC partially mediates the connection between LS and TBLP of Ghanaian manufacturing organisations.Research limitations/implicationsThe study concentrates on Ghana’s manufacturing industry and embraces the stakeholder theory and quantitative methods.Practical implicationsThis research underlines why top managers must prioritise investment in LS to promote sustainable development and attain their organisations’ TBLP targets. The study also provides key insights for top managers to consistently commit enormous resources towards developing lean practices, contributing favourably to TBLP. By establishing the interplay among LS, TMC and TBLP, manufacturing practitioners and researchers can further advance new strategies to address the growing sustainability concerns and achieve higher economic, social and environmental performance.Originality/valueThe study’s originality lies in analysing the mediation effect of TMC on the linkage between LS and TBLP in a developing economy where manufacturing organisations are continuously exposed to resource and waste management problems and lack adequate commitments from top managers towards sustainability initiatives. It is also the first to establish relationships between top management commitment and TBLP in the manufacturing industries of developing economies, concentrating on Ghana.

Enhancing sustainable supply chains through traceability, transparency and stakeholder collaboration: A quantitative analysis

AbstractTraceability and transparency are essential for sustainability in complex global supply chains (SCs), but they remain elusive goals in practice. Scholars and practitioners consistently advocate collaboration amongst SC stakeholders as a means of enhancing them, yet little is known regarding their interrelation and contribution to sustainability. We adopt the SC practice‐based view (SCPV) to propose and test an explanatory model elucidating how to deploy collaboration, traceability and transparency to achieve triple bottom line (TBL) performance within global SCs. Focusing on the paramount example of complex fashion‐apparel SCs, we analyse the insights gained from 139 suppliers—typically ignored in favour of focal firms—using Partial Least Squares Structural Equations Modelling. Our results provide a concrete battery of not‐necessarily complex or inimitable activities empirically proven to help put traceability and transparency into practice to achieve TBL performance. The SCPV approach contends that everyday practices, activities and relationships amongst SC stakeholders underpin TBL performance.

Sustainable supply chain management's impact on triple bottom line performance: Does the firm size matter?

AbstractCompanies worldwide are moving towards sustainability by focusing on its three dimensions: environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This study explores how sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) takes the changing role to affect these three dimensions. Since organizations vary in size, we post and test relationships regarding how firm size can impact the implementation of SSCM practices as a moderator. We posit an empirical research model and test this using structural equation modeling with survey data from 392 managers across various Jordanian manufacturing firms. This study assessed the link between five categories of SSCM practices and TBL performance. We found that firm size is critical and moderates the positive SSCM relationship with economic and social performances. Results shed new light on SSCM and its impacts on environmental, economic, and social performance. According to the study findings, environmental management practices and supply chain integration influenced all sustainability dimensions, whereas socially inclusive community practices influenced none. Furthermore, operations had an impact on economic sustainability. Finally, socially inclusive employee practices had a significant impact on both environmental and economic sustainability. Findings show that when implementing SSCM, larger firms perform better on multiple sustainability measures compared to smaller firms. The model's integration of firm size as a moderator provides additional insights regarding the SSCM construct and its change agent role in stimulating sustainable development.

Leagile supply chains and sustainable business performance: application of total interpretive structural modelling

This study aims to develop an integrated model for the leagile (lean + agile) supply chain strategy to achieve sustainable business performance across the triple bottom line, including economic, environmental, and social performance. We draw upon a literature review and experts’ opinion, using total interpretive structural modelling (TISM), to determine interrelationships among leagile supply chain practices and sustainable business performance measures. To this end, first, unique and common practices of lean and agile supply chain strategies, i.e. leagile building blocks, are identified through a synthesis of the literature. Second, semi-structured interviews with four experts are conducted to gain an understanding of the mutual relationships among the leagile building blocks and to meticulously adjudicate their interactions with sustainable business performance measures. Validated by two independent researchers and literature enfolding, the final TISM model provides a 10-level hierarchical representation of the leagile supply chain strategy for sustainable business performance.

Improving triple bottom line (TBL) performance: analyzing impacts of industry 4.0, lean six sigma and circular supply chain management

Improving triple bottom line (TBL) performance: analyzing impacts of industry 4.0, lean six sigma and circular supply chain management

Green supply chain management practices and triple bottom line performance: Insights from an emerging economy with a mediating and moderating model

The current study explores the dynamics of business practices in Pakistan's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This research focusing on how “green supply chain management” (GSCM), Industry 4.0 technologies (IND), total quality management (TQM) and sustainable performance (SP) are interconnected. The study collected data from 382 SMEs owners and managers and data analysis was conducted utilizing by SPSS and SmartPLS. The results indicate that employ GSCM pattern has constructive impact on SMEs overall performance in terms of their social and financial aspects. Interestingly IND act as intermediaries among GSCM and sustainable performance underscoring their potential to translate sustainability efforts into outcomes. Moreover, our survey reveals that TQM have a crucial function in enriching the relationship between Industry 4.0 technologies and sustainable performance by executing as a moderator. It further highlighting the value of adopting a quality focused approach to maximize the causal factor of advancements on sustainability output. The findings of this survey research offering insights for practitioners, SMEs, and policy makers alike by highlighting the significance of integrating practices such as GSCM, IND and effective quality management to enhance SME efficiency. These outcomes further contribute to an understanding of the mechanics at play, within SMEs while offering guidance for organizations maneuvering the changing landscape of sustainable business practices and IND.

The interplay of institutional pressures, digitalization capability, environmental, social, and governance strategy, and triple bottom line performance: A moderated mediation model

AbstractThis study seeks to elucidate the mediating role of environmental, social, and governance strategy (ESGS) in bridging the nexus between institutional pressures—specifically regulatory and stakeholder influences—and triple bottom line performance (TBLP), which encompasses economic, social, and environmental facets. Concurrently, this study examines the extent to which digitalization capability influences these dynamics. Utilizing a dataset from subsidiaries within China's retail and transportation sectors, we employed structural equation modeling alongside regression analysis to validate our hypotheses. The findings corroborate a partial mediating effect of ESGS on the TBLP in response to institutional pressures while highlighting digitalization capabilities' moderated mediation role in strengthening the relationship between institutional pressures and TBL through ESGS implementation. By weaving together institutional theory and dynamic capability perspectives, this study advances the understanding of strategic avenues that influence TBLP through ESGS and offers managerial insights for effectively leveraging ESG strategies.

Triple Bottom Line Reporting and Performance of Oil and Gas Companies in Bayelsa State of Nigeria

This study examined triple bottom line reporting and performance of the oil and gas companies in Bayelsa State of Nigeria. Specifically, the study aimed to assess the degree of the oil and gas companies’ intervention in the social-economic welfare of the host communities as well as their level of compliance to environmental sustainability and standards. The theoretical foundation for this study is anchored on the Maroochy Shire Council theory. Based on the descriptive survey approach research design, primary data was generated through a structured questionnaire for the study, and the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) was adopted to analyse the data. The findings showed that there is a significant level of influence of the oil and gas companies’ intervention on the socioeconomic welfare of the host communities on performance. The study also revealed that there is a significant level of influence of oil and gas companies’ compliance to environmental sustainability and standards on performance. Hence the study concluded on the overall that there is a significant relationship between triple bottom line reporting and performance of oil and gas companies in Bayelsa State. Thus the study recommends among others that oil and gas companies should ensure that they intervene on issues that concerns the socioeconomic welfare of their host communities in terms of provisions of pipe born water, electricity, good road, scholarship to encourage individuals to study to any level of education of their choice. By so doing oil and gas companies would enjoy unhindered operations and achieve performance improvement.

Sustainable procurement of water supply infrastructure projects: a building information modeling-based approach

ABSTRACT Triple Bottom Line (TBL)-based project proposal evaluation is highly data-intensive. The above challenge is elevated when considering the complex nature of construction projects. Emerging concepts, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), provide a data repository that aids TBL-based proposal evaluation. Despite national-level BIM mandates, there is a lack of BIM-based TBL performance evaluation tools. Hence, this study developed a BIM plugin toolkit to automate proposal evaluation of water supply infrastructure projects by considering the TBL performance. This toolkit incorporates a unique TBL-based evaluation methodology that integrates environmental product declarations, social life cycle impact, and life cycle costing. The case study revealed that the selected proposal had superior environmental and social performance while the bid price was slightly higher (6.5%) than the lowest-cost proposal. The proposed method provides a user-friendly tool for TBL-based proposal evaluation and promotes BIM implementation in the construction industry.

Responsible leadership and triple bottom line performance: imperatives for corporate sustainability

PurposeThis paper aims to elucidate responsible leadership as a construct with strong moral and ethical underpinnings, as well as a focus on multiple stakeholders and the triple bottom line. This paper also highlights the interdependence of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of a business to achieve corporate sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThis conceptual paper is the outcome of analysing and synthesizing the findings of the literature review on three main constructs: responsible leadership, triple bottom line and corporate sustainability. This review enabled the development of logical associations among these constructs.FindingsThe literature revealed logical associations between responsible leadership, the triple bottom line and corporate sustainability. All three constructs embody the three dimensions of economic, social and environmental sustainability, which form the basis of the associations.Practical implicationsResponsible leadership, grounded in stakeholder theory, goes beyond the traditional dyadic leader–follower relationship to influence multiple stakeholders within and outside the organization and achieve positive outcomes for both the organization and society. Multiple levels of outcomes and higher levels of organizational performance for businesses are the hallmarks of responsible leadership.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the importance of responsible leadership and triple bottom-line performance for corporate sustainability. Responsible leadership has the potential to create significant impact on business and society, to achieve long-term corporate sustainability. A conceptual model of responsible leadership is also proposed to show the association between responsible leadership, the triple bottom line and corporate sustainability.

Paradoxical Association Between Lean Manufacturing, Sustainability Practices and Triple Bottom Line Performance

Paradoxical Association Between Lean Manufacturing, Sustainability Practices and Triple Bottom Line Performance

Corporate social responsibility oriented boards and triple bottom line performance: A meta‐analytic study

AbstractIn this article, we aim to investigate the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR)‐oriented boards on triple bottom‐line (TBL) performance and whether internal corporate governance exhibits a facilitating role in achieving the sustainable development goals by enhancing the performance indicators of the TBL. Specifically, this article aims to shed light on this issue by meta‐analyzing the relationship between good governance and both social and financial performance, using a global sample to facilitate this analysis taking into account the incidence of the institutional characteristics of different countries and their impact on the relationship studied, by means of eight meta‐analyses. For this purpose, we conducted a meta‐analytic study on a sample of 289 articles published between 1997 and 2021. The results show that CSR‐oriented boards have a direct effect on corporate social performance (CSP) indicators and that their impact on financial outcomes is mediated by CSP strategies. Board size, gender diversity, and board independence present a facilitator profile of CSP, while only gender diversity enhances financial outcomes. The influence of CSR‐oriented boards is more acute in countries with greater protection for stakeholders and stronger environmental awareness.

Understanding interdependency of sustainability dimensions from the lens of collaborative relationship conditions: findings from an emerging economy

PurposeDrawing on the relational view and contingency theories, this study explores supply chain relationship conditions' roles in interrelationships between environmental, social and supply chain performance (SCP), i.e. triple bottom line (TBL).Design/methodology/approachThe data from industries and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to validate the proposed model. Interviews with industry experts were conducted to further understand the findings.FindingsThe authors find that relationship conditions, such as inventory information sharing, dependency, opportunistic behavior and conflicts, moderate TBL linkages. Interestingly, power asymmetry does not moderate the linkages. Social performance mediates between environmental and SCP. This indirect effect is stronger than the effect of environmental performance on SCP.Originality/valueThis research is perhaps the first to bring a much-needed nuanced view on the importance of relationship conditions for TBL performance linkages. The research further underlines the importance of social performance in an emerging economy.

Implications of dynamic capabilities on triple bottom line performance after the COVID-19 pandemic: An empirical insight from B2B marketing perspective

Triple bottom line (TBL) is a concept of business which highlights that firms should not measure their business success based only on their financial performance, but they should also measure their social and environmental impacts. In other words, the concept of triple bottom line also includes people, planet, and profit. Also, dynamic capabilities help a firm to address rapid environmental changes, and studies have shown that they can improve a firm's sustainability performance. Other studies have shown that TBL initiatives can also improve a firm's sustainability performance. But no studies have investigated how dynamic abilities as well as TBL initiatives could simultaneously impact sustainability performance of B2B firms in the post COVID-19 period. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the implications of dynamic capabilities on TBL performance after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially from the B2B marketing perspective. Drawing on dynamic capability view (DCV), TBL theory and the extant literature, a conceptual research model was developed which was subsequently validated with the PLS-SEM technique using 377 responses from different manufacturing and service-oriented firms. This is the first study to extensively analyze the combined impacts of these two dimensions on firms' sustainability performance, and thus it has enriched the literature related to DCV, TBL, and sustainability.

The interplay among green absorptive capacity, green entrepreneurial, and learning orientations and their effect on triple bottom line performance

AbstractThis research paper aims at examining the effect of three green capabilities, namely, green entrepreneurial orientation, green learning orientation, and green absorptive capacity, on triple bottom line firm performance under the natural resource‐based view (NRBV) lens. Data were collected through self‐administered surveys distributed among large firms in Egypt that have sustainability initiatives. A total of 211 responses were received, and data analysis was conducted using SMARTPLS 4.0. Results indicated an insignificant direct relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and triple bottom line firm performance, yet results showed a positive indirect relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and triple bottom line firm performance in the presence of green learning orientation as a mediator. Moreover, results indicated a positive indirect relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and triple bottom line firm performance in the presence of green absorptive capacity as a mediator. Last but not the least, the relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and triple bottom line firm performance was found to be positive when sequentially mediated by green learning orientation and green absorptive capacity.

Impact of Green Supply Chain Management Practices on Triple Bottom Line Performance and Moderating Effect of Institutional Pressure

Parallel to the rapid population growth, manufacturing as one of the supply chain practices should be increased to fulfilling their requirements. Due to the advancement of industry and technology, the needs of human beings are constantly changing and the process of supplying goods and services becomes more complex. Reasoning competition and profit maximization, the manufacturing sector creates severe environmental problems and social problems as well. Under this scenario, conducting research has begun on how manufacturing should take place while conserving the environment. Accordingly, previous literature confirms that green supply chain management is the appropriate solution for overcoming environmental issues.Although several research studies have been conducted to examine this relationship, moderating effects of various pressures on this relationship have not been investigated within the Sri Lankan context. Therefore, this research aims to identify the impact of green supply chain management practices on firms’ triple-bottom-line performance and also examine the moderating effects of regulatory pressure on this relationship. A hundred large-scale manufacturing companies were selected as the sample through the purposive sampling method. Moreover, a questionnaire survey was employed for the data collection, and data was analyzed through confirmatory factor analysis using PLS-SEM software. Findings indicate that significant positive relationship between green supply chain management practices and triple bottom line performance i.e., environmental, economic, and social. Moreover, findings accentuate that regulation pressure moderates the relationship of green supply chain management practices only with environmental and social performances. This explored knowledge will encourage practitioners to implement green practices within their supply chains and it enables the country to achieve sustainable goals.

An empirical study on Lean and its impact on sustainability in services

PurposeLean implementation has become popular over the past three decades in the industry and is becoming more prevalent in, service organizations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of social and technical Lean practices on sustainable performance (i.e. economic, environmental and social) in service organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology includes the analysis of global results obtained from 139 managers from the service sector.FindingsThe results demonstrate that Lean practices have a positive effect on the three perspectives of sustainable performance, regardless of the company size and duration of Lean implementation. Furthermore, both social and technical Lean practices have a similar impact on environmental and economic performance, but their impact on social performance differs, since social Lean practices have a stronger impact on social performance.Practical implicationsThis study has a significant contribution to Lean practitioners in service sectors, as it demonstrates that efforts to apply Lean practices can benefit economic results as well as environmental and social performance.Originality/valueMajority of existing studies focused on the isolated impact of Lean on one of the triple bottom line performance aspects and with a scarcity of studies within the context of services. The intersection of these three strategic areas – Lean, sustainability and services – has not been extensively addressed. There is also a lack of studies that observe sustainability in environmental, social and economic performance, mainly in the service sector.

Has the Covid‐19 pandemic jeopardized firms' environmental behavior? Bridging green initiatives and firm value through the triple bottom line approach

AbstractThe Covid‐19 pandemic has caused a significant decline in stock markets worldwide, and organizations are experiencing serious financial problems. Protecting and preserving firm value are critical ways to help organizations survive the crisis. This study analyzes a sample of 45 firms listed on the Polish Stock Market in two periods to determine the relationship among green initiatives, the triple bottom line (TBL) perspective, and firm value in the periods before and during the crisis caused by the Covid‐19 pandemic. The results show that firms with higher green initiatives are more likely to obtain better TBL performance during the normal period. Economic and social dimensions of TBL positively influence firm value regardless of the period, but the same is not true of the ecological dimension. The Covid‐19 pandemic's negative impact on investors' perception does not translate to firm value. This study provides the first empirical evidence on the value of organizations affected by the Covid‐19 pandemic in the context of environmental management. By considering the TBL approach, this study provides a new boundary condition that explains the impact mechanism of green initiatives during a crisis.

Pengaruh Strategi Green Marketing Terhadap Kinerja Keuangan Dan Non-Keuangan Perusahaan

This study aims to present a reflection of the literature on green marketing strategies and analyze seven factors that will affect company performance. This research refers to the literature review method. As green marketing strategies become increasingly important for companies following the triple bottom line performance evaluation, this research seeks to better understand the role of the "green marketing mix" as a marketing strategy. This model links the relationship between green marketing strategies, including green product, green price, green promotion, green distribution, green people, green process, and green physical evidence, with company performance, including financial and non-financial performance. The results of the study show that the green marketing strategy has a positive effect on the company's financial and non-financial performance. From the discussion above, it can be concluded that this research extensively reviews the literature in the field of green marketing strategy and highlights that companies that adopt green marketing strategies (green product, green price, green distribution, green promotion, green people, green process, and green physical evidence) are expected to generate more profits than firms that do not adopt the strategy.