Sustainable Business

People, Planet and Profits in the 21st Century
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-5095-6792-8
Verlag: Polity Press

Buch, Englisch, 322 Seiten

Sustainable Business: People, Planet and Profits in the 21st Century offers a rigorous yet accessible guide to what business is for in an age of climate crisis, inequality and stakeholder capitalism. Moving beyond the idea of firms as mere 'efficiency machines', it argues that businesses are problem solving organisations that must balance effectiveness, efficiency and ethics if they are to create value for investors, society and the planet.

Across ten chapters, the book traces the evolution of business goals, introduces a pluralistic theory of the firm, and shows how purpose, stakeholder engagement, organisational structure, leadership and culture shape sustainable performance in practice. It synthesises classic and contemporary thinkers — from Coase, Friedman and Penrose to Freeman, Sen and Serafeim — and brings these debates to life through detailed case studies of Unilever, Danone and other global firms grappling with Environmental, Social and Governance trade offs.

Later chapters explore how to measure and report impact, implement organisational change, and harness innovation and entrepreneurship for inclusive, low carbon growth. The book concludes with a discussion of future directions in AI, quantum technologies, new ownership forms and cross sector collaboration. Designed as textbook for students in business and management studies at both the undergraduate and masters level, this book will also appeal to managers and policymakers looking for a coherent framework for reimagining business as a vehicle for shared prosperity in the 21st century.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Prabhu, Jaideep

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Wirtschaftssoziologie, Arbeitssoziologie, Organisationssoziologie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Unternehmensorganisation, Corporate Responsibility Unternehmensethik
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftswissenschaften: Allgemeines
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Angewandte Ethik & Soziale Verantwortung Wirtschaftsethik, Unternehmensethik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction

1: Varieties of Businesses and their Goals
Introduction
The Historical Evolution of Business Goals
Global Variations in Business Goals
The Emergence of New Organisational Forms and Practices
Theories of the Firm: A Multidisciplinary Perspective
Should Profit Maximisation be the Sole Goal of Business?
The Recognition of Diverse Firm Types and Goals
Towards a New View of the Firm

2: Sustainable Business and Why Firms Exist
Introduction
The Efficiency Perspective and Transaction Cost Economics
Critique of the Efficiency Perspective: Behavioural and Information Asymmetry Perspectives
Balancing Efficiency and Effectiveness with Ethics
Firms as Problem-Solving Units
Case Study 1: Unilever's Balancing Act
Case Study 2: Danone's Ambitious ESG Journey
Conclusion

3: Exploring Business Purpose
Introduction
The Evolution of Business Purpose
Identifying and Articulating a Compelling Purpose
Potential Pitfalls of Purpose-Driven Business
Effective Implementation of Purpose-Driven Strategies
Case Studies of Successful Purpose-Driven Companies
Theoretical Foundations: Insights from Management Scholars
Value Creation through Purpose: For Whom?
Conclusion

4: Stakeholder Engagement and Management for Sustainability
Introduction
Theoretical Foundations Review
Identifying and Understanding Key Stakeholders
Strategies for Effective Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder-Specific Strategies for Sustainability
Balancing Multiple Stakeholder Interests
Implementing Sustainable Stakeholder Management
Conclusion

5: Organisational Structures for Sustainable Business
Introduction
Theoretical Framework
Types of Organisational Structures
Comparative Analysis
Embedding Sustainability in Organisational DNA
Future Trends and Innovations
Conclusion

6: Leadership, Corporate Culture and Sustainable Business
Introduction
Theoretical Framework: Leadership and Managerial Discretion
Governance Structures and Leadership Models
Leadership Styles and Sustainability
Corporate Culture and Sustainability
Case Studies in Sustainability Leadership
Leadership Succession and Sustainability
Future Trends and Challenges
Conclusion

7: Measurement and Reporting of Sustainable Performance
Introduction
ESG Metrics
ESG Reporting Frameworks
The Business Case for ESG
Effective ESG Reporting Practices
Converting ESG from Cost to Opportunity
Future Directions in ESG Measurement and Reporting
Conclusion

8: Implementing Change for Sustainable Growth
Introduction
Theories of Organisational Change
Theories of Ecosystem Change
Barriers to Change
A Framework for Driving Transformative Change
Case Studies of Sustainable Organisational and Systemic Change
Lessons Learned and Best Practices
Conclusion and Future Directions

9: Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business
Introduction
Theoretical Foundations
The Business Case for Sustainable Innovation
Frugal Innovation and Inclusive Growth
Strategies for Fostering Sustainable Innovation
Challenges and Barriers to Sustainable Innovation
Emerging Trends and Opportunities
Case Studies: Sustainable Innovation in Practice
Conclusion

10: Future Directions in Sustainable Business
Introduction
Technology and Innovation
New Forms of Organisation
Advances in Regulation, Policy, and Government
Universities and Academia
Civil Society Engagement
Cross-Sector Collaboration
Radical Critiques and the Future of Sustainable Business
Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

Jaideep Prabhu is Professor of Marketing and Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Indian Business and Enterprise at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.