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ABSTRACTS / RÉSUMÉS
A Possibilistic Compromise Linear Programming Model for Solving Socially Responsible Mutual
Fund Portfolio Selection Problem
Veronica Cañal-Fernández (University of Oviedo, Spain)
Blanca Perez-Gladish (University of Oviedo, Spain)
Amelia Bilbao-Terol (University of Oviedo, Spain)
Maria Victoria Rodriguez-Uria (University of Oviedo, Spain)
Mar Arenas Parra (University of Oviedo, Spain)
Bribe Takers not Bribe Givers: The Phenomenon of Asymmetrical Corruption
Marc S Mentzer (University of Saskatchewan)
Design and Implementation of Successful Sustainability Efforts: The Case of Clif Bar & Company
Richard Boragno (Clif Bar & Company)
Kathryn Lancaster (California Polytechnic University)
J Michael Geringer(California Polytechnic University)
Gestion de Ressources Naturelles et Certification: Deux Pistes d’Analyses des Contextes Pluralistes
Vera Acevedo Luz Dinora (HEC-Montreal)
How do Sponsors of Social Proxies Decide Which Companies to Pick Up? An Exploratory Analysis
in the Context of the United States, 2000-2004
Miguel Rojas (Université du Québec a Montréal)
Bouchra M‟Zali (Université du Québec a Montréal)
Marie-France Turcotte (Université du Québec a Montréal)
Philip Merrigan (Université du Québec a Montréal)
Irresponsibility or Organizational Incentives? Corporate Behaviour in the Financial Crisis
Shripad Pendse (Saint Mary‟s University)
L'Importance des Plates-formes de Négociation dans la Construction des Normes : ISO 26000 et les
Normes de RSE
Luc Bres (HEC Montreal)
Emmanuel Raufflet (HEC Montreal)
Neoconservativism: Changing the Way Non-profit Organizations do Business
Gail McKenzie (University of Lethbridge)
Mary Runte (University of Lethbridge)
John Usher (University of Lethbridge)
Debra Basil (University of Lethbridge)
Sameer Deshpande (University of Lethbridge)
Sustainability Assessments and the Precautionary Principle: Examining the Voisey's Bay Mine and
Mill Environmental Assessment
Dana Feltham (Memorial University)
Tom Cooper (Memorial University)
The Efficacy of Price of Alcoholic Beverages as an Instrument for Fulfilling Ontario’s 'Social
Responsibility Mandate'
Tomson Ogwang (Brock University)
Danny Cho (Brock University)
Mikhail Permyakov (Brock University)
The Social Responsibility of Canadian Mining Firms in Chile: Exploring the Governance
Landscape
Kernaghan Webb (Ryerson University)
Gregory Klages (Ryerson University)
Toward a Theory of Social Entrepreneurship
Hamid Akbari (York University)
Trois Perspectives Theoriques sur les Sources, le Developpement et les Finalites Strategiques d’un
Comportement Socialement Responsible
Mickael Tirilly (Université du Québec à Montréal)
What Goes Around Comes Around: How Giving Attracts Givers
Magda Donia (Concordia University)
Carol-Ann Tetrault Sirsly (Concordia University)
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Verónica Cañal-Fernández
Blanca Pérez-Gladish
Amelia Bilbao Terol
Maria Victoria Rodriguez Uria
Mar Arenas Parra
University of Oviedo, Spain
A POSSIBILISTIC COMPROMISE LINEAR PROGRAMMING MODEL FOR SOLVING SOCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE MUTUAL FUND PORTFOLIO SELECTION PROBLEM
Multi-criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) is a branch of operational research which provides
financial decision makers with numerous methods for solving modern financial decision-making
problems. In this paper, we are concerned with the area of finance known as portfolio theory. At the core
of portfolio theory is the portfolio selection problem, which is formulated as an optimization problem.
Although this problem has been widely studied in the literature, most of the work in this field only
contemplates two classical criteria: risk (measured by standard deviation) and return. In order to more
realistically model the problem, inclusion of criteria other than risk and return should be considered.
In this paper, we examine investment decisions that include social, ethical and environmental
considerations in addition to the classical criteria. This is referred to in the literature under the generic
term of „Socially Responsible Investment‟ (SRI).
We propose a decision-making model for selecting an optimal portfolio which includes multiple
criteria. To this effect, a three-stage decision-making model is presented which incorporates not only the
classical criteria (risk and return), but also other criteria which could be denoted as socially responsible.
Parameters for the portfolio selection model are usually fixed by the decision maker based on
historical data and the decision maker‟s own expert knowledge, therefore, some degree of subjective
imprecision is inherent in the decision-making process. In this kind of situation, the Fuzzy Set Theory
may be helpful in order to quantify imprecise information, thus permitting logical analysis and decisionmaking based on vague and/or incomplete data.
An actual case study is presented to illustrate the suitability of the proposed method.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Marc S. Mentzer
University of Saskatchewan
BRIBE TAKERS NOT BRIBE GIVERS:
THE PHENOMENON OF ASYMMETRICAL CORRUPTION
One might guess that countries that accept bribes are also those that pay bribes, and vice versa. In
other words, one would expect bribe taking and bribe paying to be symmetrical. However, this is not the
case. In the context of international business, there are countries known for taking bribes but with a low
propensity to pay bribes, and there are countries known for paying bribes but with a low propensity to
accept bribes. This study, using scores calculated by Transparency International, compares the propensity
to take bribes to the propensity to pay bribes, and calculates an index that quantifies the phenomenon of
asymmetrical corruption. As well, the correlates of asymmetrical corruption are examined.
The Transparency International Corruption Index measures bribe taking, with scores ranging
from 1 to 10, where “10” is least corrupt. The Bribe Payers Index, which examines the other participant of
a bribery transaction, also ranges from 1 to 10, where “10” is least corrupt. Although Transparency
International does not compare the two sets of scores to each other, a Corruption Asymmetry Index can be
calculated, which is the bribe paying score minus the bribe accepting score. The Corruption Asymmetry
Index equals zero in countries where the propensity of taking bribes is equal to the propensity of offering
bribes. Canada, with a score of +0.1, comes closest to zero, representing nearly perfect symmetry between
bribe taking and bribe giving (not necessarily a lack of corruption). A negative Corruption Asymmetry
Index represents a country where people rarely accept bribes, but where bribes are frequently paid.
Singapore, Hong Kong, and Switzerland constitute the extreme scores.
A positive Corruption Asymmetry Index represents a country where bribes are rarely paid, but
where people frequently accept them. Brazil, Russia, and India constitute the extreme scores. Multiple
regression was applied to identify the correlates of corruption asymmetry. Only Income per Capita was a
predictor of this construct, and with a beta of -1.0, this is a surprisingly strong correlation. The variables
Political Freedom and Income Equality had no effect. In other words, wealthy countries and poor
countries are characterized by different forms of corruption asymmetry. Wealthy countries are those that
pay bribes but rarely accept bribes, while poorer countries accept bribes but rarely pay them.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Richard Boragno
Clif Bar & Company
Kathryn Lancaster
J. Michael Geringer1
California Polytechnic University
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCCESSFUL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS:
THE CASE OF CLIF BAR & COMPANY
Sustainability has become an increasingly salient topic of conversation for businesses of every
size and in every industry as they adjust to pressures to go beyond mere economic measures of
performance and simultaneously pursue increased performance on environmental and social dimensions.
Yet the journey toward designing and implementing sustainability initiatives has proven to be challenging
for many companies, and there is a need for identifying possible models by which companies can
undertake such change. Clif Bar & Company provides one such example which other organizations may
benefit from examining. The company has long assessed its own performance based on social and
environmental dimensions, in addition to those of a more traditional economic nature. By examining the
process that Clif Bar & Company has undertaken in its efforts to improve performance in terms of
environmental and social sustainability, the authors have identified five pillars that have provided the
fundamental underpinnings for the company‟s sustainability initiatives. These five pillars are: (1) strong
leadership and commitment from the top of the organization; (2) making the transition from awareness to
commitment; (3) embracing sustainability as a journey, rather than a destination; (4) fostering open
communication and encouraging employee engagement; and (5) aligning performance with the
organization‟s sustainability goals by measuring what matters.
1
Contact information: All correspondence regarding this paper should be directed to Dr. J. Michael
Geringer, Orfalea College of Business, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93407, Telephone: (805) 7561755, e-mail: [email protected]
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Vera Acevedo Luz Dinora
HEC-Montréal
GESTION DE RESSOURCES NATURELLES ET CERTIFICATION:
DEUX PISTES D‟ANALYSES DES CONTEXTES PLURALISTES
Le contexte social de la gestion des ressources naturelles (GRN) est un contexte luraliste, c'est à
dire composé d‟acteurs ayant des représentations et des logiques différentes. Les certifications durables
des processus de GRN ont émergé comme des initiatives visant à créer des accords entre ces groupes dans
ce contexte pluraliste. Cet article explore deux pistes d‟analyse pour comprendre ces processus de
certification: l‟ordre négocié et l‟économie de grandeurs.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Miguel Rojas2
Bouchra M‟Zali
Marie-France Turcotte
Philip Merrigan
Université du Québec a Montréal
HOW DO SPONSORS OF SOCIAL PROXIES DECIDE WHICH COMPANIES TO PICK UP?
AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UNITED STATES, 2000-2004
This paper intends to examine some aspects of the shareholder-initiated social policy resolution
filing; an activity that is governed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission‟s Rule 14 a-8. In
particular, we examine if some indicators of financial and social performance of firms make them more
likely to attract social proxies. We extend previous research on three ways. First, unlike previous
researchers, we employ a methodology that matches targeted to non-targeted firms in order to analyze the
issue at hand. Secondly, we integrate into the analysis additional firms‟ traits that may theoretically create
an environment conducive to attract social proxies. Third, we explore the possibility that social proxy
filers‟ heterogeneity could have consequences in terms of the type of companies that they target. Our
analysis confirms previous results suggesting that larger firms tend to attract social proxies. It also
confirms that firm profits do not necessarily attract social proxies; and that socially underperforming
companies tend to receive more social proxies, vis-à-vis their more socially responsible counterparts. Our
results reject the hypothesis that riskier firms attract more social proxies. We also reject the notion that a
firm‟s more disperse ownership base could facilitate targeting by social activist shareholders, as well as
the view that firms with a greater reputation capital are more vulnerable to social activist and that in
consequence they attract more social policy shareholder resolutions. Our results suggest that different
types of filers diverge in their targeting activity, regarding two aspects, firm size and profitability.
2
Corresponding author.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Shripad Pendse
Saint Mary's University
IRRESPONSIBILITY OR ORGANIZATIONAL INCENTIVES?
CORPORATE BEHAVIOR IN THE FINANCIAL CRISIS.
The current financial crisis has been commonly attributed to “greed and irresponsibility”.
This paper offers an alternative diagnosis based on a conjunction of motive, opportunity
and means, and suggests that removing such a conjunction offers an effective key to
reducing corporate malfeasance.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Luc Bres
Emmanuel Raufflet
HEC-Montréal
L'IMPORTANCE DES PLATES-FORMES DE NÉGOCIATION DANS LA CONSTRUCTION DES
NORMES: ISO 26000 ET LES NORMES DE RSE
Dans une perspective néo-institutionaliste, les environnements autorégulés émergents semblent
propices à l'action des acteurs (agency), de par leur faible encastrement, et parce qu'il y a une forte
concurrence entre les institutions ce qui favorise le changement institutionnel. Pourtant, ces mêmes
conditions ne limitent-elles pas les formes de coordination possibles entre les acteurs ? En pratique, dans
la construction des normes internationales de RSE, ce paradoxe dît de l'action encastrée (embedded
agency) semble être résolu par la mise en place de plates-formes de négociation temporaires qui limitent
les effets négatifs du faible encastrement des acteurs/entrepreneurs institutionnels et de la concurrence des
institutions pour leur permettre de travailler ensemble. Les différentes plates-formes sont en concurrence
pour attirer les acteurs qui construisent les normes. La contribution de cet article est de proposer
l'utilisation de deux approches complémentaires, la perspective néo-institutionnelle et l'approche basée
sur les ressources pour expliquer le succès de certaines plates-formes dans la construction des normes
internationales de RSE.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Gail McKenzie
Mary Runté
John Usher
Debra Basil
Sameer Deshpande
University of Lethbridge
NEOCONSERVATIVISM: CHANGING THE WAY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DO
BUSINESS3
The socio-political environment of neoconservativism is explicated in regards to its
implications for nonprofit organizations in the United States. A qualitative research study
revealed the following themes: businesslike, measuring outcomes, efficiency and return
on investment. Research implications are discussed.
3
The authors acknowledge the support of the Social Sciences Research Council in the funding of this research.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Dana Feltham (Student)
Tom Cooper
Memorial University
SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTS AND THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE:
EXAMINING THE VOISEY'S BAY MINE AND MILL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Environmental Assessment (EA) practices have made significant strides over the past two
decades. What was often an ad hoc process where environmental approvals were sought late in the project
development phase has now become integrated into the earliest stages of project planning, often enabling
environmental considerations to have a substantial effect on project design, implementation and
operations. Yet it is unclear whether EAs are inclusive of all sustainability issues a project might
encounter.
As will be discussed in this paper, the EA process can become a vehicle to address issues of
sustainability in major project developments. In order for this to be successfully undertaken, it is
necessary for environmental issues to be fully integrated into the project planning process. Further, there
is a need for the interaction of social, economic and ecological factors to be completely considered
throughout the EA rather than as independent components with little or no relationship to each other. By
integrating these factors and ensuring their consideration early in the process, it is possible to identify the
full scope of a project effects on sustainability issues.
In the past five years, there has been a steady increase in the volume of literature related to
sustainability and sustainability assessment (Weavers and Rotman 2006; Schianetz and Kavanagh 2008).
Gibson (2006) notes that in 2005, authors looking for material for a single chapter found enough material
to write a separate book on the topic. Although there is an extremely broad and diverse range of material
available on sustainability assessment, this paper will concentrate on issues of integrating sustainability
objectives into the environmental assessment process for business organizations, particularly in the
context of socio-economic issues.
The following paper will discuss how sustainability issues received consideration at the earliest
stages of the Voisey‟s Bay Mine/Mill environmental assessment and how these issues were carried
forward throughout the process. Two of the salient features of the Voisey‟s Bay EA were the application
of the Precautionary Principle and the requirement that the elements of the biophysical environment be
considered in the context of the socio-economic assessment of the Project. The paper will also discuss
how the Voisey‟s Bay Mine/Mill EA successfully incorporated these two requirements. Moreover the
paper will demonstrate how strong linkages between the socio-economic and biophysical environment
may ultimately result in the broader application of the Precautionary Principle for business sustainability
practices and project planning.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Tomson Ogwang
Danny I. Cho
Mikhail Permyakov
Brock University
THE EFFICACY OF PRICE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AS AN INSTRUMENT
FOR FULFILLING ONTARIO‟S „SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MANDATE‟
In this paper, the efficacy of the price of alcoholic beverages as an instrument for
fulfilling the “social responsibility mandate” in Ontario is investigated using data for the
period 1980-2003. To this end, the Kalman filter methodology that allows for variability
in the demand elasticities is used in conjunction with the Chow test for structural change.
Structural changes are identified in the demand models for all the three types of
beverages (wine, beer and spirits). The high variability of the price elasticities for all the
three types of beverages bring into question the efficacy of using price as an instrument
for fulfilling the “social responsibility mandate” in Ontario.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Kernaghan Webb
Gregory Klages
Ryerson University
THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF CANADIAN MINING FIRMS IN CHILE:
EXPLORING THE GOVERNANCE LANDSCAPE
This paper examines the social responsibility governance landscape applying to a
Canadian mining firm operating in Chile, as a foundation for better understanding the
diverse and complex range of headquarter country, host country and international rule
instruments, institutions, processes and actors interacting with transnational companies
operating in developing countries.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Hamid Akbari (Student)
York University
TOWARD A THEORY OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP4
Social Entrepreneurship has recently received a lot of attention, yet theories explaining
this phenomenon are still in their infancy. This paper is the preliminary results of a study
toward developing a theory of social entrepreneurship.
4
The author wishes to thank Anoop Madhok for his invaluable comments on the early draft of this paper. I also
appreciate the comments provided by participants in the presentation at the Schulich School of Business, York
University.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Mickael Tirilly (Étudiante)
Université du Québec à Montréal
TROIS PERSPECTIVES THEORIQUES SUR LES SOURCES, LE DEVELOPPEMENT ET LES
FINALITES STRATEGIQUES D‟UN COMPORTEMENT SOCIALEMENT RESPONSABLE
Ce papier se concentre sur la Responsabilité Sociale des Entreprises en reposant sur trois
perspectives théoriques – la théorie néo-institutionnelle, la théorie des parties prenantes et
la théorie basée sur les ressources – pour proposer un cadre conceptuel des sources, du
développement et des finalités stratégiques d‟un comportement socialement responsable.
ASAC 2009
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Magda Donia (Student)
Carol-Ann Tetrault Sirsly (Student)
Concordia University
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND:
HOW GIVING ATTRACTS GIVERS
This conceptual cross-level, multidisciplinary paper examines the impact of corporate
social responsibility (CSR) on employees‟ performance of organizational citizenship
behaviour (OCB). Venturing into the intersection of strategy and organizational
behaviour, we propose a model where firm CSR promotes employee OCBs, benefitting
all by going from good to better!