The adaptive capacity of stakeholder-oriented firms with social purpose vis-à-vis shareholder primacy firms: a comparative assessment
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Neumann, Kerstin
Bettinazzi, Emanuele LM
Mahoney, Joseph T
Snoeren, Peter
Zollo, Maurizio
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This paper provides a comparative assessment of the adaptive capacity of stakeholder-oriented firms with social purpose vis-à-vis shareholder primacy firms. To this end, we apply evolutionary theory to examine the differential costs and benefits incurred by these two firm types at each stage of firm adaptation—i.e., (issue) recognition, variation (ideation of solutions), selection of alternative solutions, and retention (replication and routinization). We conclude by providing an agenda for future research that can contribute to the extant literature on (social) purpose, evolutionary theory, and stakeholder theory.
Date Issued
2026-02-01
Date Acceptance
2025-11-22
Citation
Long Range Planning, 2026, 59 (1)
ISSN
0024-6301
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Long Range Planning
Volume
59
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
102592
Date Publish Online
2025-11-29