Throstur Olaf Sigurjonsson – författare

Trust is the fundamental facilitator between actors in society, yet the past decade has seen the public openly question through demonstrations and elections whether business and political institutions deserve the trust society has placed in them—or whether the common person has been abandoned in favour of organisations and systems that are ‘too big to fail’. The tenth anniversary of the crisis that shook financial markets in the early years of this century provides a chance to reflect on institutions’ efforts to regain the trust lost in that debacle. It is particularly instructive to examine the steps that financial and governmental institutions have taken in one of the hardest-hit economies, Iceland. Those who witnessed the crisis and its aftermath know the wrenching effects it had on society, underscored by scepticism toward political and economic institutions.As the crisis spread almost worldwide, so too did the public’s disenchantment. Since Iceland was one of the first societies affected, it has had the most time to work on and chart its recovery. This collection addresses the broad theme of how institutions in the small, close-knit Icelandic society have gone about trying to recapture other institutions’ and the public’s trust. Insights from these studies expand our understanding of how institutions try to rebuild their relationships with communities in the face of political and economic change in fractured Western societies.

Often highlighted for being a microcosm within the greater global context, Icelandic businesses and institutions provide the perfect opportunity to advance knowledge of corporate governance and business ethics amidst once-in-a-lifetime events such as the 2008 Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.Corporate Governance and Business Ethics in Iceland provides real-world case studies of how institutions approach governance and ethics in a country where one organization’s actions often have a massive ripple effect throughout the entire nation. The book offers valuable insights to businesses around the world including themes as diverse as board independence, stakeholder relations, crisis management, environmental practices, international business, marketing ethics and privacy across a wide range of industries.The combination of current case studies coupled with a practical approach to academic theory is suitable for a wide range of readers, from undergraduate students to CEOs and boards of directors. Contributing to innovative discussions surrounding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks, Corporate Governance and Business Ethics in Iceland prompts sustainable and positive pathways forward.

This book presents a series of studies on organizations across Europe, displaying new perspectives on institutional resilience of affected governance structures during crisis. Such an approach to governance studies not only aims to provide readers with conceptual and practical knowledge on crisis experience of organizations, but also to equip them with necessary cognitive tools to perform well in a similar crisis context in the future. The book highlights knowledge on institutional resilience and delivers an enduring resource for researchers and students on a time of unprecedented crisis. Cross-national/sectorial interdependences in Europe are multiplying, while institutional reaction and international collaboration mechanisms are falling behind. The studies presented here aim to shape a conceptual understanding of students, academics, and practitioners considering these contemporary challenges and opportunities. They provide a valuable resource in the field of governance, sustainability, crisis management, innovation, and leadership.

This book presents a series of studies on organizations across Europe, displaying new perspectives on institutional resilience of affected governance structures during crisis.