Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Management for Sustainable Future: Challenges, Innovations and Organizational Performance

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 12389

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Walery Okulicz-Kozaryn

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Institute of Management and Quality Sciences, Humanitas University, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
Interests: energy policy; artificial intelligence and management; sustainable management; sustainability; renewable energy sources; public administration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interrelated goals developed in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly as a blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Outcome Document of the General Assembly contains 17 global goals and 169 corresponding targets.

The “triple bottom line” concept identified three sectors, namely, economic, social, and environmental, that will lead us to a sustainable future. Achieving sustainable development requires combining the efforts of all three sectors. This can be difficult when large governments do not support them [1]. This situation requires the promotion of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in sustainability management.

In this context, this Special Issue welcomes conceptual and empirical articles, reviews, short communications, and discussion papers that focus on exploring the complex interrelationships between challenges, trends, innovations, methods, practices, performance, and sustainability across all functions, at all levels, in all sub-disciplines, and across all contemporary management concepts.

The goal of this Special Issue is to create a discussion platform for scientists, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of sustainable futures [2–5]. This discussion platform should become a source of ideas and solutions to help governments improve the management of sustainable development, based on scientifically based solutions. The scope of this Special Issue may include (but is not limited to) the following areas:

Innovations in management theory and practice for achieving sustainable development goals from SDG 1 to SDG 17;
Managing organizational performance in the face of global challenges;
Integration of artificial intelligence into sustainable future;
Solutions for organizations in the context of adapting to climate change;
Sustainability in global supply chain management;
Corporate social responsibility and sustainable management;
Scientists’ tips for governments for the achievement of national policies for a sustainable future;
Special topic: how to motivate scientists for the strongest performance (SDG 9.5).

We directly invite you to contribute to this vital discussion by submitting high-quality conceptual and empirical papers, reviews, short communications, and discussion manuscripts that address these challenges and provide scientifically grounded insights.

References

1. Lee, Y.C. Evidence Based Education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2016–2030 // Children and Sustainable Development. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2016-12-09. — P. 85–92. 2016.

2. Rao, R., Kansal, A.; Tarannum, F. Role of Stakeholders in Sustainable Management of an Urban Waterbody and Wetland. Environment and Urbanization ASIA 2024, 15(1), 175-191.https://doi.org/10.1177/09754253241236850

3. Chisika, S. N.; Yeom, C. Enhancing Sustainable Management of Public Natural Forests Through Public Private Partnerships in Kenya. Sage Open 2021, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211054490

4. Okulich-Kazarin, V.; Artyukhov, A.; Skowron, Ł.; Artyukhova, N.; Dluhopolskyi, O.; Cwynar, W. Sustainability of Higher Education: Study of Student Opinions about the Possibility of Replacing Teachers with AI Technologies. Sustainability 2024, 16, 55. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010055

5. Singh A, Tiwari R, Nagra PS, et al. Predicting opinion using deep learning: From burning to sustainable management of organic waste in Indian State of Punjab. Waste Management & Research 2023, 0(0). doi:10.1177/0734242X231219627

Prof. Dr. Walery Okulicz-Kozaryn
Guest Editor

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 single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

sustainability
sustainable future
SDGs 1–17
sustainable management
management functions
management methods
management decisions
Artificial Intelligence
organizational performance

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 4838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How the Digital Economy Is Revolutionizing Marketing Management and Driving Sustainable Development

by Tetiana Sak, Inna Mylko, Olena Ivashko, Ihor Chulipa, Tomasz Wołowiec and Justyna Sokołowska-Woźniak

Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031130 - 30 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1201

Abstract

E-business, based on information, communication, and digital technologies, is a component of the digital economy. Furthermore, it is characterized by active development, determining the currently spreading changes in the traditional economy. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of the digital economy on the realization of sustainable development goals and the transformation of the concept of marketing management. The following research methods were used in the study: historical method—to study the evolution of marketing management concepts; statistical analysis—to study aspects of the digital economy; correlation and regression analysis—to identify the relationship between the level of digitalization and key indicators of sustainable development and marketing management; systematic approach to consider digitalization, sustainable development and marketing as interrelated components of a single system. The article presents the relationship of sustainable development goals with the need to improve approaches to marketing management in the context of digitalization. The objectives include UN goal number 8: “Decent Work and Economic Growth”, number 9: “Innovation and Infrastructure”, and number 12: “Responsible Consumption and Production”. The paper examines the evolution in approaches to understanding marketing management in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Correlation and regression analysis is used to identify how digitalization affects certain factors and how these factors contribute to it. The paper analyzes the dynamism of the formation and development of the worldwide digital economy, establishes the relationship between its components, and examines their impact on the ecosystem. The dynamics of the number of Internet and social media users in the world is analyzed and the changes in global e-commerce revenue and digital advertising expenditures are estimated. The positive consequences and opportunities that arise in the digital economy are presented. The authors emphasize the transformation of the marketing management concept with regard to the goals of sustainable development. Marketing strategies and directions in state policy for regulating the impact of the digital economy on the environment, taking into account the goals of sustainable development, are proposed for business entities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management for Sustainable Future: Challenges, Innovations and Organizational Performance)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Selected Geopolitical Factors on Municipal Waste Management

by Edward Kozłowski, Anna Borucka, Marta Cholewa-Wiktor and Tomasz Jałowiec

Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010190 - 30 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1017

Abstract

The collection and transportation of municipal solid waste create a significant energy and carbon footprint, resulting in a significant environmental impact. Proper waste management organization is necessary to minimize this impact. This research aims to identify differences and similarities in waste collection sectors, distinguish affiliation clusters for different waste types, and determine the impact of geopolitical factors on waste production in the analyzed region. Therefore, the similarities of waste production in the separated sectors for different waste types were analyzed. Instead of using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov distance between distributions of waste production, the statistics have been calculated based on

L_{1}

and

L_{2}

norm because they give the scale of differences. The multidimensional scaling method (MDS) and cluster analysis with a Gaussian mixed model (GMM) were used to identify changes in waste production. This technique makes it possible to detect changes between sectors in the analyzed region. Significant differences in cluster membership of sectors by waste type were observed. Geopolitical factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have caused changes in the sector affiliations of the waste clusters under analysis. The pandemic caused changes in the affiliation of non-segregated waste, plastics, and glass, while no change in waste generation preferences was observed for paper and cardboard waste. The war in Ukraine caused changes in the generation preferences of all waste types in the analyzed region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management for Sustainable Future: Challenges, Innovations and Organizational Performance)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 3319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling the Integrated Influence of Social, Ecological, and Economic Components on Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: A Cross-Country Analysis

by Zoriana Dvulit, Liana Maznyk, Natalia Horbal, Lesia Brych, Sylwia Skrzypek-Ahmed, Barbara Szymoniuk and Tetiana Dluhopolska

Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9946; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229946 - 14 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2037

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of social, ecological, and economic components on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in seven selected countries for the period 2000–2022 (Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States). Using data from the Sustainable Development Reports 2017, 2019, and 2023, a correlation and regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationships between the components and the SDG Index. The results demonstrate a strong positive relationship between social, ecological, and economic factors and progress towards achieving the SDGs, with variations between countries. The study revealed the limitations of aggregated data analysis that negatively affect the implementation of the planning function. The research highlighted the importance of a country-by-country approach in assessing sustainable development progress. The results underscore the importance of developing tailored strategies for achieving the SDGs, which are sensitive to each country’s specific conditions, strengths, and weaknesses in different aspects of sustainability. These conclusions are important for the shaping of policies and strategic planning for achieving the SDGs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management for Sustainable Future: Challenges, Innovations and Organizational Performance)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Corporate Governance on Firms’ Sustainability Performance: Case Study of BIST 50 Index Companies

by Serhii Lehenchuk, Iryna Zhyhlei, Olena Ivashko, Ihor Chulipa and Bogdan Wit

Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9904; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229904 - 13 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1401

Abstract

Purpose: the purpose of this study is to investigate whether corporate governance mechanisms and attributes influence the sustainability performance of companies included in the BIST 50 Index. Results and contributions: Regression analysis showed that there was a significant positive influence of board tenure on sustainability performance and all its types; board size on environmental performance; and a dummy variable for board evaluation externally facilitated and company size on sustainability, environmental, and social performance. A significant negative impact of director attendance at board meetings on social performance was also revealed. This study contributes to the literature on the role of corporate governance in achieving the SDGs for BIST 50 Index companies, highlighting the significant impact of its individual indicators on the achievement of sustainability performance. Methodology: The authors reviewed 45 sustainability reports of BIST 50 Index companies for 2023. Four indices—Sustainability Performance, Environmental Performance, Social Performance, and Corporate Governance Performance Indexes—were developed to characterize sustainability performance and its types based on a content analysis of sustainability disclosures. To analyze the influence of mechanisms and characteristics of the corporate governance system on sustainability performance, eight independent variables were used: board size, number of board meetings, director attendance at board meetings, board independence, board tenure, a dummy variable for board evaluation externally facilitated, a dummy variable for internal auditors present, and a dummy variable for CEO and Chair functions combined. Two control variables, company size and leverage, were used as well. Gap: Today, the scientific literature has no universal approach and understanding of how the corporate governance system should be developed to improve sustainability performance or its individual components. Relevance: Development of a corporate governance system is one of the ways to increase the level of sustainability performance of companies. Impact: The results of the study made it possible to produce several recommendations (expand the number of board members, develop an effective procedure for regular changes of general directors in company boards, introduce independent external control tools in the corporate governance systems of companies) that will lead to the achievement of SDGs 5, 8, 16. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management for Sustainable Future: Challenges, Innovations and Organizational Performance)

24 pages, 3823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Science and Innovation Management: Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 9 as Challenges for Poland

by Valery Okulich-Kazarin, Artem Artyukhov, Łukasz Skowron, Tomasz Wołowiec and Yuliia Bokhonkova

Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9668; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229668 - 6 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1529

Abstract

This manuscript continues the series of research publications on Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 9 (SDGs 8 and 9). Innovations play an essential role in the global and national economies, as they contribute to the growth of economic productivity, the creation of new products, services, and jobs, and improve the quality of life. In the context of innovation, economy and artificial intelligence (AI) are the ideological and technological components of the innovation process. The authors hypothesized that the Polish system for assessing the importance of scientific economic journals is ineffective for social development and for creating an innovation-based economy. The research methods are a scientometric analysis of 795,070 scientific sources by the keywords “Economy” and “Artificial Intelligence”, a bibliometric analysis of 219,739 sources by the keywords “Economy”, “Economic productivity”, and “Innovation”, correlation analysis, and testing statistical hypotheses. The study led to the adoption of an alternative statistical hypothesis, which is a strong confirmation of the basic hypothesis. A new model for assessing the weight of scientific journals was created based on the existing system. Two management recommendations were formulated in the rules for determining the weight of journals. The high R² value indicates that the new model effectively predicts the result. The correlation coefficient of the weight of journals in the new model is more than 98%. When verifying statistical hypotheses, a high significance level of 99.0 was used. The study’s practical significance is in the movement of Polish science to a leading place in the world market of scientific products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management for Sustainable Future: Challenges, Innovations and Organizational Performance)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 8530 KiB

Open AccessReview

SDG 4, Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence: Clash or Win-Win Cooperation?

by Artem Artyukhov, Tomasz Wołowiec, Nadiia Artyukhova, Sylwester Bogacki and Tetiana Vasylieva

Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8483; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198483 - 29 Sep 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3970

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), academic integrity as its part, and artificial intelligence (AI) through a bibliometric analysis, assessing whether this intersection represents a clash or win-win cooperation. SDG 4 aims to ensure equitable access to quality education, while AI technologies have the potential to enhance educational practices but demote academic integrity. By analyzing a comprehensive body of the literature, this study identifies key trends and thematic areas where AI is applied in educational settings, particularly concerning maintaining academic integrity. The findings reveal a growing body of research highlighting AI’s role in personalizing learning experiences, improving educational accessibility, and supporting educators’ teaching methodologies. However, challenges such as ethical considerations, data privacy, and the digital divide are also addressed, indicating potential conflicts that need to be navigated. Ultimately, this analysis suggests that while there are significant opportunities for synergy between AI and SDG 4, the management of careful implementation and policy frameworks is essential to ensure that AI serves as a tool for promoting inclusive and sustainable education rather than exacerbating existing inequalities. AI transforms science management by enhancing data analysis, streamlining research processes, and improving decision-making, ultimately leading to more efficient and effective scientific research and innovation. The findings reveal that while AI can facilitate personalized learning and enhance educational accessibility, it also poses challenges related to academic misconduct, such as plagiarism and the misuse of AI-generated content. This duality highlights the need for educational institutions to develop robust frameworks that leverage AI’s capabilities while safeguarding academic integrity. The article concludes that a collaborative approach, integrating AI into educational practices with a strong emphasis on ethical considerations and integrity, can lead to a synergistic relationship that supports the goals of SDG 4. Recommendations for future research and practical implications for managers, educators, scientists, and policymakers are also discussed, emphasizing the importance of fostering an educational environment that embraces innovation while upholding ethical standards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management for Sustainable Future: Challenges, Innovations and Organizational Performance)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Management for Sustainable Future: Challenges, Innovations and Organizational Performance

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI