But What Does Sustainability Mean? The Groundwork for Knowledge About Sustainability and Knowledge for Sustainability

Abstract

Sustainable management requires companies to build up new knowledge to acquire the competencies needed for action. This chapter aims to deliver knowledge about sustainability and knowledge for sustainability. Firstly, we systematically analyse the sustainability literature in the social sciences through a bibliographic analysis and topic modelling using VOSviewer and Mallet software. We outline research directions, themes and critical contributions for each research cluster identified. Additionally, we categorise over 30 definitions of sustainability identified by Meuer, Koelbel, and Hoffmann (2020). Secondly, we enumerate knowledge types needed for effective sustainability transitions of organisations. We trace typologies of sustainable business models and their distinct evaluations of sustainability. In this chapter, we argue that integrating the triad of social, ecological and economic goals is central for sustainability attempts as well as long-term thinking. Therefore, our research offers a comprehensive overview of sustainability in the social sciences supporting researchers and practitioners to navigate this miscellaneous and scattered field. Accordingly, our study is precious to young scholars researching sustainability who want to use the term in an informed and meaningful way.

Citation

Kragulj, F., Grill, A.K., Rocha, R.G. and Paço, A.d. (2023), "But What Does Sustainability Mean? The Groundwork for Knowledge About Sustainability and Knowledge for Sustainability", Crowther, D. and Seifi, S. (Ed.) Innovation, Social Responsibility and Sustainability (Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility, Vol. 22), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 173-206. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2043-052320230000022008