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CSR role crafting: bringing corporate social responsibility into individual work roles

Author

Listed:
  • Davis, Walter D.
  • Randy Evans, W.
  • Neely, Andrea R.

Abstract

Individuals often have drastically different views about what Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) means for their work lives. Employees with similar levels of interest in CSR may exhibit different behaviors in response to those interests, and this could have profound implications for how CSR initiatives are implemented. We integrate recent perspectives on role crafting with the self-determination theory of work motivation to (1) outline the fundamental components of a phenomenon we label “CSR Role Crafting,” and (2) develop a process model describing factors that lead to different forms of CSR Role Crafting. We then describe how different approaches to behavioral CSR Role Crafting (expansive, defiant, idealistic, and compliant) can impact basic psychological needs satisfaction, implementation of organization-directed CSR initiatives, and the emergence of new organizational CSR initiatives from individual activity. We conclude with a discussion of how our framework can guide future micro-CSR research.

Suggested Citation

  • Davis, Walter D. & Randy Evans, W. & Neely, Andrea R., 2026. "CSR role crafting: bringing corporate social responsibility into individual work roles," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:205:y:2026:i:c:s0148296325007246
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115901
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