The social value creation of MNEs – a literature review across multiple academic fields

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate how different academic fields within and outside of international business (IB) engage with the topics of social value creation in the context of multinational enterprises (MNEs). The aim is to take stock of the main themes and offer suggestions for future research avenues. Design/methodology/approach The paper undertakes a scoping review. The authors use the Web of Science database to identify relevant articles. The database search yielded 466 articles. The NVivo software was used to code and identify key thematic areas. Findings The matrix analysis performed in NVivo yielded 15 main thematic areas spanning 37 research fields. However, further analysis revealed that 89 per cent of the articles originated from 13 fields. Furthermore, while IB journals represent the second-largest field home to publications related to the social value creation of MNEs, they only account for 12 per cent of the sample. Originality/value The paper responds to prior calls to reduce disciplinary silos through the performing of a thematic analysis across a multitude of research fields.

Social Values and Life Skills as Predictors of Organizational Culture: A Study on Teachers

“…Efforts to create social value, especially in institutions where differences are concerned, are broad, so they are not restricted to business and management. Various fields, including environmental studies, development studies, business ethics, economic geography, and human rights law, may involve in this process (Sinkovic & Archie-acheampong, 2020). There can be a mutual interaction between the values as a consequence of the development and transformation in the world and societies and the vertical and horizontal mobility taking place at global and local levels.…”

The sustainability of multinational enterprises' pandemic‐induced social innovation approaches

“…The link between MNEs, social value creation and grand challenges has been detailed in the literature review presented by Sinkovics and Archie‐Acheampong ( 2020 ). They define social value creation as any positive societal or environmental outcome that arises from the activities of MNEs.…”

Implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in international business

“…A common approach is acknowledging unintended technological spillovers and how multinationals should aim to reduce them despite their positive impact on the host country (Blomström & Kokko, 1998 ; Cantwell & Piscitello, 2005 ; Castellani & Zanfei, 2006 ; Das, 1987 ). However, large firms and multinationals can facilitate social value creation and the solution of externalities (Cuervo-Cazurra, 2018 ; Fisman & Khanna, 2004 ; Rygh, 2019 ; Sinkovics & Archie-acheampong, 2019 ). We place externalities, both positive and negative, at the heart of our arguments.…”