Corporate Innovation and Sustainable Community Development in Developing Countries

Judy N. Muthuri, Jeremy Moon, Uwafiokun Idemudia

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The role of multinational corporations (MNCs) in fostering or undermining development within poor communities in developing countries has been a subject of intensive debate within academic and practitioner circles. MNCs are not only considered an obstacle to development but also as sources of solutions to some of the pressing social and environmental problems facing these communities. This article reviews the way in which companies frame (a) sustainable community development, and (b) their engagements in the community. It then considers the implications of both for sustainable community development and poverty alleviation in developing countries. The article then proposes an agenda for future research centering on how corporations innovate in their governance roles and the conditions in which community development innovations are created, take shape, and are put into practice. The article concludes with an introduction to the other articles presented in this special issue highlighting also their main contributions.
Original languageEnglish
JournalBusiness & Society
Volume51
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)355-381
ISSN0007-6503
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Sustainable Community Development
  • Corporate Community Involvement
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Corporate Social Innovation

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