1. One Evolutionary Path or Many?
Corporate Social Responsibility in Comparative Perspective

2. Time to move to the next level:
The CSR concept is “hot” in business and public policy circles and increasingly popular in academic fields such as Org. Theory and International Business.
Business-and-society scholars can play a leading role in expanding understanding of CSR if we build on past work and work together to strengthen theoretical and empirical frameworks.
How to do this?

3. Creating a Research Network
Gather a group of scholars from many countries willing to commit to the project
Agree on a definition of CSR for empirical purposes, e.g.,
“narrow” and “broad” scope
different stakeholder sets
Establish a data-gathering methodology and schedule

4. National Styles of CSR
Cross-sectional study, similar to the GLOBE project on leadership
Surveys of 17,000+ middle managers
951 organizations
62 societies
9 cultural dimensions from the literature and refined during the research

6. INITIAL CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF FACTORS INFLUENCING CSR BEHAVIORS
Independent Variables ECONOMIC FACTORS
Aggregate performance
Economy type
- Agricultural or Extractive
Stage of Industrialization (Low, Medium, High)
CULTURAL FACTORS
- Power Distance
Uncertainty Avoidance
Humane Orientation
Institutional Collectivism
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
- Role of government
- Role of civil society
Mediating Variables
INDUSTRY LEVEL
- Sector Type
INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
- Executive Values
Dependent Variables
CSR BEHAVIORS
- Type
- Scope
- Frequency

7. Evolutionary Paths to CSR
Comparative longitudinal research of firms in a country or industry
Role of history and culture
Tease out pivotal events and persons
Identify phases or stages of evolution
With enough cases, look for patterns, e.g., Is