The diffusion of corporate social responsibility within an organizational field: An analysis through the complementary lenses of neo-institutional theory and actor-network theory

La diffusion de la RSE au sein d’un champ organisationnel: une analyse complémentaire selon la théorie néo-institutionnelle et la théorie de l’acteur-réseau

Elise Bonneveux () and Arnaud Gautier ()
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Elise Bonneveux: VALLOREM - Val de Loire Recherche en Management - UO - Université d'Orléans - UT - Université de Tours, Labex Entreprendre - UM - Université de Montpellier
Arnaud Gautier: GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur

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Abstract: How does the implication of actors act as a condition of success in the diffusion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within an organizational field? To answer this question, this research looks at the microfoundations of the diffusion of a socially responsible practice. This approach enables us to adopt a perspective that is focused on individuals and to explain the integration of CSR practices at the organizational level. We mobilize neo-institutional theory (NIT) and actor-network theory (ANT) in our approach to the diffusion process of this innovative practice. Firstly, we identify three distinct stages in institutional practice: the pre-institutionalization stage, the theorization stage and the re-institutionalization stage. Secondly, we reveal the four stages of the diffusion of a CSR practice as identified by ANT: the designation of an actor initiating the change, the identification of allies for the deployment of innovation, the analysis of the diffusion process within the network and the conditions of diffusion. Finally, we produce six research propositions based on the results of our study, which advocates for multi-leveled analysis to understand how CSR practices are developed within organizations.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility; neo-institutional theory; actor-network theory; microfoundations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02894515
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Published in M@n@gement, 2021, 24 (2), pp.48-65. ⟨10.37725/mgmt.v24.4500⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02894515

DOI: 10.37725/mgmt.v24.4500

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