Research Briefs

Leading green: how supervisor engagement increases environmental behaviors

Companies working to lessen their environmental impacts would do well to include sustainability training for leaders in their corporate citizenship strategies.

What companies report is affected by where they operate

A company's sustainability reporting is influenced by it's country's legal system, as many countries use a mix of features from common and civil law systems.

What role can white male executives play in increasing diversity and inclusion?

RESEARCH BRIEF - Women and non-White executives who engage in diversity-valuing behaviors tend to receive lower performance reviews than White male executives who do the same.

Referral-based hiring promotes upward mobility for Black employees

RESEARCH BRIEF - Companies working to increase the representation of Black employees in leadership positions should consider referral-based hiring.

Climate change as opportunity: the benefits of looking on the bright side

RESEARCH BRIEF - Firms that focus on the opportunities presented by climate change, rather than the perceived risks are more likely to have superior corporate citizenship performance, which in turn leads to stronger financial performance.

Wondering if your emerging economy suppliers are managing environmental and social risk? Those that have achieved multinational reach may offer the best ESG risk management.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Multinational companies are likely to engage in more comprehensive corporate citizenship reporting when they are headquartered in countries with weak governance systems.

Recycling intentions are influenced by size, durability, and perceptions of reusability

RESEARCH BRIEF - Efforts to reduce packaging may actually reduce recycling behaviors.

Boss pressuring you to bend the rules? Try hanging posters with inspirational quotes about ethics in your office.

RESEARCH BRIEF - When employees expose their managers to moral symbols in the workplace, managers are less likely to engage in unethical behaviors or ask their employees to engage in unethical behavior.

Consider worker safety when working to meet analyst forecasts

RESEARCH BRIEF - When managers feel pressure to meet analyst forecasts, workplace safety may suffer. Companies experience higher worker injury rates when managers are seeking to meet or just beat earnings expectations, as compared to those that miss or comfortably beat them.

Corporate citizenship executives require structure to be effective

RESEARCH BRIEF - Corporate Sustainability Officers working for environmentally intensive companies are more likely to be successful in improving environmental performance when their companies are headquartered in states with more rigorous environmental regulations.

What drives success—financial or environmental performance? Research says both.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Strong environmental performance both stems from and results in strong financial performance, though focusing on outcome-based initiatives—such as carbon reduction efforts—will result in both market and accounting-based value-creation.

Donating after a disaster: Cause is the key to consumer response

RESEARCH BRIEF - Consumer perceptions of corporate disaster relief vary based on the cause of the disaster.