Purpose

This paper aims to put forward a definition of corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) which is relevant to the study of complex organizations and in particular, the multinational enterprise (MNE). This paper then offers a framework as a foundation to discuss the institutional complexity of CSI to aid international business (IB) scholars, practitioners and policymakers achieve a clearer understanding of the mechanisms that may penalize and subsequently deter MNE irresponsibility.

Design/methodology/approach

In presenting the approaches taken by social regulation researchers and IB policy scholars to understand MNE irresponsibility, this paper proposes a definition of CSI and explicates the various mechanisms associated with deterring MNEs from behaving irresponsibly.

Findings

Therefore, how can MNEs be deterred from behaving irresponsibly? To further the research agenda concerning CSI in IB, far less common are a definition of CSI relevant to the complex IB context; and a framework that explicates both the legal and social components of CSI, particularly as they unfold in a complex, diverse and often divergent institutional landscape. Overcoming these two primary obstacles is important because when complexities associated with CSI emerge, researchers need to be able to ascertain and expound upon what they are observing so that comparisons can be made and more MNE CSI research can be accrued over time.

Research limitations/implications

To help the development of future research, we offered a more precise definition of CSI, one which is more relevant to the study of the MNE and the complex contemporary IB environment. By embracing complexities, this paper also outlines an institutional complexity approach, one which highlights both the role of formal and informal regulatory institutions. Though IB has traditionally focused on the role of formal regulation, there is much more to be unearthed by exploring the additional and concurrent influence of social regulatory institutions.

Practical implications

There is a high level of heterogeneity in the motivations and modes used by MNEs to enter international markets, which likely influence efforts made by these firms to adapt to different types of formal and social institutional pressures. When firms invest significantly in a market, they have a greater economic dependence in that market and institutions have a greater opportunity to exert pressures. For instance, foreign direct investment requires a higher level of (longer-term) commitment, transfer of capital, exchange of expertise and learning, meaning that firms depend much more on local authorities to perform in the market and accomplish their goals.

Social implications

Enabled by new technologies and, particularly, social media platforms, stakeholders can now engage in organized forms of regulatory activities, as is evident in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, black lives matter and gender equality social activist movements. Through prominent collective actions, the impacts of globally organized social movements may be increasingly non-location bound, placing MNE managers at the heart of new challenges and opportunities to engage with global stakeholders. Infomediaries such as the press, have always been of historical importance, due to their role in shaping stakeholder expectations and opinions of the firm and thus, the reputation and legitimacy of that firm.

Originality/value

This study enriches the understanding of what CSI is, why we are likely to observe it in practice and how it affects MNEs. This paper offers a definition of CSI that is sufficiently nuanced to capture the complexity of the contemporary IB environment, as well as a framework that, this paper proposes, presents a clearer understanding of the institutional mechanisms that may deter MNEs from behaving irresponsibly. By encouraging scholars to examine the institutional complexity of MNE CSI, the paper hopes to contribute toward building a bridge which connects the IB policy and social regulation research streams.

中文翻译：

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定义和阻止企业社会不负责任：拥抱国际商业的制度复杂性

目的

本文旨在提出一个与复杂组织，特别是跨国企业（MNE）研究相关的企业社会不负责任（CSI）的定义。然后，本文提供了一个框架，作为讨论 CSI 制度复杂性的基础，以帮助国际商业 (IB) 学者、从业者和政策制定者更清楚地了解可能惩罚并随后阻止跨国公司不负责任的机制。

设计/方法/方法

在介绍社会规制研究人员和 IB 政策学者为理解 MNE 不负责任所采取的方法时，本文提出了 CSI 的定义，并解释了与阻止 MNE 不负责任行为相关的各种机制。

发现

因此，如何阻止跨国公司的不负责任行为？为了进一步推进关于 IB 中 CSI 的研究议程，与复杂的 IB 上下文相关的 CSI 定义很少见；以及一个解释 CSI 的法律和社会组成部分的框架，特别是当它们在复杂、多样且通常不同的制度环境中展开时。克服这两个主要障碍很重要，因为当与 CSI 相关的复杂性出现时，研究人员需要能够确定和阐述他们所观察到的内容，以便进行比较，并且随着时间的推移可以积累更多的 MNE CSI 研究。

研究限制/影响

为了帮助未来研究的发展，我们提供了更精确的 CSI 定义，它与跨国企业和复杂的当代 IB 环境的研究更相关。通过包含复杂性，本文还概述了一种制度复杂性方法，该方法强调了正式和非正式监管机构的作用。尽管 IB 传统上专注于正式监管的作用，但通过探索社会监管机构的额外和并发影响，还有更多的东西有待发掘。

实际影响

跨国公司进入国际市场的动机和模式存在高度异质性，这可能会影响这些公司为适应不同类型的正式和社会制度压力所做的努力。当企业对一个市场进行大量投资时，他们对该市场的经济依赖性更大，机构也有更大的机会施加压力。例如，外国直接投资需要更高水平的（长期）承诺、资本转移、专业知识交流和学习，这意味着公司更多地依赖地方当局在市场上发挥作用并实现其目标。

社会影响

在新技术，尤其是社交媒体平台的支持下，利益相关者现在可以参与有组织的监管活动，这在女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别、酷儿、黑人生命至关重要和性别平等社会活动家运动中体现得淋漓尽致。通过突出的集体行动，全球有组织的社会运动的影响可能越来越不受地域限制，将跨国企业管理者置于与全球利益相关者互动的新挑战和机遇的核心。新闻媒体等信息媒介一直具有历史意义，因为它们在塑造利益相关者对公司的期望和意见以及该公司的声誉和合法性方面发挥着作用。

原创性/价值

这项研究丰富了对 CSI 是什么、为什么我们可能会在实践中观察到它以及它如何影响跨国公司的理解。本文提供了 CSI 的定义，该定义足够细致，以捕捉当代 IB 环境的复杂性，以及本文提出的框架，该框架提供了对可能阻止跨国公司不负责任行为的制度机制的更清晰的理解。通过鼓励学者研究跨国企业 CSI 的制度复杂性，本文希望为构建连接 IB 政策和社会监管研究流的桥梁做出贡献。