The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Strategy and society: the link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility
Abstract
Governments, activists, and the media have become adept at holding companies to account for the social consequences of their actions. In response, corporate social responsibility has emerged as an inescapable priority for business leaders in every country. Frequently, though, CSR efforts are counterproductive, for two reasons. First, they pit business against society, when in reality the two are interdependent. Second, they pressure companies to think of corporate social responsibility in generic ways instead of in the way most appropriate to their individual strategies. The fact is, the prevailing approaches to CSR are so disconnected from strategy as to obscure many great opportunities for companies to benefit society. What a terrible waste. If corporations were to analyze their opportunities for social responsibility using the same frameworks that guide their core business choices, they would discover, as Whole Foods Market, Toyota, and Volvo have done, that CSR can be much more than a cost, a constraint, or a charitable deed--it can be a potent source of innovation and competitive advantage. In this article, Michael Porter and Mark Kramer propose a fundamentally new way to look at the relationship between business and society that does not treat corporate growth and social welfare as a zero-sum game. They introduce a framework that individual companies can use to identify the social consequences of their actions; to discover opportunities to benefit society and themselves by strengthening the competitive context in which they operate; to determine which CSR initiatives they should address; and to find the most effective ways of doing so. Perceiving social responsibility as an opportunity rather than as damage control or a PR campaign requires dramatically different thinking--a mind-set, the authors warn, that will become increasingly important to competitive success.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cited by
Matten, D., & Moon, J. (2008) · Academy of Management Review · doi:10.5465/amr.2008.31193458 · Cited by 4,567
LINS, K. V., SERVAES, H., & TAMAYO, A. (2017) · The Journal of Finance · doi:10.1111/jofi.12505 · Cited by 3,794
Maximizing business returns to corporate social responsibility (CSR): The role of CSR communication
Du, S., Bhattacharya, C. B., & Sen, S. (2010) · International Journal of Management Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2009.00276.x · Cited by 2,633
Scherer, A. G., & Palazzo, G. (2011) · Journal of Management Studies · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010.00950.x · Cited by 2,131
The impact of corporate social responsibility on the cost of bank loans
Goss, A., & Roberts, G. S. (2011) · Journal of Banking & Finance · doi:10.1016/j.jbankfin.2010.12.002 · Cited by 2,101
Flammer, C. (2015) · Management Science · doi:10.1287/mnsc.2014.2038 · Cited by 1,949
Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review
Christensen, H. B., Hail, L., & Leuz, C. (2021) · Review of Accounting Studies · doi:10.1007/s11142-021-09609-5 · Cited by 1,923
“Moreover, CSR scores could incentivize firms to focus on particular outputs or metrics, which is counterproductive if the weights in the score do not reflect the importance of the underlying activities for firms’ CSR performance (e.g., Porter and Kramer 2006).”
BackgroundESG performance and firm value: The moderating role of disclosure
Fatemi, A., Glaum, M., & Kaiser, S. (2018) · Global Finance Journal · doi:10.1016/j.gfj.2017.03.001 · Cited by 1,611
Multiple Institutional Logics in Organizations: Explaining Their Varied Nature and Implications
Besharov, M. L., & Smith, W. K. (2014) · Academy of Management Review · doi:10.5465/amr.2011.0431 · Cited by 1,571
Stakeholder pressure and the adoption of environmental practices: The mediating effect of training
Sarkis, J., Gonzalez‐Torre, P., & Adenso‐Diaz, B. (2010) · Journal of Operations Management · doi:10.1016/j.jom.2009.10.001 · Cited by 1,518
Concepts and forms of greenwashing: a systematic review
de Freitas Netto, S. V., Sobral, M. F. F., Ribeiro, A. R. B., & Soares, G. R. D. L. (2020) · Environmental Sciences Europe · doi:10.1186/s12302-020-0300-3 · Cited by 1,360
The long‐term benefits of organizational resilience through sustainable business practices
Ortiz‐de‐Mandojana, N., & Bansal, P. (2016) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.2410 · Cited by 1,260
Plantation forests and biodiversity: oxymoron or opportunity?
Brockerhoff, E. G., Jactel, H., Parrotta, J. A., Quine, C. P., & Sayer, J. (2008) · Biodiversity and Conservation · doi:10.1007/s10531-008-9380-x · Cited by 1,239
Lai, C.-S., Chiu, C.-J., Yang, C.-F., & Pai, D.-C. (2010) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-010-0433-1 · Cited by 852
Nyilasy, G., Gangadharbatla, H., & Paladino, A. (2014) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-013-1944-3 · Cited by 815
PAULRAJ, A. (2011) · Journal of Supply Chain Management · doi:10.1111/j.1745-493x.2010.03212.x · Cited by 712
Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in Malaysia: A survey
Zailani, S., Jeyaraman, K., Vengadasan, G., & Premkumar, R. (2012) · International Journal of Production Economics · doi:10.1016/j.ijpe.2012.02.008 · Cited by 684
Business sustainability performance and cost of equity capital
Ng, A. C., & Rezaee, Z. (2015) · Journal of Corporate Finance · doi:10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2015.08.003 · Cited by 650
Configuring management control systems: Theorizing the integration of strategy and sustainability
Gond, J.-P., Grubnic, S., Herzig, C., & Moon, J. (2012) · Management Accounting Research · doi:10.1016/j.mar.2012.06.003 · Cited by 630
Christensen, L. T., Morsing, M., & Thyssen, O. (2013) · Organization · doi:10.1177/1350508413478310 · Cited by 591
Corporate digital responsibility
Lobschat, L., Mueller, B., Eggers, F., Brandimarte, L., Diefenbach, S., Kroschke, M., & Wirtz, J. (2021) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.10.006 · Cited by 573
Meek, W. R., Pacheco, D. F., & York, J. G. (2010) · Journal of Business Venturing · doi:10.1016/j.jbusvent.2009.09.007 · Cited by 558
Spinning gold: The financial returns to stakeholder engagement
Henisz, W. J., Dorobantu, S., & Nartey, L. J. (2014) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.2180 · Cited by 546
Business cases for sustainability: a stakeholder theory perspective
Schaltegger, S., Hörisch, J., & Freeman, R. E. (2019) · Organization & Environment · doi:10.1177/1086026617722882 · Cited by 477
Longoni, A., Luzzini, D., & Guerci, M. (2018) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-016-3228-1 · Cited by 444
Hsu, K.-T. (2012) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-011-1118-0 · Cited by 430
The Age of Responsibility: CSR 2.0 and the New DNA of Business
Visser, W. (2010) · Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics · doi:10.15209/jbsge.v5i3.185 · Cited by 428
Casey, R. J., & Grenier, J. H. (2015) · AUDITING: A Journal of Practice & Theory · doi:10.2308/ajpt-50736 · Cited by 421
Market-oriented sustainability: A conceptual framework and propositions
Crittenden, V. L., Crittenden, W. F., Ferrell, L. K., Ferrell, O. C., & Pinney, C. C. (2011) · Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science · doi:10.1007/s11747-010-0217-2 · Cited by 409
Voegtlin, C., & Greenwood, M. (2016) · Human Resource Management Review · doi:10.1016/j.hrmr.2015.12.003 · Cited by 385
Corporate social responsibility, investor protection, and cost of equity: A cross-country comparison
Breuer, W., Müller, T., Rosenbach, D., & Salzmann, A. (2018) · Journal of Banking & Finance · doi:10.1016/j.jbankfin.2018.07.018 · Cited by 350
The Worldwide Diffusion of the Global Reporting Initiative: What Is the Point?
Marimon, F., Alonso-Almeida, M. D. M., Rodríguez, M. D. P., & Cortez Alejandro, K. A. (2012) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.04.017 · Cited by 332
The Impact of Strategic Relevance and Assurance of Sustainability Indicators on Investors' Decisions
Cheng, M. M., Green, W. J., & Ko, J. C. W. (2015) · AUDITING: A Journal of Practice & Theory · doi:10.2308/ajpt-50738 · Cited by 317
Company environmental performance and consumer purchase intentions
Grimmer, M., & Bingham, T. (2013) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.02.017 · Cited by 309
The Construction of Corporate Social Responsibility in Network Societies: A Communication View
Schultz, F., Castelló, I., & Morsing, M. (2013) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-013-1826-8 · Cited by 300
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: Can multinational enterprises lead the Decade of Action?
Van Tulder, R., Rodrigues, S. B., Mirza, H., & Sexsmith, K. (2021) · Journal of International Business Policy · doi:10.1057/s42214-020-00095-1 · Cited by 272
A review of the environmental implications of B2C e-commerce: A logistics perspective
Mangiaracina, R., Marchet, G., Perotti, S., & Tumino, A. (2015) · International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management · doi:10.1108/ijpdlm-06-2014-0133 · Cited by 257
Corporate Social Responsibility in Emerging Markets: The Importance of the Governance Environment
Li, S., Fetscherin, M., Alon, I., Lattemann, C., & Yeh, K. (2010) · Management International Review · doi:10.1007/s11575-010-0049-9 · Cited by 235
Starks, L. T. (2009) · Financial Review · doi:10.1111/j.1540-6288.2009.00225.x · Cited by 233
Sánchez-Infante Hernández, J. P., Yañez-Araque, B., & Moreno-García, J. (2020) · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2019.119774 · Cited by 217
Instrumental and/or deliberative? A typology of CSR communication tools
Seele, P., & Lock, I. (2015) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-014-2282-9 · Cited by 202
Fassin, Y., & Buelens, M. (2011) · Management Decision · doi:10.1108/00251741111126503 · Cited by 159
Market responses to firms’ voluntary carbon disclosure: Empirical evidence from the United Kingdom
Alsaifi, K., Elnahass, M., & Salama, A. (2020) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121377 · Cited by 151
Roman, A. V. (2017) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.014 · Cited by 141
Alonso‐Almeida, M. D. M., Fernández de Navarrete, F. C., & Rodriguez‐Pomeda, J. (2015) · Business Ethics: A European Review · doi:10.1111/beer.12060 · Cited by 125
Corporate responsibility: Reflections on context and consequences
Halme, M., Roome, N., & Dobers, P. (2009) · Scandinavian Journal of Management · doi:10.1016/j.scaman.2008.12.001 · Cited by 123
Principles and business processes for responsible AI
Clarke, R. (2019) · Computer Law & Security Review · doi:10.1016/j.clsr.2019.04.007 · Cited by 117
Lee, M.-D. P., & Lounsbury, M. (2011) · Business & Society · doi:10.1177/0007650310394640 · Cited by 113
Taylor, S., Osland, J., & Egri, C. P. (2012) · Human Resource Management · doi:10.1002/hrm.21509 · Cited by 110
What a waste! A study of food wastage behavior in Singapore
Grandhi, B., & Appaiah Singh, J. (2016) · Journal of Food Products Marketing · doi:10.1080/10454446.2014.885863 · Cited by 91
Asiaei, K., Bontis, N., Barani, O., & Jusoh, R. (2021) · Journal of Management Control · doi:10.1007/s00187-021-00317-4 · Cited by 91
Kuo, T. C., Kremer, G. E. O., Phuong, N. T., & Hsu, C.-W. (2016) · Journal of Air Transport Management · doi:10.1016/j.jairtraman.2016.08.003 · Cited by 76
Economic Analysis of Widespread Adoption of CSR and Sustainability Reporting Standards
Christensen, H. B., Hail, L., & Leuz, C. (2018) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3315673 · Cited by 67
Product-Service System Design for Sustainability
Vezzoli, C., Kohtala, C., Srinivasan, A., Diehl, J., Fusakul, S. M., Xin, L., & Sateesh, D. (2017) · doi:10.4324/9781351278003 · Cited by 66
Skouloudis, A., Evangelinos, K., Nikolaou, I., & Filho, W. L. (2011) · Business Ethics: A European Review · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8608.2011.01619.x · Cited by 65
Jurgens, M., Berthon, P., Papania, L., & Shabbir, H. A. (2010) · Industrial Marketing Management · doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2010.02.016 · Cited by 39
Bridging corporate social responsibility and social impact assessment
Bice, S. (2015) · Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal · doi:10.1080/14615517.2014.983710 · Cited by 36
Lin, W. L., Lee, C., & Law, S. H. (2021) · Business Strategy and the Environment · doi:10.1002/bse.2662 · Cited by 30
Issa, T., Issa, T., & Chang, V. (2014) · The International Journal of Sustainability Education · doi:10.18848/2325-1212/cgp/v09i02/55299 · Cited by 18
Critical sustainability factors of regional SMEs; A case study of regional Australia
Artin, P. (2022) · Current Research in Environmental Sustainability · doi:10.1016/j.crsust.2022.100138 · Cited by 18
Alizadeh, A., Kurian, D., Qiu, S., & Dirani, K. M. (2023) · European Journal of Training and Development · doi:10.1108/ejtd-07-2021-0087 · Cited by 14
De Meyst, K., Cardinaels, E., & Van den Abbeele, A. G. H. L. (2017) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2645965 · Cited by 5
Metadata
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
Data sources
Bibliographic data: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, Crossref.
Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
Semantic Scholar’s data is described in: Kinney, R., et al. (2023). The Semantic Scholar Open Data Platform. arXiv:2301.10140.