To read this content please select one of the options below:

What is the biggest question in CSR research?

Frederick Ahen (Researcher, Department of Marketing and International Business, Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland)
Peter Zettinig (University Research Fellow, Department of Marketing and International Business, Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland)

Foresight

ISSN: 1463-6689

Article publication date: 8 June 2015

2130

Abstract

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an issue-oriented substantive domain. Nevertheless, there are countless socio-economic, medico-techno-scientific, environmental and ethical philosophical questions that are far from being settled. In pursuit of a more desirable and sustainable future, this work problematizes current corporate responsibility (CR) research, education and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This contribution provides a critical perspective on the future of CR research and practice and offers a way forward based on theoretical prescience.

Findings

The paper delineates a taxonomy of typical crises, categorized as burning, existential, overlooked and neglected crises. This taxonomy can be used as a tool for all forms of scenario analysis, empirical work and policymaking. This allows various futures issues to be given targeted interventions, assigned a focal theory, or allocated differentiated resources and appropriate time and space depending on their technical nature and the institutional context within which the issues unfold.

Social implications

This paper argues that CR research risks losing steam despite its near ubiquitous nature and the major contributions hitherto made. Nevertheless, when problems are strategically thought out in the light of the taxonomy above, they provide promising avenues for insightful research and value-creating practice to meet the expectations of both business and society.

Originality/value

A profound chasm exists between CR practice and rhetoric. This void is particularly stark when we consider the interface between science and technology and developing economies. This paper explores desirable futures for CR while analyzing what is possible and probable.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the following organizations for the generous grant support: Turku School of Economics, the University of Turku Foundation, Finnish Cultural Foundation, and Liikesivistysrahasto. Many thanks to Ivan Butler, Gregory Jordan Dunn, Hannu Schadewitz, Arno Kourula, Roland Bardy and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions.

Citation

Ahen, F. and Zettinig, P. (2015), "What is the biggest question in CSR research?", Foresight, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 274-290. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-05-2013-0020

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles