Journal Article Analysis

Question: Discuss about the Journal Article Analysis. Answer: Introduction: Journal Article Analysis In the current business environment, organizations have started to focus on sustainability. The objective of this paper is to discuss a journal article in the field of sustainability. The article is, Sustainability management beyond corporate boundaries: from stakeholders to performance. The article is written by Stefan Seuring and Stefan Gold. This article was published in the journal of cleaner production in the year 2013. In the article, authors discussed the issue of sustainable management from the perspective of stakeholders of the firm. Authors started the article with the initial hypothesis that firms can truly practice the sustainable development only when it has the support of different stakeholders and leaders should avoid the conflict among different stakeholders. The initial hypothesis in the article is followed by the following question: Stakeholder interests in an organization can be quite varied, and there may be many times when these interests do not coincide. What is the best way for a for-profit organization to manage these conflicting needs? How a for-profit organization manage the differing interests of their stakeholders is critical to the success of their organization and sustainable development activities taken by the organization. In the articles, authors brought forth that managers of for-profit organizations must ethically consider the interests of all stakeholders when making organizational decisions for sustainable development. When for-profit organizations acknowledge the interests of all stakeholders they are setting ethical standards of respect, honesty, and fair treatment to all. Authors added that stockholders are the legal owners of for-profit organizations. Therefore, these groups of stakeholders are unique in that they have a legal right to the decisions that are made in the organization. Lastly, the government regulators for these stockholders have an obligation to protect their rights. It is unfortunate that some non-profit organizations or formalized causes contort corporate realties to further agenda s. At times, international corporations find themselves entwined in a battle with a less than scrupulous non-profit organization or group seeking to push agendas at all costs and regardless of the truth. According to authors corporations must adjust their sustainable strategies when dealing with campaigns that are questionable and/or are combative in nature. Authors highlighted that the best way for for-profits to manage conflicting stakeholder needs is to deliver profits to shareholders while still balancing stakeholder interests and balancing a balanced business perspective. Another way to maintain a balanced business perspective is to maintain their roles to the community/ societal stakeholders while applying social and ethical standards within the corporation internally through corporate governance controls. Corporate social responsibility is one of the fastest growing areas of reputation management yet still one of the most understood as well. It is so misunderstood because several theories influence CSR and sustainability. For instance, there is a constant battle between whether maintaining shareholder interests and profit maximization over stakeholder interests (i.e. relationships, building trust and loyalty to all partnerships involved will take place versus a balance between the two. A balance must be met between stakeholder app roach/ theories over shareholder approach/ theory. The critical evaluation of the article would suggest that article is written in an effective manner. One of the good things about the article is that authors have not made their opinions in the article. Instead authors have used extensive literature review to highlight the facts. The issue of sustainable development and stakeholders interest is an important issue and through this article, authors have tried to answer the issues in this area. I agree with the authors that corporations should use strategies to refocus stakeholders toward the organizations vision. Taking a collaborative approach by involving stakeholders in the sustainable development process may keep attention toward the vision and conflicting personal interest of stakeholders may become secondary. It is important that the organizations should realize that the conflict would always exist where there are various stakeholders involved. It is the effective management of the conflict that is of paramount importance to ensu re continuity and maximization of profit. Findings also suggest that those stakeholders with like-minded interests will work harder towards achieving a common and sustainable goal. Those stakeholders that differ should be brought together in a collaborative effort to attempt to gain a joint consensus. This article is an interesting article to read as it discusses the various contemporaries approach and theories of management and sustainable development. References Seuring, S., Gold, S. (2013). Sustainability management beyond corporate boundaries: from stakeholders to performance.Journal of Cleaner Production,56, 1-6.