Work

The adaptive capacity of stakeholder-oriented firms with social purpose vis-à-vis shareholder primacy firms: A comparative assessment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper provides a comparative assessment of the adaptive capacity of stakeholder-oriented firms with social purpose vis-à-vis shareholder primacy firms. To this end, we apply evolutionary theory to examine the differential costs and benefits incurred by these two firm types at each stage of firm adaptation—i.e., (issue) recognition, variation (ideation of solutions), selection of alternative solutions, and retention (replication and routinization). We conclude by providing an agenda for future research that can contribute to the extant literature on (social) purpose, evolutionary theory, and stakeholder theory.

Source: Long Range Planning

DOI: 10.1016/j.lrp.2025.102592

Authors: Kerstin Neumann, Emanuele L.M. Bettinazzi, Joseph T. Mahoney, Peter Snoeren, Maurizio Zollo

Institutions: Universität Innsbruck, Università della Svizzera italiana, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Amsterdam, Imperial College London

Language: English

Topic: Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting

Subfield: Strategy and Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,900

OpenAlex ID: W4416817667

FWCI: 1.79

Cites: 119

Cited by: 2

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