A Comparative Analysis of Organizational Sustainability Strategy: Antecedents and Performance Outcomes Perceived by U. S. and Non-U.S.-Based Managers Presented at the International Eastern Academy of Management Conference

Multiple forces in the 21st century, such as environmental degradation, global poverty, lack of human rights, far-reaching health deficits, and corporate governance concerns, have propelled the world into confronting conditions that challenge the planet’s sustainability. This exploratory study investigates the conditions that enable companies to respond to sustainability needs, specific factors driving and inhibiting that response, practices that companies are engaged in, and the impacts on organization performance. Based on a worldwide survey (N = 1,514), the authors derive and confirm a model for conceptualizing the linkages among these factors and show how U.S. respondents differ from their foreign counterparts in perceiving and reacting to these challenges. The paper offers insights for leaders of sustainability efforts around the world to deepen and extend their environmental, social, and financial achievements. It also points toward further streams of inquiry to refine and extend this research. In the last decade, the issue of sustainability has become a critical issue for the world an