University of Twente Student Theses
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The effects of external pressures such as shareholder activism on corporate sustainability strategies in the Dutch high-emission fossil fuel industry: A media-based case study of Shell
Polderdijk, C. (2025) The effects of external pressures such as shareholder activism on corporate sustainability strategies in the Dutch high-emission fossil fuel industry: A media-based case study of Shell.
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| Abstract: | As climate change drives the global push for sustainability, understanding how companies respond to external pressure is crucial. This thesis investigates the impact of shareholder activism and other external forces on corporate sustainability strategies in the Dutch high-emission fossil fuel industry, with Shell serving as the primary case study. The Dutch context, known for its strong regulatory environment and active civil society, offers a unique lens for examining these interactions. Drawing on stakeholder and institutional theory, and using Frooman’s and Oliver’s frameworks, this research analyses qualitative media data from 2015 to 2025 to reveal how coordinated actions, such as shareholder resolutions, legal challenges, and public campaigns shape Shell’s sustainability commitments. The findings show that sustained, multi-level pressure led Shell to adapt its strategies in response to evolving stakeholder expectations. By applying Frooman’s stakeholder influence strategies and Oliver’s organisational response typology, this study shows how different types of external pressure influence a company’s decisions and the ways companies respond to these pressures. These theoretical insights help explain why some strategies by stakeholders are more effective than others and highlight the importance of coordinated action. This study provides practical insights for policymakers, investors, and activists aiming to accelerate sustainability transitions in high-emission industries and serves as a model for similar contexts elsewhere. |
| Item Type: | Student Thesis (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 85 business administration, organizational science |
| Programme: | International Business Administration BSc (50952) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106687 |
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