Analysis of ESG strategies focused on organizational culture management: A case study in Colombian organizations

Abstract

Introduction or Problem Statement: In the 21st century, organizations face global challenges that demand a paradigm shift toward sustainability. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies are emerging as a comprehensive framework to guide business actions toward a sustainable future. While adopting ESG offers numerous benefits, its effective implementation requires a profound cultural transformation within the organization. In the Colombian context, economic and social diversity, coupled with the lack of a clear methodology that integrates organizational culture into ESG strategy, presents a significant challenge. This research seeks to analyze the impact of ESG strategy on organizational culture in Colombia, exploring trends and methodologies at the global, regional, and national levels, and identifying corporate practices in the country. The main objective is to propose an ESG strategy by presenting tools aligned with organizational culture across all Colombian economic sectors.

The research is based on a review of the literature on organizational psychology, the evolution of ESG strategies globally and in Latin America, and the specific context of ESG strategy in Colombia, including its regulatory framework and the actions of leading companies. The growing importance of organizational culture as a key factor for the successful adoption of ESG practices is highlighted.
The materials and methods employed were those of qualitative content analysis research. The sample consisted of five Colombian organizations recognized for their ESG strategy implementation, selected through purposive non-probability sampling. An analytical matrix was used to examine publicly available documentary information from these organizations, identifying patterns and trends through deductive reasoning.
The main findings reveal the diverse ESG strategies and methodologies implemented in the studied organizations. For example, Bancolombia and Postobón prioritize corporate teamwork, while Grupo Nutresa and Alpina focus on supporting stakeholder experiences. It was evident that organizational culture plays a fundamental role in the adoption and success of the ESG strategy, with corporate work, communication, support, and development plans being key tools for influencing culture. Additionally, six fundamental steps were identified for preparing sustainability reports aligned with the ESG strategy.
The research concludes that a comprehensive methodology is needed that incorporates organizational culture into the ESG strategy, adapted to the Colombian context. Tools are proposed for implementing the ESG strategy with a focus on organizational culture in the environmental, social, and governance dimensions. These tools should be implemented through collaborative work and effective communication with all stakeholders to embed these principles in the organizational DNA. Future research is suggested to explore the relationship between organizational culture and ESG performance through longitudinal studies and quantitative analyses, as well as to investigate how to overcome barriers to ESG implementation.