'Environmental Stakeholder Influence on Corporate Environmental Responsibility: the Role of Organisational Reciprocity and Institutional Context' Leadership, Organisations, Behaviour and Reputation Research Seminar

Professor Varella's research explores the institutionalisation of sustainability, organizational decision-making, and governance, with publications in leading journals like The Leadership Quarterly, Organizational Science and the Journal of Business Ethics. He is a member of the Academy of Management and has presented at major international conferences and served as a conference chair and president of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada.

Prior to transitioning to academia, Professor Varella had a distinguished career in business strategy, governance and sustainable development. He worked for 11 years in Brazil's agribusiness sector, specialising in farming and chemical fertilisers. He holds a PhD in Business Strategy and an MBA in Finance from the University of Calgary, Canada, after completing his BSc in Agriculture at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. He joined Mount Royal University in 2006, where he teaches courses in Business Strategy, Governance and Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management and previously served as Chair of the Department of Management and Human Resources (2011–2013) and Associate Dean (2013–2017). Professor Varella was also previously a Visiting Professor at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and Arizona State University, United States.

Abigail DiCastri holds a Bachelor's degree in International Business from Mount Royal University and a dual Master's degree in Management and Green Technology and Sustainability from the Burgundy School of Business in Lyon, France. Her Master's dissertation examined the role of immigration policy in fostering rural community sustainability in Canada, highlighting the intersection of policy, business, and social development. Following her Master's degree, she gained industry experience as a research analyst in a life sciences company, where she worked on projects related to access and innovation in the healthcare sector. With a strong interest and passion for sustainability, policy development and stakeholder engagement, Abigail joined a research project in 2024 centred on fostering innovation and collaboration in the sustainability space.

The topic of this presentation is 'Environmental Stakeholder Influence on Corporate Environmental Responsibility: the Role of Organisational Reciprocity and Institutional Context'. The seminar will focus on the influence of environmental non-governmental organisations (eNGOs) on corporate environmental responsibility (CER), highlighting the role of organisational reciprocity and institutional context. In response to increasing environmental challenges, corporations face growing pressure to integrate sustainability into their business models. eNGOs have emerged as critical actors in this dynamic, employing both adversarial and collaborative strategies to influence corporate behaviour. The research explores how eNGOs shape CER through a combination of direct advocacy, market-based campaigns and strategic partnerships.

The study frames CER as an essential component of corporate social responsibility (CSR), involving strategies to minimise environmental harm, improve resource efficiency and integrate sustainability into business operations. Drawing on stakeholder theory and institutional theory, the seminar will explore the proposal that the effectiveness of eNGO influence depends on strategic alignment, reciprocity and the broader institutional framework. Reciprocity is central to this dynamic, representing the mutual exchange of value, trust and resources between eNGOs and corporations. When firms perceive strategic benefits from aligning with eNGOs - such as increased legitimacy, market access and reduced reputational risk - they are more likely to adopt meaningful sustainability practices. Conversely, eNGOs enhance their influence by providing expertise, public credibility and collaborative solutions to complex environmental challenges.

Having based the study's empirical foundation is based on 54 in-depth interviews with senior environmental managers from eNGOs and corporate organisations across Canada, the Netherlands and the United States, this qualitative approach uncovers nuanced insights into the mechanisms. Through this approach, reciprocity, stakeholder influence and institutional contexts interact to drive CER. Findings indicate that successful eNGO influence is contingent on stakeholder saliency - defined by power, legitimacy, urgency and proximity - as well as the institutional environment.

The research underscores the strategic importance of balancing adversarial and cooperative approaches, where eNGOs act both as watchdogs and partners. The study concludes that the effectiveness of eNGO influence on CER is moderated by institutional depth and path dependencies, highlighting the need for adaptive governance structures that foster reciprocal stakeholder relationships and long-term sustainability commitments. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of business-society interactions, emphasising the evolving role of eNGOs in promoting corporate environmental stewardship.

The seminar is for an internal audience and will be held on 8 May 2025, 1:00pm, in room LG01 of the Henley Business School building, Whiteknights campus. For those unable to attend in person there is also the option to dial in remotely via Microsoft Teams. If you are interested in joining, please contact Alex Baker on a.j.baker@henley.ac.uk

After the seminar has concluded, Professor Varella will lead a management education session on 'The Imperative of Sustainable Management: From Academic Research to Actionable Knowledge and Management Education' with members of faculty and research students from 2:15pm. This session will be interactive, including pre-readings, participant research sharing and group discussions to develop practical insights for teaching and applying sustainability in business. The session's goals are to integrate sustainability into business curricula and align business ethics with strategic management. Expected outcomes include a deeper understanding of how to teach and implement sustainability, useful teaching tools and a collaborative network of professionals focused on sustainable management. The session will explore the growing importance of sustainability in strategic management, business ethics and management education, aiming to bridge the gap between academic research and business practice. It will emphasise the need for firms to integrate sustainability into their core strategies to enhance long-term competitiveness and profitability, recognising that environmental and social challenges are both strategic and moral imperatives.

Members of LOBR faculty may also request to book a one to one meeting with Professor Varella on 8 May 2025. Each appointment will last 30 minutes, between 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Slots are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To arrange an appointment, please contact Alex Baker on a.j.baker@henley.ac.uk

LOBR research seminars are co-ordinated by Professor Bernd Vogel and Dr Anastasiya Saraeva.