Acting on the Norwegian Transparency act: interpretation and implementation

Abstract

The chapter delves into the ramifications of Norway’s Transparency Act (Åpenhetslo-ven, 2021), which was enacted on 1stof July, 2022, compelling businesses to fosterhuman rights and fair working conditions in their supply chains through enhancedtransparency. It scrutinizes the interpretation and operationalization of The Actwithin two distinct companies, employingthe Knowledge Transfer as Translation(KTT) theory–traditionally applied to knowledge transfer within corporate culture–to navigate The Act’s conversion into corporate actions. This exploration uncovers theobstacles and divergent compliance strategies among the firms, showing that TheAct’s indeterminate language and the specific resources and individuals within eachcompany lead to varied corporate reactions. Despite The Act’s objective to improvesupply chain transparency, the lack of clear norms or a unified understanding of thelegislation at this early stage results in inconsistent applications. The study also positsthat KTT offers a valuable framework for examining the enactment of not only ab-stract cultural issues but also tangible legal mandates, suggesting its broader applica-bility in legal interpretation and corporate action alignment.

Acting on the Norwegian Transparency act: interpretation and implementation