Taming Trojan Horses: Identifying and Mitigating Corporate Social Responsibility Risks

Organizations are exposed to increasing pressures from their constituents to integrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) principles into their ongoing business practices. But accepting new and potentially open-ended commitments is not a harmless exercise, and companies may well expose themselves to serious risks when embracing such principles. To identify these risks, we conducted two naturalistic studies: one exploratory, the other corroborative. The results show that CSR adoption is associated with at least seven different business risks, ranging from failing strategy implementation to legitimacy destruction. To alleviate these risks, we discuss a set of managerial mitigation strategies that have the potential to realign companies’ CSR activities with their strategic objectives. Keywords corporate social responsibility - corporate social responsibility risks - managerial implications - mitigation strategies - strategy implementation - Trojan horses Pursey Heugens is an Associate Professor of Organization Theory in the Department of Business-Society Management at RSM Erasmus University. He received his PhD from the same school. His research interests span positive and normative theories of organizaton, including bureaucracy theory, neo-institutional theory, contractualist business ethics, and virtue ethics. Nikolay Dentchev is an independent research fellow at Ghent University, Belgium, and a project coordinator at the corporate venturing department of Fortis Group (Fortis Venturing). He holds a Ph.D. in business economics from Ghent University. His current research is related to entrepreneurship, instrumental stakeholder theory, and management challenges of corporate social responsibility

What’s in a word? An exploration of the changes in meaning of Corporate Social Responsibility over the last century with an emphasis on the last decades

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

We need transdisciplinary research on Sustainable Business Models

Purpose: This paper explores the challenges sustainable business model (SBM) studies may face related to the information gathered during the data collection process, and elaborates on how transdisciplinary research can help to overcome these challenges. Our contribution is based on the theoretical lens of information asymmetry. Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper uses a qualitative methodology based on a transdisciplinary program that aims to support disadvantaged communities in Bolivia. The program started 3 years ago, with as objective to help vulnerable communities through transdisciplinary intervention in 6 projects, viz. 1. Social vulnerability, 2. Integrated water management, 3. Food security, 4. Indigenous rights, 5. Productive development and 6. Transversal. In addition to our experience in the program, we have conducted 57 interviews and 10 focus group discussions with vulnerable entrepreneurs and relevant stakeholders, alongside numerous on-site observations. Findings: The findings of our study illustrate that SBM research can face information asymmetry issues such as lack of access to, lack of understanding of and lack of trust in the information provided. We also show how transdisciplinary research helps to bridge such issues of trust, understanding and information availability. Based on our research, we propose 5 suggestions to scholars who wish to adopt transdisciplinary research in their study of SBMs: (i) understand the context, (ii) adapt to the context, (iii) develop relationships of trust, (iv) be flexible with your research focus and (v) systematically present to other disciplines and non-academic actors. Originality/Value: Our contribution is based on the theoretical lens of information asymmetry and argues that a transdisciplinary approach is necessary to accumulate fundamental knowledge on SBMs. Such an approach constitutes a rather sophisticated research methodology that can help us embrace the complexity of sustainable business models and find practical solutions for their scalability

Viral-Associated Trichodysplasia: Characterization of a Novel Polyomavirus Infection With Therapeutic Insights

Background Viral-associated trichodysplasia of immunosuppression is a rare cutaneous eruption that is characterized by follicularly based shiny papules and alopecia with characteristic histopathologic findings of abnormally anagen follicules with excessive inner root sheath differentiation. Prior reports have described the histopathologic characteristics on vertical sections; however, to our knowledge, immunohistochemical analysis of polyomavirus proteins has not been previously performed. Observations We discuss the thorough diagnostic evaluation and therapy of an unusual case of viral-associated trichodysplasia due to a newly described human polyomavirus that occurred in a patient with post-treatment chronic lymphocytic leukemia and an abnormal white blood cell count. Unique to our study is the immunohistochemical staining for the polyomavirus middle T antigen, which demonstrated positive staining of cellular inclusions within keratinocytes that compose the inner root sheath. Further evaluation with scanning electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction analysis of viral DNA confirmed the presence of the virus. Treatment with topical cidofovir resulted in dramatic clinical improvement and hair regrowth. Conclusions Several tools, including immunohistochemical staining for the polyomavirus middle T antigen, can be used to identify the pathogenic virus associated with viral-associated trichodysplasia. This case highlights the utility of multiple diagnostic modalities and a robust response to a topical therapeutic agent, cidofovir

Barreras para la comercialización de resultados en la relación universidad-sector empresarial en Cuba

Dada la especial importancia de las relaciones universidad-empresa para la comercialización y transferencia de tecnologías hacia el sector empresarial —aspectos que constituyen pilares para los proyectos de investigación y desarrollo—, se estudiaron las barreras económicas, culturales, institucionales y jurídicas que influyen negativamente en dichos procesos vinculantes; impedimentos persistentes, pese a que el sistema de educación superior en Cuba ha reestructurado funcionalmente a las entidades que conforman su sistema y ha actualizado su objeto social. Se partió de un análisis teórico y del contexto en el que se desarrolla la educación superior cubana. Obstáculos económicos y culturales; escasez de estudios sobre política de ciencia, tecnología e innovación; inercia e inmovilismo de los sistemas de dirección, son algunos elementos que han retardado notablemente el proceso de innovación, con las consiguientes contradicciones entre ambos sectores. Faltan leyes y normativas que viabilicen que la ciencia y la innovación universitarias se concreticen en soluciones para la empresa

Fostering Cross-Disciplinarity in Business Model Research

Purpose: We illustrate how cross-disciplinarity in business model research (multi-, inter- and transdisciplinarity) can help scholars overcome silo-building and span disciplinary boundaries. The seven articles contained in the special issue ‘Fostering Cross-Disciplinarity in Business Model Research’ are summarised, and the authors’ perspectives on the phenomena studied as well as the theories and methods adopted are portrayed. Methodology: We provide literature-based definitions of cross-disciplinary research modes and discuss their potential for business model research informed by insights from the seven special issue articles. Findings: There is much variety regarding the theories applied in business model research. These include design, imprinting, information asymmetry, paradox theories and many more. This variety illustrates that traditional domains, such as organisation, management and entrepreneurship studies, can be extended in creative ways, and hence can be equipped to deal with emerging and complex issues such as sustainability, circular economy, data management and base-of-thepyramid entrepreneurship. Interdisciplinarity seems to be well developed regarding the use of theories, but more must follow in terms of research methods and collaboration formats. Research Implications and Limitations: The common understanding of the potential and importance of cross-disciplinarity can be considered the major implication of this special issue. Beyond this, further critical reflection is required. Important questions remain open, primarily regarding research methods and collaboration formats. This editorial article reflects the perspectives of both the guest editors and the authors in this special issue. The presented understandings of cross-disciplinary business model research and implications for its future are of a preliminary nature. Originality and Value: Business model research is growing rapidly and scholars from various fields contribute to expanding our knowledge. An explicit focus on the potential of multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches is missing so far

Embracing the variety of sustainable business models: Social entrepreneurship, corporate intrapreneurship, creativity, innovation, and other approaches to sustainability challenges

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