Advancing the Social Dimensions of Sustainability Frameworks and Indicators for Resilient Organizations and Communities
A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: feedback and change in business strategies; emotional intelligence; stress; workplace bullying; PTSD
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: leadership in organizations and in virtual teams; prosocial behavior; entrepreneurship; social networking sites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: trust dynamics; social comparison; social media; entrepreneurship
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As organizations face growing pressure to respond to complex environmental, economic, and social challenges, the need to better integrate the social dimension of sustainability into organizational systems and strategies is of paramount importance. This Special Issue seeks to address this gap by showcasing research at the intersection of organizational psychology and social sustainability, particularly focusing on how psychosocial indicators, frameworks, and practices can support the resilience and transformation of organizations and communities.
Drawing on sustainability science and organizational behavior, we invite contributions that examine how factors such as employee well-being, inclusion, psychological safety, ethical leadership, organizational justice, participatory governance, and a culture of sustainability can be operationalized within sustainability frameworks and assessment tools. As work environments continue to evolve rapidly, we encourage the submission of research that explores the impact of technological change, hybrid work models, technostress, and artificial intelligence (AI) on the social fabric of organizations. How can technology-enabled workplaces remain human-centered, psychologically safe, and socially sustainable?
Additionally, we are keen to explore how gamification strategies and related tools can enhance engagement, motivation, and collaboration within organizations and communities, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable social environment. Furthermore, the potential for gamified approaches to support behavioral change, reinforce organizational values, and promote a culture of sustainability creates exciting new opportunities to integrate social sustainability into everyday organizational practices.
By adopting a psychologically grounded perspective, in this Special Issue, we seek to expand the discourse on social indicators by incorporating emerging workplace challenges and digital transitions.
You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Sustainability.
Dr. Gabriele Giorgi
Dr. Stefano Ruggieri
Dr. Rubinia Celeste Bonfanti
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. Social 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 1800 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
- social sustainability
- organizational resilience
- psychological safety
- employee well-being
- technostress
- hybrid work
- gamification
- artificial intelligence in organizations
- ethical leadership
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