An institutional theory perspective on the implementation of corporate social responsibility within large firms : empirical and conceptual considerations

Risi, David

Publication type:	Doctoral thesis
Title:	An institutional theory perspective on the implementation of corporate social responsibility within large firms : empirical and conceptual considerations
Authors:	Risi, David
Advisors / Reviewers:	Beschorner, Th. Steyaert, C.
Issue Date:	2017
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Difo-Druck
Language:	English
Subject (DDC):	658.4: Executive Management
Abstract:	In front of the revived debate on sustainable development and the postulation that business organizations provide solutions to resolve social problems, firms are increasingly engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). While CSR is widely considered as “best practice”, its implementation remains limited as CSR requires a new way of conducting business, namely a systematic integration of social, environmental and ethical concerns into business conduct. While large firms face especially great pressures to adopt CSR, they have to undertake substantial efforts to coordinate the translation of CSR into organizational practices and processes. Against this background, this PhD project addresses the question of how large firms implement CSR. By means of an inductive qualitative research approach, the project investigates three different empirical aspects of how large firms implement CSR through an institutional theory lens. First, the focus lies on the CSR management function’s access to resources in the course of CSR implementation. Second, the attempt is made to model the relationship between institutionalization and professionalization in the CSR context. Third, the analysis addresses the industry-specific manifestation of a particular CSR practice, namely Socially Responsible Investing within banks and insurance companies. Based on the empirical insights gained into CSR implementation, the final section of the project aims at conceptually developing a morally reflective institutional theory. Im Zuge der Debatte um nachhaltige Entwicklung und der Verantwortung, welche Unternehmen dabei tragen, engagieren sich diese vermehrt im Bereich von Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR steht für die systematische Integration sozialer, ökologischer und ethischer Belange in das Geschäftsgebaren. Während CSR als Best Practice gilt, sehen sich Unternehmen bei der Umsetzung mit grossen Herausforderungen konfrontiert. Vor allem Grossunternehmen stehen unter hohem Druck, CSR zu implementieren. Sie müssen fundamentale Anstrengungen tätigen, um dieses Konzept in ihre Organisationsprozesse und –Strukturen zu überführen. Vor diesem Hintergrund widmet sich diese Doktorarbeit der Frage, wie Grossunternehmen CSR implementieren. Mithilfe eines qualitativ-induktiven Forschungsdesigns werden drei empirische Aspekte der CSR-Implementierung aus institutionentheoretischer Perspektive untersucht. Erstens liegt der Fokus auf dem Ressourcenzugang der CSR-Management-Abteilung im Zuge der CSR-Implementierung, zweitens geht es um den Zusammenhang zwischen Institutionalisierung und Professionalisierung im Rahmen von CSR und drittens dreht es sich um eine spezifische CSR-Praxis, «Socially Responsible Investing», in Banken und Versicherungen. Auf Basis des gewonnenen Einblicks in die CSR-Implementierung in Grossunternehmen wird schliesslich versucht, eine moralisch-reflexive Institutionentheorie konzeptionell zu erarbeiten.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/12837
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Management and Law
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Management and Law

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Risi, D. (2017). An institutional theory perspective on the implementation of corporate social responsibility within large firms : empirical and conceptual considerations [Doctoral dissertation]. Difo-Druck.

Risi, D. (2017) An institutional theory perspective on the implementation of corporate social responsibility within large firms : empirical and conceptual considerations. Doctoral dissertation. Difo-Druck.

D. Risi, “An institutional theory perspective on the implementation of corporate social responsibility within large firms : empirical and conceptual considerations,” Doctoral dissertation, Difo-Druck, 2017.

RISI, David, 2017. An institutional theory perspective on the implementation of corporate social responsibility within large firms : empirical and conceptual considerations. Doctoral dissertation. Difo-Druck

Risi, David. 2017. “An Institutional Theory Perspective on the Implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility within Large Firms : Empirical and Conceptual Considerations.” Doctoral dissertation, Difo-Druck.

Risi, David. An Institutional Theory Perspective on the Implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility within Large Firms : Empirical and Conceptual Considerations. Difo-Druck, 2017.