Advancing eco-social strategic management

A Whole Systems Lens

Bibliographic Data

ID6454612
AuthorsSandra Waddock (0000-0003-1089-7686, Boston College, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume20
Issue6
Pages2335-2354
Publication date2025-07-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSustainability Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1862-4057 • E-ISSN: 1862-4065
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s11625-025-01723-6
OpenAlexW4412501535
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited120

This conceptual paper builds on understandings of social–ecological systems to advance a systems-based, holistic eco-social (ecological and social or social–ecological, SES) lens for the field of strategic management by taking a whole systems perspective that adds to the field’s currently dominant corporate centric orientation. It particularly focuses on how core strategic management frameworks need to shift to accommodate such a whole systems perspective moving beyond the field’s current firm-centric orientation. The paper examines the ways in which eco-socially informed core strategy frameworks, including SWOT analysis, the five forces framework, the resource-based view of the firm and dynamic capabilities framework, balanced scorecard, and PEST(LE) analysis, need to and can take a whole systems approach and encompass eco-social not just profitability, market share, and competitive advantage considerations, to ensure the wellbeing of all humans and the rest of nature

Biology · Business · Economics · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Landscape ecology · Lens (geology · Political science · Process management · Sustainable development · Through-the-lens metering · Complex Systems and Decision Making · Engineering · Environmental Sustainability in Business · Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy · Ecology

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Open DOIOpen Access