Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2016, 64(3), 1053-1065 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun201664031053

Perception and Interpretation of Sustainability Among the Largest Corporations Established in the Czech Republic

Petr Petera, Jaroslav Wagner, Kateřina Knorová
Department of Management Accounting, Faculty of Finance and Accounting, University of Economics, Prague, nám. W. Churchilla 4, 130 67 Praha 3, Czech Republic

The paper addresses perception and interpretation of sustainability among the largest corporations established in the Czech Republic. Despite the fact that the amount of literature on sustainability is substantial, there is lack of empirical investigation into understanding sustainability among corporations established in the Czech Republic. We used qualitative methodology (semi-structured interviews) to investigate how the largest corporations established in the Czech Republic understand and deal with sustainability-related issues. Key sustainability-related themes are identified and discussed in the paper. On the basis of comparison of our results with the prior literature it is possible to sum up that our findings are mostly in accordance with previous research. Majority of our respondents perceive sustainability as containing economic, environmental and social dimension and their sustainability-related initiatives are both internally and externally oriented. Reporting on sustainability is relatively new topic for respondents, but its importance is growing. The key future challenges include better integration of sustainability-related initiatives into the core business activities, implementation of sustainability accounting and standardization of sustainability reporting (probably on the basis of the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines).

Keywords: understanding sustainability, sustainability-related initiatives, motives for dealing with sustainability, reporting on sustainability, reporting standards, Global Reporting Initiative, stakeholders
Grants and funding:

This paper describes the outcome of research financed by the Internal Grant Agency of the University of Economics, Prague, Grant No. F1/42/2014 (IG107014).

Prepublished online: July 4, 2016; Published: July 1, 2016  Show citation

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Petera, P., Wagner, J., & Knorová, K. (2016). Perception and Interpretation of Sustainability Among the Largest Corporations Established in the Czech Republic. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 64(3), 1053-1065. doi: 10.11118/actaun201664031053
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