Reactivity to sustainability metrics: A configurational study of motivation and capacity

Slager, R, Gond, J-P and Crilly, D (2021) Reactivity to sustainability metrics: A configurational study of motivation and capacity. Business Ethics Quarterly, 31 (2). pp. 275-307. ISSN 1052-150X OPEN ACCESS

Abstract

Previous research on reactivity – defined as changing organisational behaviour to better conform to the criteria of measurement in response to being measured – has found significant variation in company responses towards sustainability metrics. We propose that reactivity is driven by dialogue, motivation and capacity in a configurational way. Empirically, we use fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to analyse company responses to the sustainability index FTSE4Good. We find evidence of complimentary and substitute effects between motivation and capacity. Based on these effects we develop a typology of reactivity to sustainability metrics, which also theorises the use of metrics as tools for performance feedback and the building of calculative capacity. We show that when reactivity is studied configurationally, we can identify previously underacknowledged types of responses. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications for studying and using sustainability metrics as governance tools for responsible behaviour.

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Item Type: Article
Subject Areas: Strategy and Entrepreneurship
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© 2020 Business Ethics Quarterly

Date Deposited: 04 Jun 2020 20:14
Date of first compliant deposit: 04 Jun 2020
Subjects: Capacity management
Motivation
Last Modified: 28 Mar 2024 02:39
URI: https://lbsresearch.london.edu/id/eprint/1418
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