This paper seeks to verify both the incorporation level of the Brazilian social and environmental challenges associated with the millenium development goals (MDGs) in the strategic planning of companies and the discrepancies found in the perceived interface between the business and those challenges.
The paper analyses the incorporation into strategic planning, business impact and importance to business of each MDG‐related issue. The universe comprises companies formally engaged with sustainability from various sectors. Data are based on web‐based quantitative investigation.
The results point out that the MDGs perceived as important to business – environmental issues and education – are also those most incorporated in strategic planning. Poor housing supply and conditions and public health are at the bottom of both the importance and the incorporation lists. Negative impacts of business are hardly perceived.
The results found a call for a better elaboration on governance structures and on the roles of the state and of the business in tackling certain social issues, besides a reflection on the necessary conditions to build the capacity of the state.
Unclearly perceived interface between companies and social issues signal that further work is needed by business schools on that matter.
The paper indicates how much the MDG‐related issues permeate strategic planning. While these issues are associated with weak governmental performance, the paper identifies their limitations along the private sector by revealing which issues are more easily absorbed, and which might need other approaches to be tackled by society.
