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Strategic Sustainability and Responsibility Research Theme (Convenor, Professor Bernardo Batiz-Lazo)

Overview

This research theme champions dynamic, evidence-based approaches to embed sustainability and ethical responsibility at the heart of business strategy and organization. By catalyzing transformative practices, it seeks to redefine industry standards and cultivate future leaders in responsible management. The focus goes beyond mere compliance, aiming instead to foster sustainable practices that generate meaningful, long-term social and environmental change within organizations.

A central pillar of the theme’s work is corporate governance, particularly its role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Research in this area examines how diverse and ethically driven leadership, combined with robust governance structures, can support sustainable business outcomes. In addition, the theme explores sustainability accounting, emphasizing how organizations can more effectively measure, report, and enhance their environmental and social impacts.

Another key focus is how organizations navigate crises—such as climate change, economic shocks, and global disruptions—and how these moments of upheaval can drive strategic renewal towards more resilient and sustainable business models. This theme also investigates the ethical dimensions of power and leadership in organizations, analyzing how contested leadership practices, moral dilemmas, and power dynamics influence the pursuit of sustainability.

Beyond research, the theme is dedicated to shaping the next generation of business leaders. Through innovative educational practices, it fosters the development of ethical and sustainable management principles in future leaders. By addressing these areas, the theme not only contributes to academic debate but also has practical, real-world applications that shape business policy and practices, ensuring long-term sustainability and ethical responsibility across industries.

There are a number of PhD students working within this theme and members welcome applications from potential students interested in the topics above.

Responsible Business

Research Staff

Dr Mutalib Anifowose  

Prof. Bernardo Batiz-Lazo

Dr Macarena Beltran

Dr Gloria Botchway

Dr Catherine Casler

Prof. David Collins 

Dr Beverly Geesin

Dr Alex Hope   

Dr Rashid Javed

Dr Helen Kopnina

Dr Dipsikha Guha Majumdar

Dr Mark Middling

Dr Alexandra Mifsud 

Dr Alessia Patuelli

Dr Padmali Rodrigo

 

Dr Eustathios Sainidis

 

Prof.  Tony Webster

 

Dr Steff Worst

Dr Muntaka Zakiri

Recent Publications

Ahmed, A., & Anifowose, M. (2024). Corruption, corporate governance, and sustainable development goals in Africa. Corporate Governance (Bingley), 24(1), 119-138. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-07-2022-0311

Alzayed, N., Batiz-Lazo, B., & Eskandari, R. (2024). Does Board Diversity Mitigate Risk? The Effect of Homophily and Social Ties on Risk-Taking in Financial Institutions. Research in International Business and Finance, 70(A), Article 102306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2024.102306

Botchway, G. O., & Bradley, O. J. (2023). The diffusion of the sustainable development goals (SDGs): an examination of preparer perceptions. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 14(2), 289-312. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-01-2022-0012

Collins, D. (2024). Who's Excellent Now? The unspeakable nature of business excellence. Culture and Organization, 30(4), 425-441. https://doi.org/10.1080/14759551.2023.229026

Garvey, A., & Mackenzie, E. (2024). Hegemony and Moralistic Bullying in a Contested UK Public Sector. Culture and Organization, 30(2), 198-219. https://doi.org/10.1080/14759551.2023.2269589

Leal Filho, W., Dinis, M. A. P., Moggi, S., Price, E., & Hope, A. (Eds.) (2023). SDGs in the European Region. (1st ed.) (Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals – Regional Perspectives). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17461-2

Kopnina, H., Gray, J., Lynn, W. S., Heister, A., & Srivastava, R. (2023). Uniting ecocentric and animal ethics: Combining non-anthropocentric approaches in conservation and the care of domestic animals. Ethics, Policy and Environment, 26(2), 265-286. https://doi.org/10.1080/21550085.2022.2127295

Cabras, I., Shakina, E., & Bhattacharjee, A. (2024). Pubs and Pints, Crims and Crimes: Exploring the Relationship between Public Houses and Crime. European Planning Studies, 32(5), 1146-1164. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2023.2273307

Webster, A., & Wilson, J. F. (2023). Coping with crisis: Strategic renewal in The Co-operative Group, 2013-2023. In J. F. Wilson, A. Webster, E. Ekberg, & S. Skurnik (Eds.), The Consumer Co-operative Sector: International Perspectives on Strategic Renewal (1st ed., pp. 91-105). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003333838-8

O'Shea, S. C., & Worst, S. (2023). Queer analysis. In S. Katila, S. Meriläinen, & E. Bell (Eds.), Handbook of Feminist Research Methodologies in Management and Organization Studies (pp. 174-188). (Research Handbooks in Business and Management series). Edward Elgar. https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-of-feminist-research-methodologies-in-management-and-organization-studies-9781800377028.html


Research Funding

Water Bonds (2025)

Dr Macarena Beltran is part of a team that has won £20,000 of ESRC funding for a project on Water Bonds. This focuses on the role of green bonds in mitigating environmental risks, particularly in water-related infrastructure. It involves collaboration with partners in Brazil and Chile, including Federal Rural University of the Amazonia, Federal Fluminence University (Rio de Janeiro), University of Santiago and Coventry University (CU).

Renewable Energy in Indonesia

Dr Macarena Beltran is part of a team that has won £80,000) funding for a project on Renewable Energy in Indonesia from the British Council.  This initiative follows the UK-Indonesia research collaboration to accelerate the RE in Indonesia transition. University of Edinburgh (UoE) (lead), Coventry University, and Indonesian universities (UGM and ITB) are partners in this project. 

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