The Role of Individual Beliefs for Corporate Sustainability Transformations

Maike Buhr; Ilka Weissbrod

doi:10.1111/beer.12783

The Role of Individual Beliefs for Corporate Sustainability Transformations

Maike Buhr^*
, Ilka Weissbrod

^*Korrespondierende/r Autor/-in für diese Arbeit

Professur für Nachhaltigkeitsökonomie und -management

Technische Universität Dresden

Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › Begutachtung

2 Zitate (Scopus)

Abstract

This study finds that a classification system of beliefs—action logics—is suitable to understand the beliefs held by sustainability
managers. Beliefs underpin individual behavior and can substantially influence how businesses behave. We present what beliefs
are held by corporate sustainability managers through a qualitative research design. We show how individual beliefs, as building
blocks of individual behavior, are linked to the implementation challenges related to corporate goals and processes that must be
addressed to move beyond business-as-
usual
with corporate sustainability transformation. Our study finds that the advanced
action logics of Strategist and Alchemist are most suitable for effecting a corporate sustainability transformation. Enablers for
individuals to be more ethical and effective sustainability managers are proposed, with the view to encourage the action logics
of the Strategist and the Alchemist at the organizational and individual manager level and to speed up the implementation of
corporate sustainability transformation activities. The enablers are the comprehensive integration of sustainability into the core
business, creating safe corporate spaces for experimentation and reflection, encouraging new forms of collaboration within and
outside the business.

Originalsprache	Englisch
Zeitschrift	Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility
Jahrgang	35
Ausgabenummer	1
Seiten (von - bis)	340-366
Seitenumfang	27
ISSN	2694-6416
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12783
Publikationsstatus	Erschienen - 01.2026

Bibliographische Notiz

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

UN SDGs

Dieser Output leistet einen Beitrag zu folgendem(n) Ziel(en) für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 12 – Verantwortungsvoller Konsum und Produktion

Fachgebiete und Schlagwörter

Wirtschaftswissenschaften für Nachhaltigkeit

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Volkswirtschaftslehre und Ökonometrie
Philosophie
Betriebswirtschaft und Internationales Management
Organisationslehre und Personalmanagement
Management, Monitoring, Politik und Recht

Zugriff auf Dokument

10.1111/beer.12783Lizenz: CC BY

PoST: Processes of Sustainability Transformation (Promotionskolleg)
Barth, M. (Wissenschaftliche Projektleiter*in), Kater-Wettstädt, L. (Koordinator*in), Fischer, D. (Partner*in), Halberstadt, J. (Partner*in), Schaltegger, S. (Partner*in), Leventon, J. (Partner*in), Heinrichs, H. (Partner*in), Lang, D. J. (Partner*in), Wiek, A. (Partner*in), Kümmerer, K. (Partner*in), von Wehrden, H. (Partner*in), Vilsmaier, U. (Partner*in), Rodriguez Aboytes, J. G. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Pöggel, K. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Hübel, C. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Buhr, M. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Beyers, F. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Laudan, J. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Albrecht, S. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Weber, H. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Rathgens, J. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Keβler, L. (Projektmitarbeiter*in), Hilser, S. (Projektmitarbeiter*in) & Juarez Bourke, S. (Projektmitarbeiter*in)
Robert Bosch Stiftung
08.12.16 → 31.12.21
Projekt: Forschung

Dieses zitieren

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title = "The Role of Individual Beliefs for Corporate Sustainability Transformations",

abstract = "This study finds that a classification system of beliefs—action logics—is suitable to understand the beliefs held by sustainability managers. Beliefs underpin individual behavior and can substantially influence how businesses behave. We present what beliefs are held by corporate sustainability managers through a qualitative research design. We show how individual beliefs, as building blocks of individual behavior, are linked to the implementation challenges related to corporate goals and processes that must be addressed to move beyond business-as-usual with corporate sustainability transformation. Our study finds that the advanced action logics of Strategist and Alchemist are most suitable for effecting a corporate sustainability transformation. Enablers for individuals to be more ethical and effective sustainability managers are proposed, with the view to encourage the action logics of the Strategist and the Alchemist at the organizational and individual manager level and to speed up the implementation of corporate sustainability transformation activities. The enablers are the comprehensive integration of sustainability into the core business, creating safe corporate spaces for experimentation and reflection, encouraging new forms of collaboration within and outside the business.",

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doi = "10.1111/beer.12783",

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KW - change agents

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The Role of Individual Beliefs for Corporate Sustainability Transformations

Abstract

Bibliographische Notiz

UN SDGs

Fachgebiete und Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Zugriff auf Dokument

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Projekte

PoST: Processes of Sustainability Transformation (Promotionskolleg)

Dieses zitieren