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Legitimacy-Seeking Organizational Strategies in Controversial Industries: A Case Study Analysis and a Bidimensional Model

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  • Jon Reast
  • François Maon
  • Adam Lindgreen
  • Joëlle Vanhamme

Abstract

Controversial industry sectors, such as alcohol, gambling, and tobacco, though long-established, suffer organizational legitimacy problems. The authors consider various strategies used to seek organizational legitimacy in the U.K. casino gambling market. The findings are based on a detailed, multistakeholder case study pertaining to a failed bid for a regional supercasino. They suggest four generic strategies for seeking organizational legitimacy in this highly complex context: construing, earning, bargaining, and capturing, as well as pathways that combine these strategies. The case analysis and proposed bidimensional model of generic legitimacy-seeking strategies contribute to limited literature on organizational legitimacy in controversial industry sectors. In addition, beyond organizations active in controversial contexts, this study and its implications are useful for individuals and organizations supporting or opposing the organizational legitimacy of organizations in controversial industries. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Jon Reast & François Maon & Adam Lindgreen & Joëlle Vanhamme, 2013. "Legitimacy-Seeking Organizational Strategies in Controversial Industries: A Case Study Analysis and a Bidimensional Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 139-153, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:118:y:2013:i:1:p:139-153
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-012-1571-4
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    1. Agostino Vollero & Francesca Conte & Alfonso Siano & Claudia Covucci, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility information and involvement strategies in controversial industries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(1), pages 141-151, January.
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    5. Peter Rodgers & Peter Stokes & Shlomo Tarba & Zaheer Khan, 2019. "The Role of Non-market Strategies in Establishing Legitimacy: The Case of Service MNEs in Emerging Economies," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 515-540, August.
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    7. Chaney, Damien & Lunardo, Renaud & Saintives, Camille, 2015. "In-store quality (in)congruency as a driver of perceived legitimacy and shopping behavior," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 51-59.
    8. Niina Erkama & Jo Angouri, 2024. "Engaging, Distancing and Surrendering: Moral Legitimation of Controversial Organizational Decisions in the Media," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 194(1), pages 37-59, September.
    9. Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Chaudhuri, Ranjan & Mariani, Marcello & Fosso Wamba, Samuel, 2023. "Examining the role of intellectual capital on knowledge sharing in digital platform-based MNEs and its impact on firm performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    10. Marberg, Angela & van Kranenburg, Hans & Korzilius, Hubert, 2017. "The big bug: The legitimation of the edible insect sector in the Netherlands," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 111-123.
    11. del-Castillo-Feito, Cristina & Blanco-González, Alicia & Hernández-Perlines, Felipe, 2022. "The impacts of socially responsible human resources management on organizational legitimacy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    12. Tiffany Cheng Han Leung & Robin Stanley Snell, 2017. "Attraction or Distraction? Corporate Social Responsibility in Macao’s Gambling Industry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(3), pages 637-658, October.
    13. Peter Seele & Irina Lock, 2015. "Instrumental and/or Deliberative? A Typology of CSR Communication Tools," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(2), pages 401-414, October.
    14. Heather Markham Kim & Kyuha Cho & Younggin Choi & Junghoon (Jay) Lee & Jinsoo Hwang, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in the Casino Industry: A Content Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-16, October.
    15. Chengli Shu & Kevin Z. Zhou & Yazhen Xiao & Shanxing Gao, 2016. "How Green Management Influences Product Innovation in China: The Role of Institutional Benefits," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 133(3), pages 471-485, February.
    16. Verena Girschik, 2020. "Managing Legitimacy in Business‐Driven Social Change: The Role of Relational Work," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(4), pages 775-804, June.
    17. Samuel Drempetic & Christian Klein & Bernhard Zwergel, 2020. "The Influence of Firm Size on the ESG Score: Corporate Sustainability Ratings Under Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(2), pages 333-360, November.
    18. Anjum Fayyaz & Peter Lund-Thomsen & Adam Lindgreen, 2017. "Industrial Clusters and CSR in Developing Countries: The Role of International Donor Funding," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(3), pages 619-637, December.
    19. Asriansyah Siran Mawung & Bambang Mantikei Jaya Budi & Lelo Sintani & Agus Satrya Wibowo, 2019. "Effects of Employee Commitment on Collectivism in the Workplace: Further Evidence," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(4), pages 504-513.
    20. Włodzimierz Sroka & Richard Szántó, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics in Controversial Sectors: Analysis of Research Results," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 14(3), pages 111-126.
    21. Abubakr Saeed & Muhammad Saad Baloch & Hammad Riaz, 2022. "Global Insights on TMT Gender Diversity in Controversial Industries: A Legitimacy Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 711-731, September.
    22. Maria Baldini & Lorenzo Dal Maso & Giovanni Liberatore & Francesco Mazzi & Simone Terzani, 2018. "Role of Country- and Firm-Level Determinants in Environmental, Social, and Governance Disclosure," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 79-98, June.

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