Analyzing Corporate Governance Mechanisms for Sustainability in Firms: From Concepts to Practices

Abstract

Corporate sustainability is becoming more prevalent, leading to the intertwining of governance mechanisms at the organizational level, which is ultimately responsible for sustainability and the financial performance of firms. The urgency of corporate governance challenges requires firms to define sustainability measures and strategies. In the current literature, there is a continuous reference to the progression of corporate governance and corporate sustainability. To achieve sustainability targets and ensure higher financial performance, a firm must seek more precision in its governance mechanisms. However, the literature on corporate governance and how it affects firms' sustainability performance is lacking, specifically in exploring how effective corporate governance mechanisms can assist firms in improving their financial performance. The governance-sustainability nexus can be advanced by conducting strategic research that examines a wider range of theories and analytical models. The study is a step toward understanding how effective governance mechanisms can lead to sustainable and financially successful organizations. Furthermore, the study guides firms in their decision-making, resource allocation, and global sustainability efforts.

In this dissertation, the first study systematically documents how different corporate governance mechanisms affect the link between sustainability and the financial performance of firms. The study has used cluster analysis to identify three focus areas: board-level governance, operational-level governance, and assurance-level governance. The findings have policy implications for firms seeking to integrate sustainability into their operations, in addition to consolidating the existing knowledge and frameworks in which governance and sustainability research intersect. The results provide a comprehensive overview of emerging governance strategies related to firm performance. Despite this, more deductive evidence was required in the literature covered in the next two studies.

The second study empirically evaluates the influence of board and operational governance on the relationship between sustainability and the financial performance of firms. The study utilized the structural equation modelling method to examine the sample of 224 large and actively traded Canadian firms listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The results revealed partial mediation effects of board governance and operational governance, both singly and jointly, and full mediation in the relationship between sustainability and financial performance of firms. The results were evaluated based on factors affecting firms' sustainability and financial performance, including firm type, age, and other industry-specific characteristics. The study provides valuable insights for firms to link governance structures with sustainability for better financial performance outcomes and include an integrated sustainability focus in their competitive strategies.

The third study empirically tests the impact of workforce practices on firms' environmental and social performance. The relationship between workforce practices and the sustainability performance of firms is being examined by examining the mediating effect of firms' financial performance. The study examines the moderating effect of firm age on workforce practices and the sustainability performance of firms. A linear regression analysis was employed to analyze the sample of 224 large and actively traded Canadian firms in the study. The findings significantly impact the direct and indirect impacts of workforce practices on firms' environmental and social performance. The findings suggest that firms choose the right mix of practices to tailor workforce management and achieve better sustainability performance in their environmental and social initiatives.

The research presented in this dissertation has contributed to knowledge and scholarly literature about how a firm's sustainability performance is influenced through the adoption of various governance mechanisms. The research provides a basis for adopting a normative and functional approach to tackle contextual challenges while seeking sustainability at a firm level. The study departs from a narrower approach of firms’ financial performance when it comes to sustainability initiatives driven through governance mechanisms. The study provides instruments which could help firms to partially integrate sustainability into their business strategies.