From Responsibility to Irresponsibility: Tracing the Patterns of (Un)ethical Behavior in Dutch MNCs Across Diverse Industries
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2024-07-02
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en
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This master’s thesis investigates the dual dynamics of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Social Irresponsibility (CSiR) within Dutch Multinational Companies (MNCs). The research finds recurrent patterns and differences in the ethical behavior of Heineken, SBM Offshore, and Boskalis across diverse industries by examining their CSR and CSiR practices across a ten-year period (2010-2019). To comprehend the evolution of corporate behavior, the research is based on a process-oriented approach that emphasizes the temporality and sequences of events. This fills a gap in the existing academic literature regarding these matters, as process-oriented, longitudinal research into the parallel existence of CSR and CSiR practices does not yet exist. The results of this research show a prevalent pattern where CSR initiatives often precede CSiR practices, highlighting a reactive rather than proactive approach to corporate ethics. The research also shows that CSR and CSiR practices coexist, which raises the possibility of a trade-off mechanism in corporate strategies. This research shows that multiple mechanisms concerning CSR and CSiR practices can occur around the same time within an organization. Theoretical contributions extend the understanding of CSR and CSiR as separate but interconnected phenomena.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen