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Publications (7 of 7) Show all publications
Rahi, A. F., Johansson, J. & Lions, C. (2024). Reinventing the wheel? Factors influencing relationship: links between sustainability and financial performance. European evidence. International Journal of Accounting and Information Management, 32(1), 147-177
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Reinventing the wheel? Factors influencing relationship: links between sustainability and financial performance. European evidence
2024 (English)In: International Journal of Accounting and Information Management, ISSN 1834-7649, E-ISSN 1758-9037, Vol. 32, no 1, p. 147-177Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the factors that influence the relationship between sustainability and financial performance (FP) of the European listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach: This study analyzed data from 795 companies in 21 European countries by applying linear mixed-effects multilevel regressions, a two steps system generalized method of moments and quantile regression models to uncover the links between sustainability and FP.

Findings: The past four decades have witnessed abundant research to determine the relationship between corporate sustainability and FP. Thus, conducting further research in 2023 could be seen as “reinventing the wheel.” Yet, earlier research considered firms as isolated entities with sustainability and FP being dependent only on that firm’s actions. By contrast, with the help of network governance theory, this study shows that a firm’s sustainability and FP depend on an interplay among interorganizational actors, such as institutional qualities, macroeconomic factors and an embrace of sustainability. Here, large firms play an essential role. Three significant findings are drawn. First, sustainability performance has a significant impact on FP in the European context. Second, the institutional quality (IQ) of the rule of law and control of corruption plays a crucial role in enhancing sustainability and FP, and finally the interaction of IQ and economic growth helps to increase companies’ market value (Tobin’s Q). The consistent and empirically robust findings offer key lessons to policymakers and practitioners on the interplay among multiple actors in corporate sustainability and FP.

Practical implications: A synergetic multifaced relationship between governmental institutions and corporations is inevitable for ensuring sustainable development. The degree of intimacy in the relationship, of course, will be determined by the macroeconomic environment.

Originality/value: In this research, this study theoretically and empirically identified that corporate sustainability and FP are not solely dependent on corporate operation. Rather, it is transformed, modified and shaped through an interaction of multiple actors’ trajectories in the macro business environment.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2024
Keywords
Sustainability, Financial performance, Network governance theory (NGT), Institutional quality, Macroeconomic factors, ESG, Corporate responsibility
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Business Studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-217226 (URN)10.1108/ijaim-02-2023-0023 (DOI)001108351700001 ()2-s2.0-85178256297 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2023-11-27 Created: 2023-11-27 Last updated: 2024-07-02Bibliographically approved
Iftikhar, R. & Lions, C. (2022). Interorganizational knowledge sharing barriers and enablers: the case of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit project. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 15(5), 769-792
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Interorganizational knowledge sharing barriers and enablers: the case of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit project
2022 (English)In: International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, ISSN 1753-8378, E-ISSN 1753-8386, Vol. 15, no 5, p. 769-792Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose: The paper aims at identifying knowledge sharing barriers and enablers in an interorganizational setting at different levels of units. For this purpose, the interorganizational setting of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit project in Pakistan is examined.

Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts an exploratory single case study approach. The empirical data comprise semi-structured interviews and archival documents. Thematic analysis is used for analyzing the data.

Findings: The findings identify distinct knowledge sharing barriers and enablers at different level of units (individual, team, organizational and interorganizational). Based on the findings, an integrative framework of knowledge sharing barriers, enablers, and levels of units is proposed. Furthermore, the findings provide guidance to managers as the findings show how different knowledge sharing barriers and enablers are important at different levels of units.

Originality/value: This study novelty lies in determining separate sets of knowledge sharing barriers and enablers at different level of units in an interorganizational project. This study contributes to the literature on knowledge sharing by studying an interorganizational project.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2022
Keywords
Interorganizational project, Knowledge sharing, Knowledge sharing barriers, Knowledge sharing enablers, Levels of units
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-196131 (URN)10.1108/IJMPB-11-2021-0313 (DOI)000797116800001 ()2-s2.0-85130528894 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2022-06-15 Created: 2022-06-15 Last updated: 2024-07-02Bibliographically approved
Lions, C. & Iftikhar, R. (2021). Interorganizational knowledge sharing barriers and enablers: The case of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit project. In: : . Paper presented at British Academy of Management 2021 (BAM), Online, 31 Aug - 3 Sep, 2021..
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Interorganizational knowledge sharing barriers and enablers: The case of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit project
2021 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation only (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The paper aims at identifying knowledge sharing barriers and enablers in a temporary interorganizational setting at different levels of units. For this purpose, the in-depth interorganizational setting of Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit project in Pakistan is examined. This study adopts an exploratory single case study approach. The empirical data comprises semi-structured interviews and archival documents. Thematic analysis is used for analyzing the data. The findings identify distinct knowledge sharing barriers and enablers at different level of units such as individual, team, organizational and interorganizational levels. Based on the findings, the authors propose an integrative framework of knowledge sharing barriers, enablers, and levels of units. Furthermore, the findings provide guidance to managers as they show how different knowledge sharing barriers and enablers are important at different levels of units. This study contributes to the literature on knowledge-based theory by determining separate sets of knowledge sharing barriers and enablers at different level of units in an interorganizational project.

Keywords
Knowledge sharing, Knowledge sharing barriers, Knowledge sharing enablers, Levels of units, Interorganizational project.
National Category
Economics and Business
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-190485 (URN)
Conference
British Academy of Management 2021 (BAM), Online, 31 Aug - 3 Sep, 2021.
Available from: 2021-12-16 Created: 2021-12-16 Last updated: 2024-07-02Bibliographically approved
Lions, C. & Homayoun, S. (2018). Legitimacy gaps, CSR strategy and their effect on tax information. In: Yvette Lind (Ed.), Rättsliga och ekonomiska reflektioner över internationell skatteplanering: (pp. 196-225). Uppsala: Iustus förlag
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Legitimacy gaps, CSR strategy and their effect on tax information
2018 (English)In: Rättsliga och ekonomiska reflektioner över internationell skatteplanering / [ed] Yvette Lind, Uppsala: Iustus förlag, 2018, p. 196-225Chapter in book (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Legitimacy gaps are the results of flaws and inconsistencies of asymmetric information and imperfect financial markets. The objective of this paper is to explore the role of tax advisors and the challenges that they are facing on information obligation, within the framework of legitimacy and stakeholder theories, combined with current research concerning voluntary corporate social responsibility and sustainability disclosures. After introducing briefly the role of tax advisors related to information obligation, the paper discusses legitimacy theory and stakeholder theory along with different views on CSR strategies on tax used by managers to solve issues that create legitimacy gaps and also techniques to either gain, maintain or repair legitimacy. It explores the basics of stakeholder theory as a framework for CSR strategies on tax development and its practical uses. The final discussion is focusing on the role of tax advisors in disclosing information since taxation and sustainability considered together and appropriately combined are in the interest of all.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Uppsala: Iustus förlag, 2018
Keywords
legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, tax advisor, information, risk management
National Category
Law Business Administration
Research subject
sustainability; Law
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-156830 (URN)9789176789919 (ISBN)
Available from: 2019-02-28 Created: 2019-02-28 Last updated: 2024-07-02Bibliographically approved
Lions, C. (2014). Nokia: a financial story. Friends of Accounting, 18(24), 127-128
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Nokia: a financial story
2014 (Chinese)In: Friends of Accounting, ISSN 1004-5937, Vol. 18, no 24, p. 127-128Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
CHINA: , 2014
Keywords
NOKIA, financial management
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-95369 (URN)
Available from: 2014-10-28 Created: 2014-10-28 Last updated: 2024-07-02Bibliographically approved
Lions, C. (2012). Athelia: how can an old city survive teh death of French shipyards?. In: George Tesar & Jan Bodin (Ed.), Marketing management in geographically remote industrial clusters: implications for business-to-consumer marketing (pp. 123-150). Singapore: World Scientific
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Athelia: how can an old city survive teh death of French shipyards?
2012 (English)In: Marketing management in geographically remote industrial clusters: implications for business-to-consumer marketing / [ed] George Tesar & Jan Bodin, Singapore: World Scientific, 2012, p. 123-150Chapter in book (Refereed)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Singapore: World Scientific, 2012
Keywords
cluster, networking, market position
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-95371 (URN)9789814383059 (ISBN)
Available from: 2014-10-28 Created: 2014-10-28 Last updated: 2024-07-02Bibliographically approved
Lions, C. (2012). The Strategic Value of Social Capital: How Firms Capitalize on Social Assets, Francesca Masciarelli, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK (2010), 171 pp [Review]. Scandinavian Journal of Management, 28(3), 265-266
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The Strategic Value of Social Capital: How Firms Capitalize on Social Assets, Francesca Masciarelli, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK (2010), 171 pp
2012 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Management, ISSN 0956-5221, E-ISSN 1873-3387, Vol. 28, no 3, p. 265-266Article, book review (Refereed) Published
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2012
Keywords
value - social capital
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Business Studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-59102 (URN)10.1016/j.scaman.2012.03.005 (DOI)
Available from: 2012-09-11 Created: 2012-09-09 Last updated: 2024-07-02Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0001-6563-1944

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