1st Research Workshop.

Organizers Kevin Levillain & Blanche Segrestin (Mines ParisTech, France); Igor Filatotchev (King’s College London, UK)

Programme

Purpose of the workshop

Confronted with significant social, environmental and economic issues, companies and regulators around the world are looking for new and innovative governance mechanisms that combine innovation and social responsibility. Amongst these organizational innovations, the profit-with-purpose companies (PPCs) appear to be particularly promising. This new corporate model is based on a commitment of shareholders and directors towards an explicit not-for-profit purpose within traditional, for-profit structures. With the introduction of new corporate legal forms in the US, Europe and Canada, we are witnessing the emergence of a new legal category at the global level, which already involves diverse actors such as dedicated investment funds, has an impact on corporate performance measurement methods, and the extent of public support.

This governance model’s originality and novelty imply that, at present, its organizational outcomes are still relatively under-researched. How do companies define their mission, and how do they achieve the balance between their stakeholders’ expectations, including investors? How to ensure that a company recognizes and respects its wider commitments? There is a considerable potential for research to explore the boundary conditions for the development and sustainability of profit-with-purpose companies.

Attendance is free of charge, but places are limited. To register, please contact the organizers.