EXPLORING SUSTAINABILITY EMBEDDEDNESS
AND THE ROLE OF SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP IN DENEL:

A CASE STUDY IN THE DEFENSE SECTOR

Mocheko Tinnes PHELA

Catherine LE ROUX

Lynette CRONJE

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University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

DOI: 10.64404/JoDRM.2025.1.05

Issue: Vol. 16, Issue 1 (30) / 2025

Abstract

         Sustainability embeddedness is crucial for the long-term viability of enterprises in the defense sector, particularly within state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that face financial, governance and operational challenges. This study addresses a critical gap in literature by exploring the limiting issues inhibiting sustainability embeddedness in Denel, a key South African defense enterprise, and offers a better understanding of the role of sustainable leadership in addressing these inhibitors. Guided by a qualitative case study approach, virtual semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve senior managers and executives at Denel. Findings identify six key inhibitors to sustainability embeddedness: Political Meddling, Working in Silos, Inadequate Communication, An Unconducive Legal Framework, Corruption, and Decreasing Budget of the Department of Defense. The study highlights the role of sustainable leadership in addressing the inhibitors to sustainability embeddedness, which includes Educating Stakeholders, Adopting Good Organizational Values, Establishing Inclusivity, Practising Total Quality Management, Fostering Stakeholder Engagement, and Continuously Improving Systems and Resource Investment. The research contributes to scholarship on sustainability integration in defense SOEs by offering practical insights for policymakers and defense industry leaders aiming to institutionalise sustainability through context-responsive leadership practices.

Key words

        Sustainability Embeddedness, Sustainable Leadership, Defense Industry, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Governance Challenges, South Africa

Cite this article: PHELA, M., & LE ROUX, C., & CRONJE, L. (2025). EXPLORING SUSTAINABILITY EMBEDDEDNESS AND THE ROLE OF SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP IN DENEL: A CASE STUDY IN THE DEFENSE SECTOR, Journal of Defense Resources Management, 16:2, 73 - 100, https://doi.org/10.64404/JoDRM.2025.1.05

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