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The role of institutional factors in achieving SDG 16: A thematic review of drivers of corporate anti-corruption action

  • Ajai Prakash* Ajai Prakash Corresponding author Associate Professsor Department of Management, University of Lucknow, India India Ajai Prakash ORCID Id ,  
  • Ajitesh Kumar Tiwari Ajitesh Kumar Tiwari ResearchScholar, Department of Management, University of Lucknow, India.in India Ajitesh Kumar Tiwari ORCID Id
Received: March 20, 2025
Accepted: April 25, 2025
Published: June 13, 2025
Volume: 1 (1) | Page: 29-42

Abstract

The persistent problem of corporate corruption undermines market development and competition. The negative impacts of corporate misconduct are complex and show up differently for various stakeholder groups. Almost all national and international forums in the fields of academia, business, and government are reviving the need for more regulatory monitoring to reduce corruption. In particular, reducing corruption and bribery in all its manifestations, including bribery in business, is the aim of target 16.5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 (UN SDG). The corporate community needs to put more effort into understanding their organizational environments and their vulnerabilities. Therefore, this study aims to identify the elements found in the organization's internal architecture that could expose it to vulnerabilities related to corporate corruption. It explores in great detail how the organization's ethical stance affects the corruption problem. The study has investigated the dominant leadership style and how it affects staff morale when dealing with immoral requests. The awareness of how rules affect organizational responses to corporate anti-corruption challenges requires cognizance of the organizational approach to the desired regulatory mode of operation.

Keywords: corporate corruption, anti-corruption in business, Business ethics, leadership style, regulatory approach, SDGs

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