Antonio Tencati

New Tools to Foster Corporate Socially Responsible Behavior

According to the Green Paper presented by the European Commission in July 2001, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is “a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis” (Commission of the European Communities, 2001b, p. 6). On this basis, in 2002, the Italian Government, and especially the Italian Ministry of Welfare, launched an initiative called CSR-SC (social commitment) in order to foster the proactive social role of Italian enterprises, with great attention on SME involvement. The technical partner of the Italian Ministry of Welfare for this initiative is Bocconi University. The goal of this contribution is to present the main results of CSR–SC research project developed by Bocconi University. The paper provides a detailed picture of the general scheme designed to carry out the research project and a review of the different methodologies used to support the solutions proposed.

Unintended consequences of CSR: protectionism and collateral damage in global supply chains: the case of Vietnam

Purpose – This paper seeks to investigate the influence of the increasingly sustainable sourcing policies of many multinational companies on suppliers located in developing countries such as Vietnam. The focus is the process through which corporate social responsibility (CSR) is reaching this Southeast Asian country.Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted in Vietnam through the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO) regional office. The survey was based on a questionnaire used during direct interviews or sent out electronically when onsite visits were not possible. The research involved 25 Vietnamese enterprises.Findings – The results reveal, on the one hand, how CSR makes business sense even in a developing country such as Vietnam and, on the other hand, the difficulties of maintaining sustainability as products move from northern consumers to Vietnamese suppliers. This process calls for more collaborative models of governance among the companies alon...

Towards an internal change management perspective of CSR: evidence from project RESPONSE on the sources of cognitive alignment between managers and their stakeholders, and their implications for social performance

Purpose – This paper aims to juxtapose two separate perspectives on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in terms of their ability to explain the cognitive alignment between managers and stakeholders on what constitutes the social responsibility of the focal firm, and to explain social performance.Design/methodology/approach – The authors take two perspectives: that of stakeholder engagement, which has historically characterized the debate on CSR; and that of internal change processes required to integrate CSR in a firms operations. The authors analyze data from 427 interviews, of which 209 were with managers and 219 with stakeholders of 19 multinational firms in eight sectors, to assess the extent of cognitive alignment between managers and stakeholders on the conceptualization of CSR for the relevant firm, to determine which of the two theoretical perspectives is connected with the degree of cognitive alignment, and to determine which of the two is connected with the perception of corporate social per...

Sustainability along the global supply chain: the case of Vietnam

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact that more sustainable sourcing policies by many multinational companies are having on the suppliers located in developing countries such as Vietnam. Questions are raised about the process through which CSR is reaching the country. Design/methodology/approach - The research was conducted in Vietnam thanks to the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO) Regional Office. The survey was carried out on the basis of a questionnaire that was used as a support during the direct interviews and was sent electronically when the preferred method of on-site visits was not possible. A total of 25 Vietnamese enterprises were involved in the research. Findings - The results achieved highlight, on the one hand, how CSR does make business sense even in a developing country such as Vietnam and, on the other, the difficulties related to the way requirements of sustainability are moving from Northern consumers to suppliers in Vietnam. Practical implications - This process calls for new forms of collaboration involving firms along the supply chain, local authorities, international players, and civil society. Originality/value - The paper points out the unsustainability of the process through which corporate responsibility is being imposed on Vietnamese suppliers and how CSR, having become a mandatory requirement for access to international markets, might transform itself into a new type of technical barrier to trade. Therefore, CSR needs to be fostered rather than imposed, through the creation of innovative partnerships and locally-rooted solutions.

Prevention policies addressing packaging and packaging waste: Some emerging trends.

Packaging waste is a major issue in several countries. Representing in industrialized countries around 30-35% of municipal solid waste yearly generated, this waste stream has steadily grown over the years even if, especially in Europe, specific recycling and recovery targets have been fixed. Therefore, an increasing attention starts to be devoted to prevention measures and interventions. Filling a gap in the current literature, this explorative paper is a first attempt to map the increasingly important phenomenon of prevention policies in the packaging sector. Through a theoretical sampling, 11 countries/states (7 in and 4 outside Europe) have been selected and analyzed by gathering and studying primary and secondary data. Results show evidence of three specific trends in packaging waste prevention policies: fostering the adoption of measures directed at improving packaging design and production through an extensive use of the life cycle assessment; raising the awareness of final consumers by increasing the accountability of firms; promoting collaborative efforts along the packaging supply chains.

The Sustainability Perspective: a New Governance Model

A company — that can be defined as an economic and social institution, which aims to produce goods and services (Pivato and Gilardoni, 1997: 387) — pursues the creation of wealth, namely, value. In order to achieve this purpose, the firm cannot ignore the context in which it operates. In fact, a network of relationships connects the company to a great number of interrelated individuals and constituencies, called stakeholders (Ulrich and Krieg, 1973; Freeman, 1984; Donaldson and Preston, 1995; Clarkson, 1995). These relationships influence the way a company is governed and, in turn, are influenced by the company’s behaviour.

Achieving Environmental Sustainability

The idea of sustainable development (SD) has become popular over the last four decades and numerous interpretations have been advanced, interpenetrating economics (Daly & Cobb, 1989; Passet, 1996; Pearce & Turner, 1990; Sen, 1987) and other social sciences (Bateson, 1972; Capra, 1996; Morin, 1980; Naess & Rothenberg, 1990), as well as the natural sciences (Carson, 1962; Commoner, 1990; Lovelock, 1988; Shiva, 1992). Among the definitions offered, the most common and established is that provided in Our Common Future by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) in 1987: “[D]evelopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Within this framework, since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the approach based on the “three pillars” of sustainability— which integrates economic, social, and environmental considerations into the model—has been consolidating, influencing both institutional and corporate paths (Elkington, 1994). Moreover, the equitable distribution of resources and benefits within society, and the problems of the widening gap between industrialized and developing countries have emerged as central issues of the SD agenda.

Redefining the Roles and Duties of Management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the crisis of the business profession and the role that management education can play in renewing business management. It is argued that unless future managers demonstrate that they serve the common good in their daily practice, the legitimacy and moral standing of the business profession remain questionable.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents the Masters in International Management Program of CEMS – Global Alliance in Management Education as a pioneering example of developing reflective and responsible managers.Findings – The future manager is defined as a reflexive practitioner who is committed to environmental sustainability, exercises social responsibility, works with sensitivity toward gender and diversity issues, harmonizes information and communications technologies with processes and organizational culture, applies holistic perspective in problem solving, cooperates with social and political actors, and is engaged in progressive entrep...

Recognizing the limits: Sustainable development, corporate sustainability and the need for innovative business paradigms

Purpose of the paper : The study provides a theoretical analysis of the implications of sustainability in business, with a specific focus on the ecological dimension. In particular, we introduce key concepts from natural science and ecological economics into the field of management in order to highlight the limits that characterize the natural capital and our individual and organizational dependence on it. Methodology : The paper draws upon a mix of literature review (management, ecology and ecological economics), action research and field studies. Findings : The study presents the reasons for a profound transformation of the dominant business paradigm in order to address sustainability challenges. Furthermore, it introduces a conceptual framework to position and analyse corporate actions to manage environmental issues and identifies four areas of intervention and research as key drivers of transformational change. Practical implications : By stressing the managerial importance of concepts like carrying capacity, critical natural capital, and ecosystem services and by pointing out the need for collaborative approaches, the paper advances innovative perspectives to analyse and develop sustainable business strategies and operations. Research limitation : The paper shares the limits of conceptual works based on a deductive method. However, to address this limitation, the study is also supported and complemented by the empirical experience gained in more than two decades of fruitful collaboration with companies and institutions. Originality of the paper : The study introduces concepts that are mainly developed in scientific disciplines. This provides an insightful contribution to the current debate on the real soundness of mainstream management theories and business practices, and to the quest for fitting alternatives.

Engaging in Progressive Entrepreneurship

Shareholder value maximization and competitiveness are at the core of today’s business and economic policy. Companies seek to improve their productivity and try to gain competitive advantage. But these efforts often produce negative effects on various stakeholders at home and abroad. Competitiveness in most cases produces monetary results for the shareholders at the expense of other stakeholders.