Detail Cantuman

Abstract The study empirically investigates the relationship
between corporate governance and the triple bottom
line sustainability performance through the lens of
agency theory and stakeholder theory. We claim, in fact,
that no single theory fully accounts for all the hypothesised
relationships. We measure sustainability performance
through manual content analysis on sustainability reports
of the US-based companies. The study extends the existing
literature by investigating the impact of selected corporate
governance mechanisms on each dimension of sustainability
performance, as defined by the GRI framework. Our
approach allows to identify which governance mechanisms
foster triple bottom line performance, also revealing that
some mechanisms fit only specific dimension(s) of sustainability.
The fact-based findings provide support for a
new beginning in the theorising process in which the theories
must try not only to provide rationale for the impact
of corporate governance on sustainability, but also to
explain which dimension of sustainability might be more
affected. The most important implication for practitioners
is the support for sustainability practices, which may be
gained through implementation of particular corporate
governance mechanisms. The findings contribute also to
the improvement of the ongoing standard setting process,
in particular as it concerns the in-depth revision of the
economic dimension of sustainability carried out under the
new GRI framework.
Keywords Corporate Governance  Board
independence  Sustainability performance  Agency
theory  Stakeholder theory