Drivers of Sustainability Management and Reporting in Retailing

Duration of the project

01.03.2019. - 15.10.2019.

Countries and institutions involved in the project

flag-LT
Kaunas University of Technology
flag-DE
Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Science
flag-EE
University of Tartu
flag-LV
University of Latvia

Aim of the project

The retail sector represents 31% of the GDP and employs billions of people worldwide, with hypermarkets and supermarkets currently accounting for 35% of direct retail sales globally. Retailers exert a significant influence on sustainability issues due to their position in the supply chain between producers and customers (Wilson, 2015). While it is well known about economic, environmental and social features of sustainability management, considerably less is known about sustainability management and reporting of retailers, particularly in the Baltic countries.

The aim of this project is to organize a series of events assigned to foster German-Baltic cooperation in research of drivers of sustainability management and sustainability reporting in retailing companies.

This would be the 1st step of a wider research agenda, i.e. to share knowledge and to conduct a pilot study on drivers (general and sector-specific) influencing retailers’ sustainability management and reporting. As a consequence, the project will enable the creation of a Baltic-German research network for further research activities (to investigate also other industries) and joint research publications.

Potential speakers:

  1. Judith Putter (HSHL, Germany)
  2. Lina Dagilienė (KTU, Lithuania)
  3. Toomas Haldma (TU, Estonia)
  4. Ivita Faitusa (LU, Latvia)
  5. Practitioner (CEO of retailing chain, Lithuania)

Discussants:

  1. Practitioner (retailing, Germany).
  2. Representative from business associations (Lithuania).

Representative from government (Lithuania).

Main activities of the project

  1. Kick-off meeting (workshop) of project’s members on formation of research methodology: designing an interview guide for cases of retailing chains and steps for conducting study. HSHL, Marker Allee 76-78 59063 Hamm, Germany.
  2. Open lecture at HSHL, Germany.
  3. Conducting case studies on sustainability management and reporting of retailing chains in all countries participants: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Germany. The sample companies (chains) from Baltic countries will include one international company, one Baltic company (both represented in all Baltic countries) and one local company (chain) in every country.
  4. Open seminar on practices and challenges of retailers’ sustainability management and reporting. Initial findings of the case studies (see item 3) will be discussed and shared by scholars and practitioners. Venue – KTU, School of Economics and Business, Gedimino str. 50, Kaunas, Lithuania.

5. 2 lectures (delivered by German and Estonian partners) at KTU, School of Economics and Business, Gedimino str. 50, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Target group and number of persons involved

Direct:

  • Project participants (7) who will implement activities of this project;
  • Discussants invited to the workshop and open seminar (not project members) – 3;
  • Speaker invited to the open seminar (not project member) – 1;
  • Representatives of retailing companies chains (cases), who will take part in pilot study (interviews) on drivers influencing sustainability management and reporting in retailing – 4-6 interviewers from every partner country (totally around 20-24);
  • 2 students from KTU (1 master student and 1 PhD student,) 1 PhD student from TU, who could go to Germany, get more familiar with research activity and research methods, expand their knowledge to other industries and in this way contribute to their studies and thesis.

Total number of people in the direct target group around 30-35.

Indirect:

  • Students at HSHL, Germany, attending the open lecture (around 20 persons);
  • Practitioners, academic staff and other people attending the open lecture at HSHL, Germany (around 5 persons);
  • Academic staff (around 10 persons) from KTU and other Institutions, participating in the open seminar, KTU, Lithuania;
  • Practitioners, representatives of associations, politicians, students and other people attending open seminar at KTU, Lithuania (around 10 persons);
  • Students at KTU attending 2 lectures given by German and Estonian professors – around 50;
  • Other stakeholders (society) in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Germany, who will read articles about event published in universities’ media (of every partner) and other media if it will be accepted (around 100 readers).
  • International academic community, who will read a scientific paper based on the project results. This indirect target group will appear after finishing the project, i.e. presenting a paper in the scientific conference (around 100 readers).

Total number of people in the indirect target group around 270 – 290.

Public events

  1. Kick-off meeting (workshop) for developing research design, 1st week of April, in-between 01-05/04-2019, HSHL, Germany.

The event will be open only for the project team.

  1. Open lecture for International management students, 1st week of April, in-between 01-05/04-2019, HSHL, Germany.

Potential speakers: prof. dr. Lina Dagilienė; discussant practitioner from retailing business (Germany).

The event will be open for a wider audience.

  1. Open seminar on Drivers of retailers’ sustainability management and reporting, 09/11-10-2019, KTU, Lithuania.

Potential speakers:

  1. Judith Putter (HSHL, Germany)
  2. Lina Dagilienė (KTU, Lithuania)
  3. Toomas Haldma (TU, Estonia)
  4. Ivita Faitusa (LU, Latvia)
  5. Practitioner (CEO of retailing chain, Lithuania).

The event will be open for a wider audience.

  1. Lecture for Audit and accounting study program master students, 09/11-10-2019, KTU, Lithuania.

Potential speaker: prof. dr. Toomas Haldma (TU, Estonia)

The event will be open for a wider audience.

  1. Lecture for International management study program students, 09/11-10-2019, KTU, Lithuania.

Potential speaker: prof. dr. Judith Putter (HSHL, Germany)

The event will be open for a wider audience.

Press release