Ethical Perceptions as Catalysts for Corporate Sustainability: Unveiling the managerial impact on Sustainable Policies

FRAME OF THE RESEARCH. This study explores the critical relationship between managerial ethical perceptions and corporate sustainability, emphasizing the impact of ethics on sustainable development and policies in both private and public sectors. PURPOSE OF THE PAPER. The objective is to analyze how ethical perceptions influence corporate sustainability initiatives and to identify factors affecting managerial decision-making in sustainability contexts. METHODOLOGY. Data were collected via a survey (N = 157 managers) conducted by the Italian Association for Managerial Training (ASFOR) across diverse organizations. The analysis was carried out using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the influence of ethical perceptions on sustainability outcomes. RESULTS. The findings confirm a significant positive relationship between managers’ ethical perceptions and sustainable development outcomes. Private sector managers, on average, exhibited higher ethical awareness than their public sector counterparts, which correlates with more effective implementation of sustainability initiatives. Furthermore, a robust ethical climate within an organization was found to significantly enhance the effectiveness of its sustainability policies. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS. The study is limited to Italian organizations, which may affect the generalizability of the results. Future research could expand to different geographical contexts. MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS. Organizations should develop clear ethical guidelines and training programs to align managerial perceptions with sustainability goals, fostering a culture of ethical engagement. ORIGINALITY OF THE PAPER. This research addresses a notable gap by explicitly linking managerial ethics with tangible sustainability outcomes. It offers a novel empirical framework for integrating ethical considerations into corporate strategy, demonstrating how ethics can be a catalyst for sustainable development and policy implementation.