Search Results (55)

As sports content platforms increasingly occupy a central role in consumers’ media consumption and fitness-related activities, understanding the factors that encourage sustained user engagement has become an important research concern. Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been widely recognized as a strategic tool for enhancing consumer perceptions and organizational reputation, prior research has focused primarily on traditional sports organizations and general commercial settings, with limited attention given to its influence within digitally mediated sports content platform environments. Therefore, this study investigates the relationships among CSR, empathy, attitude, and usage intention in the context of sports content platforms. Data were collected in Republic of Korea from 225 university students who regularly use sports content platforms. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed conceptual framework. The findings reveal that CSR positively influences empathy and attitude, while empathy positively influences attitude. In addition, attitude is positively associated with usage intention. However, CSR does not directly influence usage intention, and empathy does not exhibit a direct relationship with usage intention. These results suggest that users’ continued engagement with sports content platforms is shaped more by evaluative attitudes than by direct emotional responses or perceptions of social responsibility alone. The study contributes to the literature by extending CSR research beyond traditional sports organizations into digitally transformed sports content platform environments and by identifying the psychological mechanisms through which CSR shapes user behavior in digital sports media environments. It also offers practical guidance for platform operators seeking to strengthen long-term user relationships through socially responsible initiatives. Full article

Public Relations (PR) is the strategic role of communication between an organization or public actor and the publics on whose recognition, trust and consent its operation depends. The field encompasses media relations, internal and employee communication, public affairs and government relations, crisis and reputation management, community relations and corporate social responsibility, investor relations, marketing communications, political communication, digital and platform engagement, and the communication of activist and non-governmental organizations. PR scholarship draws on sociology, political philosophy, organizational studies, rhetoric and media studies to examine how organizations construct, sustain and contest their legitimacy in the public sphere. The dominant theoretical framework of the late twentieth century, the Excellence Theory developed by James Grunig and colleagues, defined PR as the symmetrical management of relationships with strategic publics; the field has since broadened to include relational, dialogic, rhetorical, situational, contingent and critical approaches, alongside frameworks grounded in stakeholder theory, institutional analysis and emerging work on public legitimacy. Contemporary PR operates within a hybrid media environment shaped by digital platforms, algorithmic visibility, generative artificial intelligence and the structural erosion of institutional trust. It is simultaneously a professional industry of significant global economic scale and a contested civic function whose democratic role, ethical foundations and disciplinary boundaries remain the subject of active scholarly debate. Full article

This study compares environmental goal-setting and monitoring priorities of EMAS-registered and non-EMAS organizations in the European Union. Using a dataset of 847 organizations and exploratory factor analysis, it examines differences in the structure of environmental objectives and indicators. The results show that EMAS-registered organizations prioritize operational performance and continuous improvement, while non-EMAS organizations focus more on regulatory compliance, awareness-building, and external communication. EMAS participation is associated with a more integrated and strategic approach to environmental management, linking objectives with measurable performance indicators. In contrast, non-EMAS organizations often adopt more symbolic or externally oriented practices driven by legal and reputational concerns. To isolate the effects of formal verification and transparency, ISO 14001 certification is not treated separately; instead, EMAS organizations are compared with all non-EMAS entities. The findings provide new empirical evidence on how voluntary environmental schemes shape organizational behavior by improving alignment between goals and indicators. They also offer practical guidance for organizations preparing for the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), highlighting EMAS as a model for credible, performance-based environmental reporting. Full article

The circular economy (CE) can help businesses use resources more efficiently, but empirical evidence on CE adoption among non-European SMEs remains limited. This study examines CE practices, benefits, challenges, and future intentions in 220 Saudi Arabian SMIs. A structured survey collected data on four CE practice domains (resource efficiency, waste management, eco-design, and reverse logistics), four benefit dimensions (economic, environmental, operational, and reputational), four challenge dimensions (financial, organizational, technical, and regulatory), and six future intention items. CE adoption was moderate (M = 3.29 on a five-point scale) and balanced across all four practice domains, with resource efficiency scoring highest (M = 3.32). Benefit scores averaged 3.46, far outpacing challenges (M = 2.78). This benefit surplus of 0.68 points (on a five-point scale) indicates that Saudi SMIs perceive CE as worthwhile and view its barriers as manageable rather than prohibitive. Together, perceived benefits and perceived challenges explained 54.3% of the variance in CE adoption (R² = 0.543) in multiple regression analysis. Reducing perceived challenges may be a more effective lever for promoting CE adoption than amplifying perceived benefits, as challenges exerted a larger absolute standardised effect (β = −0.50) than perceived benefits (β = 0.39). Once perceptions were controlled, perceived benefits and challenges significantly predicted future CE intentions, but current CE practices did not. According to the Theory of Planned Behavior’s attitudinal pathway, firms without CE experience can develop strong forward-looking intentions if the business case is convincing and barriers are perceived as manageable. Technical and organizational barriers outweighed financial ones, indicating the need for capacity-building interventions over supplementary financing, unlike European findings. About 79% of respondents were neutral or positive about government-supported CE expansion. CE adoption did not differ significantly by firm size, geographic location, or ownership structure, suggesting that Vision 2030’s sustainability messaging has established a broad baseline of CE awareness across Saudi SMIs. Full article

This study investigates the sustainability of competitiveness in the textile and apparel industry across Asia following the 2005 conclusion of the Agreement on Textiles and Apparel (ATC). It aims to evaluate how sectoral competitiveness is understood and maintained beyond cost savings alone. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PRISMA 2020 guidelines, analyzing 48 peer-reviewed journal articles from reputable sources published between 2001 and 2024. The selection process involved multiple stages of screening and thematic categorization, focusing on individual country case studies, competitiveness measures, indicators, analytical frameworks, and methodological approaches. A Risk of Bias assessment was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. The findings highlight seven strategic pillars for sustaining competitiveness in the textile and apparel industry: shifting toward higher value-added manufacturing; integration into Global Value Chains (GVCs); technological innovation; adaptability; supply chain collaboration and organizational networks; responsible manufacturing; and government support. Moreover, the review includes a Co-occurrence analysis of all seven pillars. The analysis shows that supply chain collaboration and organizational networks serve as central pillars, often combined with adaptability and technological innovation. These findings demonstrate that maintaining industrial competitiveness in the textile and apparel industry no longer depends solely on cost efficiency but increasingly relies on strategic capabilities, ecosystem collaboration, and institutional support. The study offers a comprehensive framework to enhance the long-term competitiveness of textile manufacturing, particularly in Asia, contributing to the broader literature on transforming industries to stay competitive. Full article

Organizations increasingly rely on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices as a core element of sustainable management, yet little is known about how ESG affects employees during periods of crisis. Despite the growing ESG literature, limited research has examined how firm-level ESG performance influences employee psychological mechanisms and innovative behavior under crisis conditions through multi-level pathways. Drawing on corporate reputation theory and conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study examines how corporate ESG performance shapes employee experiences and behaviors under crisis conditions. This study conceptualizes ESG performance as a reputation-based organizational resource that buffers employees against psychological stress, thereby enabling innovative behavior that is critical for business sustainability. In addition, team cohesion as a contextual social resource was proposed to strengthen the stress-buffering effect of ESG. Using multi-level data from 980 employees nested within 51 large Korean firms, combined with objective ESG ratings collected prior to the crisis, this study tests the proposed model through multi-level structural equation modeling. The results show that higher corporate ESG performance is associated with lower employee psychological stress, which in turn promotes innovative behavior. Moreover, team cohesion amplifies the negative relationship between ESG performance and employee stress. By revealing a micro-level pathway through which ESG enhances employee well-being and innovation during crises, this study advances research on the economic and business aspects of sustainability. Full article

Culinary micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a critical role in socio-economic sustainability, yet operate under heightened risks related to product quality, food safety, and business reputation. Although research on collaboration and co-creation often portrays openness as a desirable organizational orientation, limited attention has been paid to how MSMEs strategically regulate openness across their value-chain activities. This study explores how culinary MSMEs organize collaboration and negotiate boundaries between openness and closure. Using a qualitative multi-case approach, the findings show that openness is not uniformly applied but governed by a logic of selective openness shaped by risk exposure, accountability demands, and organizational capacity constraints. Core production activities function as protected zones characterized by strong closure, whereas market-facing functions allow more curated forms of external involvement. By reframing openness as a risk-based governance practice rather than a default collaboration strategy, this study provides a process-level explanation of how MSMEs sustain collaboration without compromising quality control, accountability, and organizational viability. The findings contribute to theorizing boundary governance in small enterprises and offer practical insights for designing collaborative strategies under conditions of risk and constraint. Full article

With the rapid acceleration of technological revolutions and industrial upgrading, firms are increasingly exposed to environmental uncertainty, intensified competition, and continuous technological disruption. Under such conditions, sustainable corporate development depends not only on innovation performance, but on the ability to sustain innovation activities over time. Innovation resilience, defined as the capacity to withstand shocks, reconfigure resources, and maintain innovation momentum, therefore represents a critical foundation of corporate sustainability. Using panel data from Chinese A-share listed firms from 2009 to 2024, this study examines how CEO power shapes sustainable innovation resilience. Drawing on upper echelons theory and signaling theory, we investigate the direct effect of CEO power, the mediating role of corporate reputation, and the moderating role of artificial intelligence adoption. Fixed-effects regression results indicate that CEO power is positively associated with sustainable innovation resilience, and this relationship is partially mediated by corporate reputation. Furthermore, artificial intelligence adoption strengthens the positive association between CEO power and innovation resilience. By linking executive governance, reputational mechanisms, and digital transformation to sustained innovation capacity, this study advances understanding of the organizational foundations of corporate sustainability under uncertainty. The findings provide theoretical insights and managerial implications for designing governance structures that support long-term sustainable development. Full article

In recent years, organizations have increasingly promoted and integrated employees’ environmentally sustainable behaviors and practices as part of a strategic approach to enhance corporate reputation, demonstrate environmental stewardship, and respond to pressing ecological imperatives. This study explores the psychological factors that motivate employees’ intentions to engage in green behaviors within organizational settings, following the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). We extend the model by incorporating a conceptually multilevel perspective, examining antecedents at the organizational, team, and employee levels: perceived organizational support, perceived colleague support and workplace attachment. Data were collected from a sample of 286 public employees. Our findings indicate that, among the behavioral antecedents proposed by the TPB, only some were validated as significant predictors of employees’ intentions to engage in green behaviors within their organization. The results further show that each organizational, team, and employee level antecedent included in this study significantly influenced the constructs of the TPB. Implications and suggestions for future research are also discussed. Full article

In the context of the deep restructuring of the global industrial chain and the concurrent pursuit of green and sustainable development, enterprises need to secure long-term, reliable supply chain competitiveness. The burgeoning wave of digitalization is simultaneously reshaping industry landscapes. Based on a sample of the Chinese manufacturing sector, this study explores how supply chain digital transformation enhances commercial credit financing performance by improving corporate adjustment capability. The research finds that supply chain digital transformation strengthens a firm’s commercial credit financing capacity through a dual-core mediating mechanism of corporate adjustment capability: (1) enhancing the adjustment capability of operational management, which mitigates the negative impact of cost stickiness on financing; (2) enhancing the adjustment capability of organizational management, which amplifies the positive effect of organizational resilience on financing. The study further reveals key moderating effects: (1) External Governance: Strong ESG performance strengthens the financing effect of digitalization by building reputational capital. High industry competition strengthens the financing effect by prompting firms to optimize operational efficiency. (2) Internal Endowments: Environmental risk aversion stemming from a firm’s polluting nature significantly weakens the credit supply effect of digitalization. The market-oriented foundation underpinning private ownership effectively activates the credit supply effect of digitalization. This study constructs an integrated pathway model of “Digital Transformation–Corporate Adjustment Capability–Supply Chain Credit Access.” It provides a research perspective for understanding how digitalization reshapes the logic of supply chain finance and offers empirical evidence for pathways empowering enterprises through digital transformation. Full article

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance has emerged as a critical indicator of corporate legitimacy, resilience, and long-term value. However, translating ESG strategic intent into tangible results remains a pressing theoretical and managerial challenge. This paper introduces an integrated framework elucidating the pathways through which Corporate Citizenship (CC), understood as a participatory, relational evolution of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), influences ESG outcomes at the employee level. Drawing on both Social Exchange Theory (SET) and Social Identity Theory (SIT), the model explains how reciprocal obligations and identity-based alignment jointly influence employees’ discretionary behaviors. Perceived Organizational Support (POS) is introduced as a moderating factor that shapes the strength of the CC–OCB pathway. This study contributes to the micro-foundations of ESG by illuminating how individual discretionary behaviors mediate and condition the impact of strategic corporate citizenship initiatives. By advancing a dual-theoretical, micro-foundational approach, the framework moves beyond reputational CSR models and provides a testable, behaviorally anchored account of ESG implementation. Practical implications are offered for organizations seeking to cultivate trust-based cultures that align employee engagement with sustainable performance. Full article

The increasing pressure for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) accountability in publicly funded institutions has raised concerns about the authenticity and efficiency of ESG implementation. This study investigates the relationship between public ESG funding, disclosure quality, and organizational efficiency across Greek public and financial entities. Using a mixed-methods approach—data envelopment analysis (DEA), qualitative ESG content scoring, and bibliometric mapping—we reveal that symbolic compliance remains prevalent, often decoupled from actual sustainability outcomes. Our DEA findings show that technical efficiency is strongly associated with reporting clarity, the use of verifiable metrics, and governance integration, rather than the mere volume of funding. The qualitative analysis further confirms that many disclosures reflect reputational signaling rather than impact-oriented transparency. Bibliometric results highlight a systemic underrepresentation of the public sector in ESG scholarship, particularly in Southern Europe, underscoring the need for regionally grounded empirical studies. This study provides practical implications for improving ESG accountability in publicly funded institutions and contributes a novel approach that integrates efficiency, content, and bibliometric analysis in the ESG context. Full article

As climate change intensified water scarcity in Southern Europe, tourism-dependent regions such as Portugal’s Algarve faced growing pressure to adapt their water management systems. This study investigated how hotel groups in the Algarve have adopted and communicated water reuse technologies—specifically desalination and greywater recycling—under environmental, institutional, and reputational constraints. A comparative qualitative case study was conducted involving three hotel groups—Vila Vita Parc, Pestana Group, and Vila Galé—selected through purposive sampling based on organizational capacity and technology adoption stage. The analysis was supported by a supplementary mini-case from Mallorca, Spain. Publicly accessible documents, including sustainability reports, media coverage, and policy frameworks, were thematically coded using organizational environmental behavior theory and the OECD Principles on Water Governance. The results demonstrated that (1) higher organizational capacity was associated with greater maturity in water reuse implementation; (2) communication transparency increased alongside technological advancement; and (3) early-stage adopters encountered stronger financial, regulatory, and operational barriers. These findings culminated in the development of the Maturity–Communication–Governance (MCG) Framework, which elucidates how internal resources, stakeholder signaling, and institutional alignment influence sustainable infrastructure uptake. This research offered policy recommendations to scale water reuse in tourism through financial incentives, regulatory simplification, and public–private partnerships. The study contributed to the literature on sustainable tourism and decentralized climate adaptation, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals 6.4, 12.6, and 13. Full article

As sustainability becomes increasingly central to organizational strategy, social economy organizations (SEOs) are rethinking their business models. This study employs stakeholder analysis using the value mapping (VM) tool developed by Short, Rana, Bocken, and Evans for the development of the VOLTO JÁ project. The objective of the VOLTO JÁ project is to operationalize a senior exchange programme between SEOs. The VM approach extends beyond conventional customer value propositions to prioritize sustainability for all stakeholders and identify key drivers of sustainable business model (SBM) innovation. The multi-stakeholder methodology comprises the following elements: (1) sequential focus groups aimed at enhancing sustainable business thinking; (2) semi-structured interviews; and (3) workshop to facilitate qualitative analysis and co-create the VM. The findings are then categorized into four value dimensions: (1) value captured—improved participant well-being, enhanced reputational capital, mitigation of social asymmetries, and affordable service experiences; (2) value lost—underused community assets; (3) value destroyed—institutional and systemic barriers to innovation; and (4) new value opportunities—knowledge sharing, service diversification, and open innovation to foster collaborative networks. The study demonstrates that the application of VM in SEOs supports SBM development by generating strategic insights, enhancing resource efficiency, and fostering the delivery of socially impactful services. Full article

In response to escalating societal and environmental expectations, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has evolved into a strategic imperative rather than a voluntary or peripheral activity. This study investigates the effect of employees’ CSR perceptions on job performance, with corporate reputation (CR) examined as a mediating variable. Drawing on Social Identity and Social Exchange Theories, the research explores how CSR, as an element of business innovation and sustainable organizational practices, fosters internal stakeholder engagement and performance enhancement. Data were collected from five-star hotel employees in İstanbul/Türkiye, a service sector context where customer satisfaction is highly dependent on frontline employee behavior. Using PROCESS Macro for SPSS 27, the findings reveal that CSR perceptions significantly and positively influence employee performance both directly and indirectly through the enhancement of CR. This mediating effect underscores the role of CSR not only as an ethical framework but also as an internal mechanism that strengthens employee commitment and output. The study contributes to CSR and the organizational behavior literature by empirically validating that internal CSR perceptions shape strategic outcomes such as employee performance, especially within high-contact service environments. Theoretical implications emphasize CSR’s integrative function in reputation-building and performance systems, while practical insights recommend embedding socially responsible practices into HR and internal communication strategies to achieve sustainable outcomes and societal well-being. These findings offer meaningful contributions to the scope of business innovation by linking CSR with strategic performance indicators in labor-intensive industries. Full article