Critical discourse analysis of CEO's message in corporate sustainability report: Prevalence of business case for sustainability
Abstract/Description
The businesses have come under increasing scrutiny over their role in creating societal and environmental problems. Responding to the criticism business have adopted corporate sustainability to become responsible corporate citizen. However, despite greater emphasis on sustainability by organizations poverty, income inequality and environmental degradation remain prevalent. The conundrum is due to the adoption of Sustainable Development by organizations and championing its cause through corporate sustainability but following the business as usual, in the name of Business Case for Sustainability (BCS). Business Case for Sustainability is the cherished idea that being good for society and environment is good for business. However, there is bound to be a tradeoff among the three aspects of sustainability i.e., economic, societal and environmental sustainability. In the paper Critical Discourse Analysis of Chairman’s message in a corporate sustainability report has been carried out to reveal the presence of BCS. The findings show the prevalence of BCS with emphasis on reduction on negative impact of business activities on environment and investment in society through CSR. Hence, we see through CDA that the businesses have apportioned the discourse of sustainable development through BCS thus making a short shrift of the problems of poverty, income inequality and environmental degradation.
Keywords
Corporate Sustainability, Sustainability Reports, Business Case for Sustainability, Critical Discourse Analysis
Track
Management
Session Number/Theme
2C
Session Chair
Dr. Kamran Mumtaz ; Dr. Amer Awan
Start Date/Time
27-5-2023 11:30 AM
End Date/Time
27-5-2023 1:30 PM
Location
MCS-3, AMAN-CED, First Floor
Recommended Citation
Ahmed, M. (2023). Critical discourse analysis of CEO's message in corporate sustainability report: Prevalence of business case for sustainability. 3rd IBA SBS International Conference 2024. Retrieved from https://ir.iba.edu.pk/sbsic/2023/program/31
COinS
Critical discourse analysis of CEO's message in corporate sustainability report: Prevalence of business case for sustainability
MCS-3, AMAN-CED, First Floor
The businesses have come under increasing scrutiny over their role in creating societal and environmental problems. Responding to the criticism business have adopted corporate sustainability to become responsible corporate citizen. However, despite greater emphasis on sustainability by organizations poverty, income inequality and environmental degradation remain prevalent. The conundrum is due to the adoption of Sustainable Development by organizations and championing its cause through corporate sustainability but following the business as usual, in the name of Business Case for Sustainability (BCS). Business Case for Sustainability is the cherished idea that being good for society and environment is good for business. However, there is bound to be a tradeoff among the three aspects of sustainability i.e., economic, societal and environmental sustainability. In the paper Critical Discourse Analysis of Chairman’s message in a corporate sustainability report has been carried out to reveal the presence of BCS. The findings show the prevalence of BCS with emphasis on reduction on negative impact of business activities on environment and investment in society through CSR. Hence, we see through CDA that the businesses have apportioned the discourse of sustainable development through BCS thus making a short shrift of the problems of poverty, income inequality and environmental degradation.
