Looking Back and Looking Forward: A Scientometric Analysis of the Evolution of Corporate Sustainability Research over 47 Years

In, S. Y., Lee, Y. J. & Eccles, R. (2023) "Looking Back and Looking Forward: A Scientometric Analysis of the Evolution of Corporate Sustainability Research over 47 Years," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2679

35 Pages Posted: 5 Oct 2020 Last revised: 12 Dec 2023

See all articles by Soh Young In

Soh Young In

Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST); Stanford University - School of Engineering

Young Joon Lee

Cheju Halla University

Robert G. Eccles

University of Oxford - Said Business School

Date Written: 2023 12, 12

Abstract

This study systematically reviews the evolutionary trajectory of corporate sustainability research spanning from 1973 to 2019. Through a scientometric analysis of 26,111 Web of Science articles, it demonstrates the continuous development of the conceptual foundations of corporate sustainability, leading to changes in research subjects over time. Despite recent efforts to integrate sustainability into mainstream business models, there remains a lack of consensus on theoretical and methodological frameworks. The study aims to enhance understanding of the conceptual foundations of corporate sustainability by classifying 47 years of research into four major periods: the Dawn of Diverse Ideas (1979-2005), the Rise of Conceptual Frameworks (2006-2011), the Era of Heterogeneity (2012-2015), and the Age of Stakeholder Engagement (2016-2019). The analysis examines the leading research subjects, theories, and perceptions of corporate sustainability in each period, providing a comprehensive review of the evolution of sustainability research. Moreover, the study introduces emerging concepts in the latest sustainability research and underscores the significance of academic research in addressing the current challenges practitioners face.

Keywords: Corporate Sustainability; Scientometric Analysis, Evolution of Research; Conceptual foundations; Theoretical frameworks; Stakeholder engagement; Sustainability integration

Suggested Citation

In, Soh Young and Lee, Young Joon and Eccles, Robert G., Looking Back and Looking Forward: A Scientometric Analysis of the Evolution of Corporate Sustainability Research over 47 Years ( 2023 12, 12). In, S. Y., Lee, Y. J. & Eccles, R. (2023) "Looking Back and Looking Forward: A Scientometric Analysis of the Evolution of Corporate Sustainability Research over 47 Years," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2679, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3693254 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3693254

Soh Young In (Contact Author)

Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) ( email )

291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu
Daejeon, 34141
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

Stanford University - School of Engineering ( email )

Stanford, CA 94305-9025
United States

Young Joon Lee

Cheju Halla University ( email )

Halla University Rd. 38
Jeju, Jeju
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)
+82-64-741-6532 (Phone)

Robert G. Eccles

University of Oxford - Said Business School ( email )

Park End Street
Oxford, OX1 1HP
Great Britain

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