Does the sustainability of universities influence their organizational legitimacy?

• Francisco Díez-Martín ^[1] ; Alicia Blanco-González ^[1] ; Gabriel Cachón-Rodríguez ^[1] ; Emilio Díez-de-Castro ^[2]
  1. [1] Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

     Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

     Madrid, España

     
  2. [2] Universidad de Sevilla

     Universidad de Sevilla

     Sevilla, España

     
• Localización: Culture and Education, Cultura y Educación, ISSN-e 1578-4118, ISSN 1135-6405, Vol. 37, Nº 1 (marzo), 2025, págs. 187-213
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • ¿La sostenibilidad de las universidades influye en su legitimidad organizativa?
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• Resumen
  • español

    Las explicaciones actuales sobre las consecuencias empresariales de alcanzar objetivos de sostenibilidad son incompletas. Este artículo proporciona evidencia empírica del efecto de la sostenibilidad ambiental y social en la legitimidad organizativa. Utilizando modelos de ecuaciones estructurales, en una muestra de 77 universidades públicas y privadas españolas, los resultados muestran que la consecución de objetivos de sostenibilidad ambiental y social influye positivamente en la legitimidad organizativa. Además, existe una relación positiva entre la sostenibilidad ambiental y la sostenibilidad social. En el campo de la legitimidad, esta investigación amplía nuestro conocimiento sobre los antecedentes de la legitimidad organizativa. En el campo de la sostenibilidad, arroja luz sobre los efectos de la sostenibilidad ambiental y social en las organizaciones. Al mismo tiempo, proporcionamos apoyo empírico al vínculo entre la sostenibilidad ambiental y social. Para los profesionales en activo, los resultados justifican la relevancia de acciones que apoyen la sostenibilidad ambiental y social.

  • English

    Current explanations of the business consequences of achieving sustainability goals are incomplete. This paper provides empirical evidence of the effect of environmental and social sustainability on organizational legitimacy. Using structural equation modelling, in a sample of 77 Spanish state and private universities, the results show that achieving environmental and social sustainability goals positively influences organizational legitimacy. Furthermore, there is a positive relationship between environmental sustainability and social sustainability. In the field of legitimacy, this research expands our knowledge on the antecedents of organizational legitimacy. In the field of sustainability, it sheds light on the effects of environmental and social sustainability on organizations. At the same time, we provide empirical support to the link between environmental and social sustainability. For practising professionals, the results justify the relevance of actions supporting environmental and social sustainability.

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