Business and Sustainable Development; Business Purpose, in Search of Improvement in the Business and Society Relationship

In the light of continuing criticism of business in matters of CSR, this thesis investigates the propensity for business to connect legitimately with society in matters pertinent to sustainable development. The study utilises elite interviews and follows the animated interview technique. The emerging notions of business purpose are found to be congruent with promoting the implementation of the SDGs and to offer a significant change dynamic regarding the need to achieve transformational change at scale. However broad take up of business purpose is not assured. The dynamic is found to be impeded by deficits at the business and policy community interface rooted in lack of trust and mutual understanding between them. This is illustrated by the prime example of the need for co-operation to construct enabling legislation for business purpose. Complexity in the governance of SD, which the thesis positions as meta-responsibility where business is a crucial actor, is brought out. Situated in this meta-responsibility, a deficit in the contribution of HE input through the provision of business and management education for CSR is found in teaching, research, external engagement and governance. Detriment caused by the UK culture of marketisation and performativity in the setting of austerity funding is identified. Further, the need for HE institutions to declare purpose pertinent to public value relevant to SD, and for alternative business school models based on new ranking systems is found. The thesis makes a theoretical contribution by placing the emerging notions of business purpose within the Political CSR theory. Further, it follows call in the literature to progress the CSR theory through literature synthesis and alignment, here by utilising the Political CSR theory as a frame. Finally, managerial and policy implications are raised with a business focus and with a focus on HE input.