Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book redefines the notions of corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and leadership. It argues that much of the management literature prioritizes a market approach to business that seeks to maximize economic gain often at the expense of society and the natural environment. The book examines the recent manifestations of responsible leadership by showcasing the responsible practices and strategies of five sustainability champions from the Arab world. It investigates how corporate sustainability integrates social, environmental and economic aspects as a whole, which they believe is crucial to a firm's long-term success and survival. The book explores decision making in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments against which CSR and sustainability agendas take shape. It analyzes the corporate website of Waitrose and the policy documents of the John Lewis Partnership.