Conservation through conversation? Therapeutic engagement on biodiversity and extinction between NGOs and companies

Atkins, Jill F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8727-0019, Atkins, Barry, Maroun, Warren, Barone, Elisabetta and Gozman, Danny 2023. Conservation through conversation? Therapeutic engagement on biodiversity and extinction between NGOs and companies. Business Strategy and the Environment 32 (5) , pp. 2631-2647. 10.1002/bse.3144

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Abstract

Adopting a theoretical framework from social narrative therapy, this paper examines how new realities are being constantly created as the corporate narrative is rewritten or ‘re-storied’ through engagement between NGO–therapists and corporate–clients. Detailed interviews are conducted with 21 NGOs operating in a developing economy and working with local and multi-national companies. The research reveals how the relationship between NGOs and companies has shifted from an adversarial one (reported in earlier studies) to one characterised by constructive dialogue, facilitation and mediation. The engagements have ‘therapeutic’ properties and offer one solution for tackling the impacts which modern business practices are having on biodiversity. An extensive review of narrative and social constructionist perspectives across business ethics, organisations and accounting is beyond the scope of this paper. The discussion and analysis are limited to the application of narrative approaches to counselling to NGO–company relationships.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Business (Including Economics)
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	0964-4733
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	12 April 2023
Date of Acceptance:	23 September 2021
Last Modified:	01 Aug 2023 16:31
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/158619

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