Table 2 Interview guideline Phase... | Emerald Publishing

Table 2

Interview guideline

Phase	Section	Interview questions	No.
Information phase	Introduction and background questions	Information about study objectives, procedure, data protection, personal data
Warm-up	Introduction and background questions	Warm-up questions on role, background, understanding of sustainability expertise and relevant sustainability topics
Main section	I. Identification, development, and distribution of sustainability expertise	How do you identify, acquire, and verify sustainability expertise within the supervisory board?	1
		To what extent do shareholder and employee representatives differ in acquiring or contributing sustainability expertise?	2
		Do the two groups emphasise different sustainability content areas?	3
	II. Interaction between shareholder and employee representatives	How do you experience the collaboration between the groups – where do synergies or conflicts arise?	4
		Who carries the greatest weight in discussions about sustainability issues on the supervisory board and why?	5
	III. Influence on decision-making within the supervisory board	Have you experienced situations where sustainability expertise within the supervisory board influenced the direction of a discussion or decision? If so, what was it about?	6
		Which formal structures (e.g. committees, reporting lines) accompany the influence of sustainability expertise – and how effective are they?	7
		Are there cases where sustainability expertise was used only symbolically? How do you recognise that?	8
	IV. Challenges and barriers	What are the biggest practical challenges (e.g. return pressure, politics) in integrating sustainability expertise into supervisory boards?	9
		Does the codetermination structure help to anchor sustainability aspects or make the process more difficult? Why?	10
		Which regulatory or cultural factors in Germany foster or hinder sustainability competence on supervisory boards?	11
Conclusion	Outlook, reflection and closing	Suggestions for improvement of board practice, future trends, open reflection on additional aspects to consider

Phase	Section	Interview questions	No.
Information phase	Introduction and background questions	Information about study objectives, procedure, data protection, personal data
Warm-up	Introduction and background questions	Warm-up questions on role, background, understanding of sustainability expertise and relevant sustainability topics
Main section	I. Identification, development, and distribution of sustainability expertise	How do you identify, acquire, and verify sustainability expertise within the supervisory board?	1
		To what extent do shareholder and employee representatives differ in acquiring or contributing sustainability expertise?	2
		Do the two groups emphasise different sustainability content areas?	3
	II. Interaction between shareholder and employee representatives	How do you experience the collaboration between the groups – where do synergies or conflicts arise?	4
		Who carries the greatest weight in discussions about sustainability issues on the supervisory board and why?	5
	III. Influence on decision-making within the supervisory board	Have you experienced situations where sustainability expertise within the supervisory board influenced the direction of a discussion or decision? If so, what was it about?	6
		Which formal structures (e.g. committees, reporting lines) accompany the influence of sustainability expertise – and how effective are they?	7
		Are there cases where sustainability expertise was used only symbolically? How do you recognise that?	8
	IV. Challenges and barriers	What are the biggest practical challenges (e.g. return pressure, politics) in integrating sustainability expertise into supervisory boards?	9
		Does the codetermination structure help to anchor sustainability aspects or make the process more difficult? Why?	10
		Which regulatory or cultural factors in Germany foster or hinder sustainability competence on supervisory boards?	11
Conclusion	Outlook, reflection and closing	Suggestions for improvement of board practice, future trends, open reflection on additional aspects to consider

Source(s): Created by author