Promoting corporate social responsibility and sustainability: a model of integrity

A model of integrity is proposed to assess corporate responsiveness to sustainability pressures, challenging the dominant Shareholder Value Maximization doctrine. The study applies this model to Robert Owen's 19th-century New Lanark mills, comparing his deeds against promises to evaluate his commitment to social responsibility and ecological conservation. Findings highlight 'workability' as a key factor for business performance, contingent on corporate integrity. This approach offers a practical framework to uncover attempts by businesses to prioritize shareholder value over sustainability, emphasizing the need for corporate activities to reintegrate with social and ecological contexts.

Chabrak, N. (2015). Promoting corporate social responsibility and sustainability: a model of integrity. Society and Business Review, 10(3), 280–305. https://doi.org/10.1108/sbr-06-2015-0018