A Decision Theory Perspective on Wicked Problems, SDGs and Stakeholders: The Case of Deforestation

Abstract The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an opportunity to address major social and environmental challenges. As a widely agreed framework they offer potential way mobilise stakeholders on global scale. manner in which the goals, with time-based targets specific metrics, set out within voluntary reporting process adopted by both governments business, provides fascinating important case for organisational studies. It is about advancing performance measurement evidence-based policy-making sustainable development, also participation consultation at wider, more scale, than has ever been possible before. This paper contributes notion of SDGs as wicked problem, answering calls deeper theorisation, via synthesis core ideas management field decision theory. A study problem deforestation its links supply chains, multi-stakeholder initiatives SDG reporting, illustration relevance application theory problems, presented using novel conceptual framework. helps illustrate new avenues research practical regarding balance technocratic participative approaches development.