Despite its remarkable rise in popularity, stakeholder theory continues to be criticized for a dearth of empirical studies as well as ambiguity in the underlying theory. Several scholars have argued that resource dependence theory provides a useful lens through which to view firm-stakeholder...

The debate between adaptation and inertia hinges on whether theorists believe that organizations can effect purposive organizational change in which the realized structures match the planned structures. To date, research on organizational change has yielded few insights into the conditions under...

A firm that manages for stakeholders allocates more resources to satisfy the needs and demands of its legitimate stakeholders than would be necessary to simply retain their willful participation in the firm's productive activities. We explain why this sort of behavior unlocks additional...

Quine once wrote that quot;sentences do not confront the tribunal of experience alone.quot; And, he might have added, quot;nor do arguments and theoriesquot;. Sentences, as well as arguments and theories, always import their background conditions and related theories with them. Context plays a...

Can shareholder-owned corporations maximize profits without harming their stakeholders? This was the central question of the first QUASI (Questions and Unanswers About Social Innovation) webinar. The ‘Yes’ side argues that 1) firms are conditioned to avoid harming stakeholders, 2) firms with...

A flexible product is a menu of two or more alternatives products serving the same market. Purchasers of flexible products are assigned to one of the alternatives at a later date. Gallego and Phillips show that capacitated suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, can potentially improve revenue...

This paper describes the formation and running of a four day residential “Enterprise School” for 35 PhD and postdoctoral students from a mix of subject areas and universities in the North West England. This paper will examine some of the initial feedback and motivations of those attending...

Since 2001, Manchester Science Enterprise Centre has been running a Masters course whereby a student brings a business idea from their own subject area and spends half the time working on developing the technology in their own department and the other half in learning business skills and...

This paper describes the measurement of entrepreneurial outcomes from a four day residential Enterprise School for Ph.D. and postdoctoral researchers from a mix of subject areas held in North West England. We determine the effectiveness of the programme in terms of encouraging a range of...