Social and Environmental Shareholder Activism: Insights From a Systematic Review and a Conceptual Framework
Anno:
Rivista: CORPORATE SOCIAL-RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Autori/autrici: Guazzaroni, Giulia; Giuliani, Marco
Lingua: ENG
Classificazione IRIS: 1.1 Articolo in rivista
Scheda completa IRIS: https://iris.univpm.it/handle/11566/353553
Citazioni:
Social and Environmental Shareholder Activism: Insights From a Systematic Review and a Conceptual Framework / Guazzaroni, Giulia; Giuliani, Marco. - In: CORPORATE SOCIAL-RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. - ISSN 1535-3966. - ELETTRONICO. - (In corso di stampa). [Epub ahead of print] [10.1002/csr.70491]
Abstract:
This study seeks to review the existing literature on social and environmental (S&E) shareholder activism (SA) to trace its evolution, identify key areas of research, and develop a conceptual framework to understand how activist shareholders shape corporate approaches to S&E issues. ...Our review is based on the Scopus database and focuses on articles published in peer-reviewed journals within the Business, Management, and Accounting (BMA) disciplines. The study identifies the main thematic, geographical, methodological, and theoretical issues of the extant papers, revealing how S&E SA serves as a mechanism of influence within corporate governance and stakeholder relations. In addition, supported by an input–output analytical framework, the article culminates in the proposal of a conceptual model for studying S&E SA. This model captures the key dimensions influencing the phenomenon and provides a foundation for scholars seeking to explore how activist shareholders shape corporate approaches to S&E issues. In doing so, the article not only systematises the current knowledge base but also paves the way for a richer, more contextualised research agenda in the years to come.
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Evolution and Trends in Social Enterprise Governance: A Structured Literature Review
Anno:
Rivista: SOCIAL ENTERPRISE JOURNAL
Autori/autrici: Guazzaroni, Giulia; Giuliani, Marco
Lingua: ENG
Classificazione IRIS: 1.1 Articolo in rivista
Scheda completa IRIS: https://iris.univpm.it/handle/11566/357914
Citazioni:
Evolution and Trends in Social Enterprise Governance: A Structured Literature Review / Guazzaroni, Giulia; Giuliani, Marco. - In: SOCIAL ENTERPRISE JOURNAL. - ISSN 1750-8614. - ELETTRONICO. - (In corso di stampa). [Epub ahead of print] [10.1108/SEJ-08-2025-0196]
Abstract:
Purpose: This paper aims to review and critique governance literature within social enterprises (SEs), offer an overview of the state of research, and outline a future research agenda. Design/methodology/approach: 78 refereed journal articles are analysed using a structured literature review metho...dology. Findings: The governance of SEs is an increasingly relevant research topic. However, the literature remains fragmented and, at times, contradictory. The definitional challenges associated with the different types of SEs referenced across studies (e.g., non-profit organisations, hybrid organisations, and others) further complicate comparative analyses. The findings reveal three key insights: First, the governance of SEs is shaped by internal attributes and the fundamental dichotomy between social mission and economic sustainability, influencing their governance models. Second, SEs increasingly act as strategic coordinators in cross-sector collaborations, highlighting the complexity of managing multi-stakeholder partnerships. Third, there is a divergence in country frameworks, leading to inconsistent results in SE governance research, emphasising the importance of understanding local regulatory contexts. Originality/value: This paper provides a structured literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles, offering valuable insights for future research directions
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Multi-stakeholder governance for social sustainability: a multi-level analysis of institutional, ethical and relational governance in Italian Social Enterprises.Three studies on the governance tensions of hybrid organisations
Anno: 2026
Autori/autrici: Guazzaroni, Giulia
Lingua: ENG
Classificazione IRIS: 8.1 Tesi di dottorato
Scheda completa IRIS: https://iris.univpm.it/handle/11566/353059
Citazioni:
Multi-stakeholder governance for social sustainability: a multi-level analysis of institutional, ethical and relational governance in Italian Social Enterprises.Three studies on the governance tensions of hybrid organisations / Guazzaroni, Giulia. - (2026).
Abstract:
Social enterprises (SEs) have gained increasing prominence over the past three decades as hybrid organisations operating at the intersection of market mechanisms, civic engagement, and public welfare. Their dual identity—combining a social mission with market-based economic activity—crea...tes inherent governance tensions, as SEs must navigate divergent stakeholder expectations, competing institutional logics, and persistent ethical dilemmas. Despite the growth of SE research, existing studies remain fragmented and offer limited insight into how governance systems function across different organisational levels to manage these socio-economic tensions. This dissertation seeks to advance conceptual and empirical understanding of governance in SEs by examining both the internal mechanisms through which decision-making authority, accountability, and ethical reasoning are structured, and the relational processes that shape collaboration in cross-sector partnerships. Focusing on Italian social cooperatives as a paradigmatic form of SE, this dissertation adopts a multi-method, three-study design. Study One provides a structured literature review that maps how SE governance has been theorised and highlights the need for stronger ethical and normative foundations. Study Two addresses this gap by introducing principlism as a conceptual lens for interpreting governance dilemmas, thereby offering a framework to systematise ethical reasoning in multi-stakeholder contexts. Study Three complements these contributions with an empirical case study exploring governance practices in partnerships between a social cooperative and for-profit firms, illustrating how internal and inter-organisational governance mechanisms interact in practice. Taken together, the three studies contribute to a more integrated and ethically attuned understanding of governance in hybrid organisations, offering theoretical and practical insights into how SEs sustain their social mission while engaging in complex market and collaborative environments. ​
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