Multinational Enterprises and the Sustainable Development Goals: Evolving Roles, Challenges, and Opportunities Beyond 2030

Éditeurs invités

• Huda Khan, University of Aberdeen
• Hussain Rammal, Adelaide University
• Pervez Ghauri, University of Birmingham
• Zaheer Khan, University of Aberdeen
• Martin Meyer, University of Vaasa

Synthèse

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, provide a comprehensive global agenda addressing critical social, economic, and environmental challenges, with the target of achieving these goals by 2030. These 17 interconnected goals range from eradicating poverty and ensuring quality education to combating climate change and fostering sustainable economic growth. As the global community works toward this ambitious target, the role of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) has become increasingly vital. MNEs, with their significant financial resources, innovation capabilities, and extensive global reach, are uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully to the realization of these global objectives. However, integrating the SDGs into business strategies presents considerable challenges, especially in light of evolving institutional, political, and social dynamics.

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Thèmes proposés

• MNEs' Evolving Role in the SDGs' Agenda: Achievements, Gaps, and Future Directions - How can MNEs evaluate their contributions to the SDGs and adjust their strategies to meet the 2030 targets? What opportunities and challenges will MNEs face post-2030 in continuing to support the SDGs' agenda? How can MNEs address the lagging targets of the SDGs in their operations?
• Managing ESG Backlash and its impact on MNEs' SDGs' Alignment - How does the ESG backlash impact MNEs' strategies for achieving the SDGs? In what ways do political and institutional pressures shape MNEs' SDG agendas? How can MNEs maintain their commitment to the SDGs amidst the growing scepticism toward ESG?
• Institutional Dynamics and MNEs' SDGs' Engagement - How do formal and informal institutional logics influence MNEs' strategies for addressing SDGs in different host countries? How do institutional voids in emerging markets shape MNEs' SDG engagement? What roles do institutional actors (governments, NGOs, civil society) play in shaping MNEs' SDG commitments?
• Business and Society Perspectives on MNEs and SDGs: Bridging IB and B&S Literature - How can IB literature inform B&S's understandings of MNEs' contributions to SDGs? How do MNEs reconcile profit motives with societal goals in their SDGs' strategies? What are the synergies between business model innovation and sustainable development in the context of the SDGs?
• Leveraging Global Value Chains for Sustainable Development - What practical strategies can MNEs adopt to integrate sustainability into their global value chains to meet SDGs' targets? What are the opportunities for MNEs to collaborate with supply chain partners on SDGs' initiatives? How can knowledge transfer across value chains improve SDGs' outcomes?
• Organizational Forms and Alliance for SDGs: Bridging IB and BAS Perspectives - How can MNEs and their partners in cross-sector alliances navigate the challenges of aligning values, beliefs, and power dynamics in SDG-driven initiatives? In what ways can partnerships between MNEs, governments, NGOs, and CSOs enhance the achievement of SDGs, particularly in areas such as inclusive development and climate action? What role do MNE headquarters play in supporting subsidiaries and local network partners to integrate global sustainability principles into their operations? How can MNEs collaborate with SMEs to achieve SDGs, and what benefits does this collaboration bring to local communities? How do strategic alliances contribute to the long-term sustainability of SDG initiatives, and what organizational forms are most effective in fostering these collaborations?
• Micro-foundations of MNEs' Engagement with SDGs: Motivations, Leadership, and Human Capital - How do the personal experiences and values of top management, including the CEO, influence MNEs' strategies for addressing the SDGs? What role does diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) play in shaping top management's engagement with sustainability goals and advancing SDGs? How do leadership styles and top management teams influence employee engagement with SDG initiatives within MNEs? What mechanisms within MNEs' governance structures support or hinder the integration of SDGs into business models, particularly in the areas of poverty eradication, climate action, and social equity? How do individual decision-makers contribute to business model innovations that advance SDGs, and how do these innovations affect the company's long-term sustainability efforts?

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