Title: Corporate social innovation discourse - towards an integration of complementary theoretical perspectives

Authors: Michael Hilb

Addresses: University of Fribourg, Bd de Pérolles 90, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; University of St. Gallen, Dufourstrasse 50, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland

Abstract: This theoretical article introduces a framework for analysing corporate social innovation initiatives by acknowledging the relevance of institutional and evolutionary theories alike to fully understand the underlying dynamics. The article suggests the discourse metaphor to blend the two perspectives and, hereby, overcoming the challenges of combining perspectives with partially conflicting axioms. As such, the article aims at contributing to the emerging literature on social innovation by analysing the social innovation process at the initiative level.

Keywords: corporate social innovation; corporate citizenship; institutional theory; evolutionary theory; discourse metaphor; innovation initiative; sustainable management; strategic management; corporate social responsibility; CSR.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSM.2013.058593

International Journal of Sustainable Strategic Management, 2013 Vol.4 No.2, pp.170 - 185

Published online: 30 Jun 2014 *

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