Enterprise Architecture as Strategic Enabler in ESG Transition and Resilience

This study positions Enterprise Architecture (EA) as a strategic enabler for harmonizing organizational strategies, processes, and technologies with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals for organizational resilience amid fragmented initiatives that often lead to systemic risks and inefficiencies. Grounded in stakeholder theory, institutional theory, and the resource-based view, we propose a framework where EA maturity enhances ESG performance through adaptive governance and stakeholder balance. Drawing from Australian case studies and global ESG challenges, we employ a mixed-methods approach to test hypotheses that EA maturity embeds ESG goals across business, information systems and technology layers, resolving trade-offs like renewable energy deployment versus biodiversity preservation. Regulatory pressures moderate these relationships, while stakeholder interest mediates, and EA capabilities mitigate conflicts. This emerging research offers a pragmatic roadmap for organizations to navigate complex environments, integrating ESG into their core for coherent, resilient, and equitable value creation.