Building Positive Experiences For Sustainable Development

Consumers, employees, executives – everyone in society, including students and retirees, faces the constant challenges of suppression of free expression and changes of accelerated technology advancements across life domains. In the age of wide application of artificial intelligence (AI), just a few years into the post-pandemic era with heightened geo-political conflicts, businesses and organizations regularly strategize digital transformation and constant innovation to stay competitive and relevant to their customers’ needs. At the same time, individuals constantly undergo the exercise of upskilling or reskilling to thrive. As the research and practice world connects and advances, the science of management focuses on managing well-being, work engagement, happiness, and creative working experiences while simultaneously managing productivity, performance, and efficiency. This symposium synthesized multi-disciplinary research on people- centered management practices supporting sustainable human capital. We aimed to summarize a series of research on targeting and connecting consumers, employees, and executives (CHO) at the workplace for a positive experience and psychological health as the foundation for future sustainable development. The future is uncertain; if we all must face it, let us build positivity and sustainability along the way. Overall, this symposium reveals the intersection of positivity, social sustainability, and employee-centered management as key drivers of long-term organizational success. Grounded in foundational theories such as self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), social information processing theory (Salancik & Pfeffer, 1978), career construction theory (Savickas, 2013), and stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1984), the session highlights how cultivating happiness, leveraging technology, rethinking rewards, and harnessing creativity can contribute to socially sustainable and ethically sound workplaces. These papers draw on positive organizational scholarship (Cameron & Spreitzer, 2011) and sustainable development principles (Brundtland, 1987) to propose actionable strategies and practices for fostering well-being, innovation, and resilience. Through four complementary research and presentations, including empirical and conceptual research and a comprehensive book, this symposium explores how organizations can align employee well-being with broader societal goals, reflecting the triple bottom line framework (Elkington, 1997) that emphasizes people, planet, and profit. By integrating theories into contemporary challenges such as digital transformation and global competition, these papers collectively offer a forward-thinking vision for building organizations that prioritize employee well-being, foster sustainable innovation, and create shared value for employees, consumers, and communities. Theoretical Contributions to Positivity and Social Sustainability in the Workplace • Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan, 2023): This symposium underscores how intrinsic motivation, driven by autonomy, competence, and relatedness, is essential for fostering employee happiness and engagement in organizational culture. • Positive Organizational Scholarship (Cameron & Spreitzer, 2011): By focusing on human flourishing, resilience, and positivity, the papers connect employee-centered management to a broader narrative of thriving and meaningful work. • Stakeholder Theory (Freeman, 1984): The research expands the traditional view of value creation by linking internal stakeholders (employees) to external ones (consumers and communities), emphasizing ethical practices that align with social sustainability. • Social Information Processing Theory (Salancik & Pfeffer, 1978): This theory provides insights into coworker voice behaviors and leader responsiveness, illustrating how social cues shape creativity and decision-making. • Sustainable Careers (De Vos, Van der Heijden, & Akkermans, 2020): This emerging theory emphasizes health, happiness, and productivity in one's professional life, encouraging research into career paths that are fulfilling and adaptable to changing circumstances. This session also engages with emerging frameworks such as digital sustainability (Binder & Wade, 2024) and total rewards systems (Fulmer & Li, 2022) to address contemporary challenges and opportunities posed by technological advancements. Expanded Perspective on Organizational Success The symposium positions positivity as a core driver of employee well-being, organizational resilience, and innovation. Through the integration of happiness into organizational culture (Empirical Paper Presentation 1#), ethical and meaningful use of AI and big data (Conceptual Paper Presentations 2#), and strategic motivation and reward management (Book Presentation 3#), organizations can proactively address the evolving expectations of a socially conscious workforce and consumer base. The findings also emphasize the role of inclusive and empowering environments in unlocking creativity (Empirical Paper Presentation 4#) and fostering sustainable innovation. This research highlights how embedding ethical decision-making and positive psychology principles into management practices can ensure organizations remain adaptable and value-driven. From a global perspective, these insights align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth ) by demonstrating how socially sustainable management practices contribute to equitable growth and ethical corporate behavior. This symposium provides a comprehensive roadmap for fostering engaged employees, empowered consumers, and sustainable organizations by linking foundational theories with actionable strategies and responsible management practices. It paves the way for a future where human potential and societal well-being are at the heart of organizational success. Embedding Happiness into Organizational Culture: How CHOs Foster Employees’ Career Sustainability Author: Guorong Zhu; Salem State University Author: Samson Lv; - Aligning Consumer Satisfaction with Employee Engagement in Value Creation with Disruptive Technology Author: Emma Junhong Wang; Southern Connecticut State University Author: Zheni Wang; Southern Connecticut State University Rethinking Motivation and Reward: What We Know and What We Do Not Know Author: Zheni Wang; Southern Connecticut State University Unleashing Creativity: The Power of Coworkers’ Intuitive and Deliberate Voice Author: Mengyi Zhang; Tsinghua University Author: Jiawei Zheng;

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