Corporate Sustainability, Organizational Resilience, and Corporate Purpose: A Triple Concept for Achieving Long-term Prosperity

Abstract

Purpose -In this paper, we pretend to close the gap about the lack of literature that relates corporate sustainability, organizational resilience, and corporate purpose (SRP) in the context of corporations. We want to present a framework in which SRP are conceptualized considering their dimensions and in which the relationships between the three concepts are presented. Design/methodology/approach -We present a systematic review. We propose initial search strategies to identify those documents that define each concept and to identify concepts with which each concept is associated. Then, we designed a search strategy combining all three concepts and their associated concepts to bring and analyze all the possible literature that has tried to connect these concepts (SRP). We finally identify gaps in understanding how these three concepts are related. Findings -We propose that corporate purpose is constituted by three dimensions (identity, meaning, and mission). Organizational resilience is composed by two dimensions (planning and adaptative). Corporate sustainability comprises three dimensions (economic, social, and environmental). We also propose that exists a two-way relationship between the different elements of SRP. Originality -Today, some authors explain how aspects such as corporate Sustainability, organizational resilience, and corporate purpose are crucial in the dynamic environment that corporations must face every day. Nevertheless, there needs to be more understanding of how these three concepts are related and effectively merged for long-term corporate survival. This paper contributes to the literature by closing this gap.

Keywords: Sustainability, Resilience, Purpose, Organization, Framework

JEL Classification: M10, Q01