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Series:   Elements in Organization Theory

The Search for the Virtuous Corporation

A Wicked Problem or New Direction for Organization Theory?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2021

Justin O'Brien
Justin O'Brien
Affiliation:
University of Sydney

Summary

The corporation is the most complex, adaptive, and resilient model of organizing economic activity in history. In an era of globalization, the transnational corporation has significant power over society. While its rights are specified through private ordering, and choice of jurisdictional home, in the event of conflict of laws, the corporation's duties and responsibilities remain contested. Notwithstanding the argument in institutional economics that all transactions take place within governance and legal frameworks, underpinned by a 'non-calculative social contract,' the terms are notoriously difficult to define or enforce. They are made more so if regulatory dynamics preclude litigation to a judicial conclusion. This Element situates the corporation – its culture, governance, responsibility, and accountability – within a broader discourse of duty. In doing so, it addresses the problem of the corporation for society and the corporation's problem in aligning its governance to changing community expectations of obligation.
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Keywords

corporate governancebusiness ethicsorganization theorytrustaccountability
Type
Element
Information
Series: Elements in Organization Theory
Online ISBN: 9781108979368
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 25 November 2021

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