Unlocking sustainability impact: A systems thinking approach to identifying intraorganizational barriers

Corporate sustainability is a strategic imperative for business competitiveness nowadays. However, its implementation remains a challenge. Existing research often provides an oversimplified and static comprehension of the barriers to sustainability implementation in organizational contexts, overlooking their interconnected nature. To address this gap, a single case study was conducted to explore the barriers experienced by employees in supporting functions of a multinational corporation during sustainability projects. By adopting a systems thinking approach and analyzing 49 primary data sources, results show that although employees display diverse perspectives about sustainability, short-term thinking and focus on the business case are predominant mental models in the case company. These mental models generate structures that encourage resource competition, conflicting goals, and communication issues, ultimately fostering behaviors that prioritize short-term financial outcomes. Importantly, this study also illustrates the complex interplay between barriers and hindering factors associated with (inter)personal and company aspects. When individuals with differing views operate within a system that maintains the status quo, conflicting work-related attitudes and reduced engagement in sustainability efforts may emerge. This context ultimately intensifies difficulties in reaching consensus and shifts engagement towards symbolic initiatives. The study concluded that barriers to sustainability are deeply interconnected and rooted in ingrained mental models and structures. It recommends challenging prevailing mindsets, fostering dialogue, and promoting organizational cultures that encourage diverse perspectives and continuous learning. Ultimately, this research contributes to the field of corporate sustainability by employing a systems perspective and providing insights into the internal dynamics that affect sustainability implementation in organizational settings.