How ESG practices shape corporate brand value : a qualitative study of senior decision makers in the Sri Lankan manufactring sector | |
| Author | Roche, Brendon Tiburtious Tyrell |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.DBA-SOM-26-04 |
| Subject(s) | Social responsibility of business--Sri Lanka Manufacturing industries--Sri Lanka Corporate image |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This thesis report examines the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance Practices (ESGP) on Corporate Brand Value (CBV). The study addresses a critical knowledge gap and a vital business research need for a country like Sri Lanka, where export market development and foreign direct investment are key economic strategies and priorities, in which the manufacturing industry plays a vital role. Previous research on the ESGP-CBV relationship has been predominantly qualitative, yielding inconsistent and inconclusive findings. These earlier findings often overlooked the business perspectives and contextual factors relevant to the ESGP-CBV relationships, as well as the specific business reasons applicable to emerging markets like Sri Lanka, where the manufacturing sector lags significantly in ESGP adoption and has a comparatively lower CBV compared to other industries.This study adopts an interpretivist philosophical standpoint and a grounded theory-based qualitative approach. The research explores the subjective experiences and underlying motivations of decision-makers, a crucial aspect often overlooked by quantitative methods. To achieve its objectives, the study employed semi-structured interviews with 28 senior decision makers from listed Sri Lankan capital goods manufacturing companies. Their perspective is used to explain how ESGP shapes CBV. A process of coding was employed for the analysis of data collected through the interviews to arrive at findings using a qualitative approach.Key findings reveal a complex and context-dependent relationship. While most participants (75%) perceived ESGP\'s impact on CBV as limited and long-term, a notable minority (25%) recognized a significant and short-term impact. Understanding local economic conditions and ESGP influences this distinction. The study identified seven factors that explain the relationship between ESGP-CBV. Those are ESGP as a reputation builder, a brand differentiator, a strategic tool, a driver of improved brand governance, a positive factor due to global funding institution involvement ("halo effect"), and a catalyst for market access, which positively affects CBV. This research bridges the knowledge, practice, and theoretical gaps by providing empirical evidence from an emerging market context, introducing novel concepts such as the "halo effect" of international funding, and highlighting the significant impact of brand governance on CBV. It underscores ESGP\'s strategic importance for sustainable growth and enhanced CBV, thereby contributing to global competitiveness, particularly in light of the new mandatory ESGP disclosure standards and Sri Lanka\'s strategic economic goals. |
| Year | 2026 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Management |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Publication code = DBA-SM, SM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Levermore, Roger |
| Examination Committee(s) | Zimmermann, Willi;Pisut Koomsap |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Scholarship |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2026 |
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