Modelling corporate sustainability through employee behaviour: a mixed-method study

Upasana Dhanda & Vijay Kumar Shrotryia

Measuring Business Excellence2026https://doi.org/10.1108/mbe-04-2025-0069article
AJG 1ABDC B
Weight
0.50

What the paper says

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the existing gap in understanding the micro-level aspects that drive corporate sustainability, specifically focusing on the role of HRM practices in fostering sustainability through employee behaviour. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a mixed-method approach, combining grounded theory methodology for qualitative insights and structural equation modelling for quantitative analysis. Interviews with top management from 16 long-standing sustainable companies in India led to the development of a conceptual model, which was subsequently tested with a sample of 347 respondents. Findings The findings reveal that sustainable workplace practices and employee engagement significantly influence sustainability-driven employee behaviour. Moreover, employee engagement serves as a mediator between sustainable workplace practices and sustainability-driven behaviour. Practical implications This study provides practical implications for HR practitioners by offering a roadmap for designing HRM practices that encourage sustainability behaviours among employees. It emphasizes the importance of sustainability internalization, sustainability-linked rewards, sustainability training, sustainability leadership and support systems. Originality/value The study makes a novel contribution by responding to the theoretical and practical calls to demystify the HRM practices essential for a sustainable organization. This study highlights the critical role of employees as the driving force behind an organization’s sustainable efforts, addressing stakeholders’ needs at the micro-level.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/mbe-04-2025-0069

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@article{upasana2026,
  title        = {{Modelling corporate sustainability through employee behaviour: a mixed-method study}},
  author       = {Upasana Dhanda & Vijay Kumar Shrotryia},
  journal      = {Measuring Business Excellence},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/mbe-04-2025-0069},
}

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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