The role of aesthetics and art in organizational sustainability: A conceptual model and exploratory study in higher education

Abstract

There has been increased interest in the aesthetic dimension of environmental and social issues. This research explores the aesthetic dimension of sustainable development and sheds light on how organizational sustainability might be related with aesthetics and art. First, based on literature, a conceptual model is proposed, envisioning organizational sustainability as a continuous process of creating and consuming technical, social and aesthetic values, by and for different stakeholders. The model provides a novel approach to managing organizational sustainability as it complements previously developed technical approaches with aesthetics and art-based practices. Second, utilizing the model, several in-depth interview questions are developed, and directed to the executives of 11 universities located in Istanbul, Turkey to understand the role of aesthetics and art in organizational sustainability from a practical standpoint which is largely ignored in literature. Face-to-face meetings with the executives indicate that aesthetics and art appear to be underutilized as strategic elements such that no participant measures organizational aesthetic value. However, the executives regard stakeholder involvement as an integral part of a potential measurement process. They cite lack of awareness and harmony among stakeholders, budget constraints and limited vision of management as the major barriers to creating aesthetic value. Although the executives have diverse views about the future role of aesthetics and art, and their relationship with organizational sustainability, they tell that aesthetics and art-based practices contribute primarily to social sustainability while making partial and indirect contributions to economic and environmental sustainability, respectively.