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Cited by 303Management and Organizational StudiesCorporate Social Responsibility ReportingGlobal trade, sustainability, and social impact

Talking the talk, moral entrapment, creeping commitment? Exploring narrative dynamics in corporate responsibility standardization

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Haack, Patrick, Schoeneborn, Dennis, Wickert, Christopher·2012·Organization Studies
DOI 10.1177/0170840612443630
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Abstract

This paper examines the type and temporal development of language in the process of corporate responsibility (CR) standardization. Previous research on CR standardization has addressed the proliferation and organizational embedding of material practices but neglected the analysis of underlying ideational dynamics. Departing from this practice, we introduce a narrative perspective that illuminates the trajectory a CR standard follows, from being formally adopted to becoming collectively accepted as a valid solution to a problem of societal concern. We argue that this perspective helps scholars explore the dynamic interplay between symbolic and material aspects of standardization and understand better the discursive antecedents of coupling processes in organizations. Drawing on the case of the Equator Principles standard in international project finance, we empirically study how narratives create meaning shared by both business firms and their societal observers, thereby exemplifying the analytical merit of a narrative approach to CR standardization.

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  • Increased public scrutiny makes decoupling between words and action a transitory phenomenon because organizations talk themselves into 'moral entrapment' and corrective measures.

    “In their analysis of corporate responsibility standardization Haack et al. (2012) similarly illustrate that increased public scrutiny makes decoupling between words and action a transitory phenomenon because organizations talk themselves into”

    From Timely hypocrisy? Hypocrisy temporalities in CSR communication (2020) · cites this paper as Haack et al. (2012)

    In “Rethinking Decoupling as a Transitory Phenomenon,” the paper links public scrutiny to moral entrapment and says banks can talk themselves into changing their practices. But it calls transitory decoupling a possibility and says it cannot provide direct evidence of changes in decoupling at individual banks; the claim presents that proposed mechanism as an established causal result. Page numbers were not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • Research indicates that aspirations can be performative provided internal and external audiences play along with the ambitions, take the goals seriously while demanding follow-up action.

    “Research has indicated that this is possible provided internal and external audiences play along with the ambitions, take the goals seriously while demanding follow-up action (e.g., Haack, Schoeneborn, & Wickert, 2012;Livesey & Graham, 2007; see also Bromley & Powell, 2012).”

    From Timely hypocrisy? Hypocrisy temporalities in CSR communication (2020) · cites this paper as Haack, Schoeneborn, & Wickert, 2012

  • The new way of talking shapes how management and other organizational members see themselves and their roles in a new light.

    “This is so, they claim, not only because external stakeholders enforce compliance, but also because the new way of talking shapes how management and other organizational members see themselves and their roles in a new light.”

    From Timely hypocrisy? Hypocrisy temporalities in CSR communication (2020) · cites this paper as Haack et al. (2012)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Delmas, & O. Young (Eds.), Governing the Environment: Interdisciplinary perspectives (pp. 98-115). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

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Authors
Haack, P., Schoeneborn, D., & Wickert, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Zurich (CH)
  • University of Lausanne (CH)
Corresponding author
Haack, Patrick
ORCID
Venue
Organization Studies
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2012-05
Volume
33
Issue
5-6
Pages
815-845
ISSN
  • 0170-8406 (ISSN-L)
  • 1741-3044
DOI
10.1177/0170840612443630
OpenAlex
W2099150154
Cited by
303
References
80
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 7
FWCI
34.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Organization Studies (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
  • Alexandria (UniSG) (University of St.Gallen) (acceptedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • Alexandria (UniSG) (University of St.Gallen) (submittedVersion)
  • Multilingual Matters (Channel View Publications) (submittedVersion)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Universität St. Gallen
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (129995)
  • Freie Universität Berlin
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Global trade, sustainability, and social impact
Keywords
narrative dynamics, Equator Principles, corporate social responsibility, language change

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