Original scientific paper

Controlling and Sustainability: Empirical Evidence from Europe

Alexandra Rausch ; Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Austria
Nidzara Osmanagić Bedenik ; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Irene Fafaliou ; University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
Davor Labas ; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Malgorzata Porada-Rochon ; Faculty of Management and Economics of Services, University of Szczecin, Poland

Abstract

This paper analyses the level of development of current controlling practice and sustainable
development in four selected European countries, i.e. Austria, Croatia, Greece, and
Poland. It specifi cally aims to increase the awareness for country-specifi c differences and
to capture key factors and shortcomings that companies experience in controlling and sustainable
business practice. We hypothesize that companies in more mature countries have
a higher level of development in this respect than companies in less mature countries. To
this end, we use a questionnaire and a sample of 146 companies. Contrary to our hypotheses
we reveal that besides Austrian Croatian companies are more advanced in controlling
and sustainability than Greek companies. Furthermore, instead of Austria Poland appears
to form a country-cluster with Greece. Based on these fi ndings business executives and
public offi cers should be able to cope with present shortcomings in a more appropriate way
and to initiate improvements towards sustainability against country-specifi c backdrops.

Keywords

Corporate sustainability; sustainable development; controlling practice; Europe; empirical survey

Hrčak ID:

102024

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/102024

Publication date:

1.5.2013.

Visits: 2.335 *