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Prosociality in Business: A Human Empowerment Framework

Author

Listed:
  • Steven A. Brieger

    (University of Sussex
    University of St.Gallen)

  • Siri A. Terjesen

    (American University
    Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Diana M. Hechavarría

    (University of South Florida)

  • Christian Welzel

    (Leuphana University of Lüneburg
    National Research University)

Abstract

This study introduces a human empowerment framework to better understand why some businesses are more socially oriented than others in their policies and activities. Building on Welzel’s theory of emancipation, we argue that human empowerment—comprised of four components: action resources, emancipative values, social movement activity, and civic entitlements—enables, motivates, and entitles individuals to pursue social goals for their businesses. Using a sample of over 15,000 entrepreneurs from 43 countries, we report strong empirical evidence for two ecological effects of the framework components on prosociality. We find that human empowerment (1) lifts entrepreneurs’ willingness to choose a social orientation for their business, and (2) reinforces the gender effect on prosociality in business activity. We discuss the human empowerment framework’s added value in understanding how modernization processes fully leverage the potential of social business activities for societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven A. Brieger & Siri A. Terjesen & Diana M. Hechavarría & Christian Welzel, 2019. "Prosociality in Business: A Human Empowerment Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(2), pages 361-380, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:159:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-018-4045-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-018-4045-5
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    1. Tyrowicz, Joanna & Terjesen, Siri & Mazurek, Jakub, 2020. "All on board? New evidence on board gender diversity from a large panel of European firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 634-645.
    2. Steven A. Brieger & Anne Bäro & Giuseppe Criaco & Siri A. Terjesen, 2021. "Entrepreneurs’ age, institutions, and social value creation goals: A multi-country study," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 425-453, June.
    3. Dirk De Clercq & Steven A. Brieger, 2022. "When Discrimination is Worse, Autonomy is Key: How Women Entrepreneurs Leverage Job Autonomy Resources to Find Work–Life Balance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(3), pages 665-682, May.
    4. Steven A. Brieger & Dirk Clercq & Timo Meynhardt, 2021. "Doing Good, Feeling Good? Entrepreneurs’ Social Value Creation Beliefs and Work-Related Well-Being," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(4), pages 707-725, September.
    5. Joanna Tyrowicz & Siri Terjesen & Jakub Mazurek, 2017. "All on board? New evidence on board gender diversity from a large panel of firms," GRAPE Working Papers 5, GRAPE Group for Research in Applied Economics.
    6. Serap Kalfaoğlu, 2023. "Social Sustainability Indicators from Employees’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study on Whether Social Sustainability in Businesses Is Perceived as a Necessity, Preference, or Dream," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-15, May.
    7. Zavodny Pospisil Jan & Zavodna Lucie Sara, 2022. "An Insight to the World of Female Entrepreneurship: Systematic Literature Review of the Phenomenon using the Mckinsey 7S Model," Foundations of Management, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 51-66, January.
    8. Brieger, Steven A. & Chowdhury, Farzana & Hechavarría, Diana M. & Muralidharan, Etayankara & Pathak, Saurav & Lam, Yan Tong, 2022. "Digitalization, institutions and new venture internationalization," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
    9. Yu Wang & Jie Ma & Tienan Wang, 2023. "Do all female directors have the same impact on corporate social responsibility? The role of their political connection," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 1047-1074, September.
    10. Inmaculada Buendía-Martínez & Carolina Hidalgo-López & Eric Brat, 2020. "Are Cooperatives an Employment Option? A Job Preference Study of Millennial University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-32, September.
    11. EuiBeom Jeong & Hanna Yoo, 2022. "A systematic literature review of women in social entrepreneurship," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 16(4), pages 935-970, December.
    12. Jianing Dong & Xiao Wang & Xuanwei Cao & David Higgins, 2022. "More Prosocial, More Ephemeral? Exploring the Formation of a Social Entrepreneur’s Exit Intention via Life Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-17, June.
    13. Rosa Lombardi & Simone Manfredi & Benedetta Cuozzo & Matteo Palmaccio, 2020. "The profitable relationship among corporate social responsibility and human resource management: A new sustainable key factor," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 2657-2667, November.
    14. Diana M. Hechavarría & Steven A. Brieger, 2022. "Practice rather than preach: cultural practices and female social entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 1131-1151, February.

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