Abstract
PurposeThis study aims to understand the association between employee emotional capital, organizational commitment and implementation of the targeted sustainable development goals (SDGs) by businesses. It explores how the various emotional competencies possessed by employees of an organization and accumulated in the form of a capital, can be utilized to ensure effective pursuit of SDG implementation by businesses.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on extensive literature exploration to identify competencies crucial for SDG attainment by a business. The conceptual model built on the same is then tested by conducting a survey on working professionals. Subsequent statistical analysis is conducted to establish the relationship as defined in the theoretical model.FindingsThe results of our analysis indicate a relationship between organizational commitment and emotional capital of the employees. In line with our conceptual framework, the statistical analysis also corroborates to the idea that emotional capital can improve the SDG attainment by an organization by influencing the organizational commitment. This study also identifies the specific emotional competencies which can play an important role in this direction.Originality/valueThis study connects the dots to establish a micro-meso-macro framework which can facilitate active participation of individuals and the businesses in achieving the SDGs. This study presents strong managerial and academic implications by identifying specific intervention areas which can and be focused upon by managers and academicians to focus on SDG implementation.