The objective of this study is to explore the motivational structures of consumers in the decision to purchase from Benefit Corporations (B Corps) by applying means-end chain (MEC) theory and using a soft-laddering technique. Data were collected from 20 Chilean consumers of B Corp products and services. Results revealed that the primary motivators for consuming from B Corps are (a) social/environmental responsibility, (b) self-satisfaction, and (c) health and quality of life. Findings suggest that consumers' social and environmental values are the main motivators for purchasing from B Corps, and certification provides confidence in the effectiveness of the social or environmental contribution. Additionally, personal benefits for consumers are also relevant motivators, for instance being an agent of change and enjoying healthy and high-quality products that are accessible online. This research is helpful in designing marketing strategies for responsible firms and B Corps and for public policymakers. K E Y W O R D S
While there is significant research regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in the mining industry, there is a lack of understanding in terms of the actual effectiveness of CSR initiatives disclosed by these companies. This paper aims to examine the perceptions of stakeholders in the mining industry regarding the intended results of CSR initiatives. Results show three ineffective situations that emerged from empirical contrasts of CSR initiatives declared by mining companies in sustainability reports and the actual impact on beneficiaries in communities: (1) failure of the CSR initiatives to contribute to real community beneficiary needs; (2) failure of the CSR initiatives to adjust to the socio-cultural characteristics of the beneficiary group; and (3) failure of the CSR initiatives to ensure sustainability in the long run.This study contributes to the literature on CSR initiative effectiveness and provides suggestions for mining managers, government, and policymakers.
Are social explanations, as we know them, adequate to account for the complexity of contemporary society and the ongoing emergence of new actors and new phenomena? To the Actor-Network Theory, there are no doubts: social factors are not sufficient to explain the dynamics of society. It is necessary to use heterogeneous factors, taking into account non-human elements and technology. That is, to explain the social, it's necessary to consider social relations, "non-human actants" and the technical procedure in which they are involved. This article will present the conceptual foundations of this new sociological approach, an applied example in the context of research conducted on innovation, and, finally, some lessons and conclusions regarding their applications, potentials and limitations.
Although there is an increase in research on different aspects of voluntary simplicity (VS), there is less understanding of the trajectories that individuals follow when adopting a voluntary simplicity lifestyle, and how transitioning to this lifestyle relates to inner growth. The aim of the paper is to examine the role of inner growth on differentiating voluntary simplicity from other lifestyles. We draw on the framework of resonance by Rosa (2019) Resonance. A sociology of our relationship to the world. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, who claims the need to move from a state of permanent search for material resources, to develop a resonant relationship with the world. Resonance is a way of relating to the world, where individuals and the world mutually affect each other in an interactive way. Seventeen in-depth interviews were held with voluntary simplifiers living in Chile. The findings propose a model that identifies three different trajectories that people follow to achieve a voluntary simplicity lifestyle and the implication for inner growth as a result of more resonant relationships with the world.
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