Varieties of Time in Business Sustainability Research: An Integrative Review and Research Agenda

Abstract

In this article, we tackle the lack of clarity in the conceptualization and substantive use of time in business sustainability research. We do so by means of an integrative review that synthesizes 172 papers published over the last 20 years across seven subject areas within business and management research. From our review, we developed a typology that highlights three primary categories that differentiate various conceptualizations and uses of time in business sustainability literature: (a) temporal resourcing, (b) temporal structuring, and (c) temporal prospecting for sustainability. The typology organizes a body of literature that remains scattered, provides conceptual clarity, and opens avenues for future empirical research and theorization in the space.