Role of Leadership Behaviour in Sustainability: Financial Services Sector Players

Abstract

The financial and economic crises that have been witnessed in many parts of the globe over the last two decades coupled with climatic and environmental changes, have necessitated new and innovative approaches by financial services sector players to create a better future. This paper addresses the missing link between economic, social and environmental sustainability on the one hand; and corporate social responsibility, green internal processes and green product development on the other. The paper reviews extant literature on progress already achieved in this area and proposes a new conceptual framework to guide modeling and measurement of sustainability and its predictor variables, going forward. It introduces leadership behaviour as a moderator of the mediated relationship between corporate social responsibility, green internal processes and green product development; and sustainability. In conclusion, the paper discusses the impact of leadership behaviour and recommends that empirical studies be carried out in order to escalate the sustainability agenda from a mere theoretical concept, to a practical level.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Green Internal Processes, Green Product Development, Green Finance, Economic Sustainability, Social Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, Leadership Behaviour