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The Multiple Facets of Corporate Purpose: An Analytical Typology

Author

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  • Marya Besharov

    (University of Oxford, Saïd Business School, Oxford OX1 1HP, United Kingdom)

  • Björn Mitzinneck

    (Department of Innovation Management and Strategy, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen, 9747 Groningen, Netherlands)

Abstract

As firms increasingly adopt a corporate purpose, there is substantial variation in what this turn to purpose actually entails and divergent views about whether and how firms can realize their purpose aspirations. To capture this variation and analyze its implications for enacting purpose, we leverage three existing bodies of research in organization and management theory: Early organization theory illuminates uses of purpose to convey an organization’s overarching reason for being, organizational hybridity sheds light on purpose as an alternative organizational objective to profit maximization, and systems perspectives offer tools for explaining purpose as a catalyst of systemic change beyond the boundaries of the firm. The typology that we develop based on these three bodies of research provides analytical clarity about distinct facets of the corporate purpose phenomenon and surfaces complementary insights into challenges and opportunities associated with purpose enactment. In doing so, it illuminates the value of drawing on existing organization and management theories for advancing corporate purpose scholarship and provides a springboard for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Marya Besharov & Björn Mitzinneck, 2023. "The Multiple Facets of Corporate Purpose: An Analytical Typology," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(2), pages 233-244, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orstsc:v:8:y:2023:i:2:p:233-244
    DOI: 10.1287/stsc.2023.0186
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew M. Carton, 2025. "The Six Dimensions of Strong Theory," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 36(4), pages 1242-1270, July.
    2. Sarah Kaplan, 2023. "The Promises and Perils of Corporate Purpose," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(2), pages 288-301, June.
    3. William Ocasio & Matthew Kraatz & David Chandler, 2023. "Making Sense of Corporate Purpose," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(2), pages 123-138, June.
    4. Blanche Segrestin & Jérémy Lévêque & Kevin Levillain, 2025. "Companies with Multiple Purposes: A Study of Governance in French Sociétés à Mission," Post-Print hal-05015380, HAL.
    5. Violina P. Rindova & Luis L. Martins, 2023. "Moral Imagination, the Collective Desirable, and Strategic Purpose," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(2), pages 170-181, June.
    6. Juan (“John”) Almandoz, 2023. "Inside-out and Outside-in Perspectives on Corporate Purpose," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(2), pages 139-148, June.

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