Sustainability in Corporate Governance: Strategy, Practice and Prospect

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Finance, Accounting and Risk, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
Interests: corporate finance; mergers and acquisitions; corporate governance; ESG disclosures; gender diversity

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Finance, Accounting and Risk, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
Interests: econometrics; quantitative risk modelling; big data and decision analytics; corporate finance; banking and financial service

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Call for Papers

The Administrative Sciences journal is pleased to announce a call for papers for a Special Issue focused on the intersection of corporate sustainability with corporate governance, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and business intelligence (BI). This Special Issue seeks to explore how the synergies between these areas can be leveraged to achieve organisational, corporate, and financial sustainability, with the aim of offering valuable insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to fostering sustainable development. 

Scope and Topics

As the global economy faces unprecedented challenges, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions that can drive sustainable development and the digital transformation, AI, and BI are emerging as powerful tools that can enhance operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and foster sustainable business practices. We invite original research papers, case studies, and review articles that address, but are not limited to, the following topics: 

Digital Transformation and Sustainability:
  • Strategies for integrating digital technologies to enhance sustainability;
  • The impact of digital transformation on corporate governance and environmental practices;
  • Case studies of successful digital transformation initiatives in various industries. 

Corporate Sustainability:

  • The relationship between ESG scores and firm corporate governance mechanisms;
  • Digital strategies for achieving corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals;
  • The role of digital tools in enhancing stakeholder engagement and communication;
  • Innovative business models that promote economic and environmental sustainability. 

Artificial Intelligence and Business Optimisation:

  • AI-driven solutions for corporate monitoring and management;
  • Predictive analytics for resource optimisation;
  • AI applications in corporate decision making. 

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–500 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send these to the Guest Editors or to the Administrative Sciences Editorial Office (zoya.zhang@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue and full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

Abstract Submission Deadline: 10 February 2025
Notification of Abstract Acceptance: 10 March 2025 

Dr. Sanjukta Brahma
Dr. Chioma Nwafor
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Administrative Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • corporate governance
  • corporate sustainability
  • financial sustainability
  • digital transformation
  • artificial intelligence (AI)
  • business intelligence (BI)

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 342 KiB  
Article
Gender Diversity on Boards: A Myth or a Missed Opportunity for Financial Performance?
by Daniel Amo, María-José García-López and Hamid Hamoudi
Adm. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15050167 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 100
Abstract
This study examines the influence of gender composition on corporate financial performance, measured by the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio and Tobin’s Q, considering both male and female directors. Using an econometric panel data analysis, a dual fixed effects model and the Generalized Method of [...] Read more.
This study examines the influence of gender composition on corporate financial performance, measured by the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio and Tobin’s Q, considering both male and female directors. Using an econometric panel data analysis, a dual fixed effects model and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) were applied to all Spanish listed companies from 2017 to 2022. The findings reveal no statistically significant correlation between gender diversity in the boards of directors (hereinafter, the board) and the financial performance indicators analyzed. However, a significant association was observed between gender diversity in non-board managerial positions and improved firm economic performance. This challenges the traditional focus on female representation in boards by highlighting the broader impact of gender composition across corporate structures. This study underscores the need for a comprehensive theoretical framework that considers both male and female directors to better understand gender diversity dynamics in governance. From a practical perspective, the results emphasize the importance of promoting gender diversity not only at the board level but also across all managerial positions. Policymakers and corporations should implement strategies to foster balanced gender representation throughout management levels to enhance economic performance. Full article
26 pages, 866 KiB  
Article
Board Gender Diversity and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Disclosure in Developed Countries
by Chinonyerem Matilda Omenihu, Madina Abdrakhmanova and Dimitrios N. Koufopoulos
Adm. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15040141 - 12 Apr 2025
Viewed by 744
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between board gender diversity and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure in developed economies. Using a sample of forty-five firms across developed countries between 2012 and 2023, the analysis employs Bloomberg’s ESG disclosure score as a proxy. In [...] Read more.
This paper examines the relationship between board gender diversity and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure in developed economies. Using a sample of forty-five firms across developed countries between 2012 and 2023, the analysis employs Bloomberg’s ESG disclosure score as a proxy. In terms of methodology, both pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) and fixed effects regression models are employed. However, to mitigate potential endogeneity concerns, the study employs an instrumental variable approach and dynamic panel regression techniques to provide robust causal inference. The findings offer two significant insights. In accordance with critical mass theory, firms with a minimum of three female directors demonstrate a significant positive relationship between board gender diversity and ESG disclosure. This indicates that achieving a critical level of female representation is essential for fostering meaningful improvements in ESG disclosure scores. Second, firms with merely one or two female directors, often considered token representation, exhibit a negative significant impact on ESG disclosure. Additionally, within the UK context, board gender diversity is positively associated with ESG disclosure, suggesting that institutional frameworks and regulatory environment shape this relationship. Full article
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17 pages, 429 KiB  
Article
Corporate Social Responsibility’s Influence on Brand Image in the Automotive Sector: The Corporate Reputation and Product Quality Role
by Mohsen Brahmi, Zahid Hussain, Muhammad Ussama Majeed, Arman Khan, Muhammad Asif Qureshi and Rohit Bansal
Adm. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15040121 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 602
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) on brand image within the automotive industry. It also examines how company reputation (CR) and product quality (PQ) mediate the relationship between CSR and brand image (BI). Utilizing a sample of 243 [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact of perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) on brand image within the automotive industry. It also examines how company reputation (CR) and product quality (PQ) mediate the relationship between CSR and brand image (BI). Utilizing a sample of 243 clients from the Pakistani automotive sector, data were collected through a survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS version 24.0. The results indicate that perceived CSR positively influences brand image, with both company reputation and product quality acting as significant mediators. This underscores the importance of CSR initiatives for enhancing brand image. The findings have significant implications for auto manufacturers, highlighting the need to integrate CSR into their strategic brand management to improve company reputation, product quality, and, ultimately, brand image. This study expands the conventional understanding of CSR’s impact on consumer perceptions and addresses a critical gap in the literature. Full article
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