Moral foundations for creating shared value in Asia

Abstract

AbstractThis paper analyzes moral foundations and organizational learning approaches in three small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and one multinational corporation (MNC), which have embraced business models or major projects that enact the strategy of creating shared value (CSV). In the four focal firms, all of which are based in Asia, we found that their adoption of CSV has been driven by moral principles and has entailed substantial organizational learning processes. Our case analyses illustrate a dynamic and mutually sustaining relationship within the four focal firms between organizational learning processes and shared value creation, supported by moral foundations. The four focal firms embraced CSV as a moral philosophy to improve their respective societal conditions, and we found no signs of greenwashing, branding, and organizational façades in their adoption of CSV practices.