­­The Aspen Institute Center for Business Education has just released the first "Guide to Socially Responsible MBA Programs".

The guide provides an overview of how global MBA programs bring social impact management into their curricular and extracurricular programs. Social impact management, which includes environmental, ethical, and corporate governance issues, is the field of inquiry at the intersection of business needs and wider societal concerns that reflects their complex interdependency. Without an understanding of this interdependency, neither business nor the society in which it operates can thrive.

Rich Leimsider, executive director of the Aspen Institute Center for Business Education commented: ­"Building on our highly successful 'Beyond Grey Pinstripes Alternative MBA Rankings,' this MBA guide will serve the growing number of highly qualified prospective business school students for whom social and environmental responsibility is an extremely important factor as they plan their business education and career."

Learn more or order the book directly on http://www.bkconnection.com

6e Congrès de l’ADERSE 

Le 6e congrès, organisé par le Groupe ESC-Pau, se donne pour objectif de tirer les conséquences opérationnelles des travaux antérieurs de l’ADERSE en traitant des « Outils et pratiques de la RSE » : créer un nouvel espace de débats pour que des chercheurs et professeurs des diverses disciplines et nationalités puissent se confronter directement avec des praticiens d’entreprise et des représentants des parties prenantes, dans le but pragmatique d’évaluer ensemble les actions possibles, les outils, les pratiques et les expériences de la responsabilité sociale et sociétale en entreprise.

Comme les précédents congrès, celui de Pau accueillera des communications en plusieurs langues : français, anglais, espagnol et portugais. Il permettra un dialogue constructif entre les enseignants chercheurs et les professionnels soucieux des responsabilités sociales et environnementales des entreprises.

Exemples de thèmes sur lesquels pourront porter les communications:

• Rappel du cadre théorique
• Les territoires partagés et voisins de la RSE
• La RSE en débat
• Contraintes de la RSE et du DD sur les entreprises ou opportunités stratégiques d’innovation ?
• Implications organisationnelles de la RSE et du DD
• Outils d’évaluations de la RSE et du DD à l’échelle des entreprises

NOTE: Etant donné que le congrès se veut très « pratique », les communications qui portent sur des actions concrètes et des outils d’application, seront particulièrement appréciées.

Calendrier

• Envoi de l’intention de communication, avec un résumé d’une demi-page, avant le 30 septembre 2008.
• Réponse de pré-acceptation avant le 15 octobre 2008.
• Remise du texte pour examen par le comité scientifique (entre 8 et 12 pages, bibliographie et notes incluses) au plus tard le 27 novembre 2008.
•  Réponse du Comité Scientifique au plus tard le 15 décembre 2008.
• Remise des textes avec les modifications demandées au plus tard le 30 décembre 2008.
• Colloque ADERSE les 22 et 23 janvier 2009.

There is a growing literature on the so-called business case for sustainability. Scholars seek to determine if and under which conditions it pays off financially for companies to act environmentally and/or socially responsible.

Research based on this win-win paradigm represents a promising starting point to gain acceptance in mainstream research and business practice. It is, however, based on a critical assumption, namely that the different aspects of corporate sustainability are mutually reinforcing.

This sharply contrasts the complexity and multidimensionality of sustainable development where trade-offs and conflicts between economic, environmental, and social aspects represent the rule rather than the exception.

Such trade-offs have been systematically under-researched in the corporate sustainability literature. Therefore, this special issue invites submissions that explicitly address trade-offs in corporate sustainability. Contributions could focus on different levels of analysis and/or address the role of different actors.

Encouraged are furthermore papers that investigate and/or develop management tools and corporate strategies to effectively deal with trade-offs in corporate sustainability. Contributions that also address conflicts between different environmental and social concerns beyond their financial implications are particularly welcome.

Guest editors:
Tobias Hahn, Institute for Futures Studies and Technology Assessment, Berlin, Germany Frank Figge, Queen's University Management School, Belfast, UK Jonatan Pinkse, University of Amsterdam Business School, The Netherlands Lutz Preuss, School of Management, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK

The deadline for paper submission is 15 September 2008. Papers will undergo a double-blind review process, following standard BSE guidelines. Submissions should be sent electronically in word format to one of the guest editors and should be written in accordance with the "Instructions to Authors"

Note: due to space restrictions papers that exceed 7,000 words will not be accepted.

Authors are requested to submit papers electronically to Dr Tobias Hahn.

Any questions regarding the Special Issue can also be addressed to the guest editors.

The aim of this special issue is to capture the current state of corporate social responsibility around the globe, applying unique perspectives and analyses. Qualitative and quantitative approaches are encouraged. Papers should point to the future of corporate social responsibility with particular emphasis on how best to advance the arguments, methods, and effectiveness of CSR. Advancement of CSR effectiveness also includes linkages to other fields of business management research.

Guest Editors
David Atkinson, Helsinki School of Economics, Finland
Gabriele Suder, CERAM Business School Nice, France

Examples of topics appropriate to the theme of corporate social responsibility include, among others:

• The language and rhetoric of corporate social responsibility
• The role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in CSR, with implications for effective stakeholder involvement
  
• The role of consumers in CSR
  
• Multinational corporations and the recognition of human rights
  
• The role of CSR in the reduction of conflict and of overall uncertainty in the geopolitical business environment
  
• Corporate-state interface in CSR, with emphasis on roles and implications of roles
  
• Social responsibility as management and decision-making tools
  
• Corporate codes of conduct - their usefulness and effectiveness

Notes for Prospective Authors
Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Author Guidelines page.

Important Dates
Draft submission deadline: 1 November, 2008
Final paper submission deadline: 15 February, 2009

Please find all other relevant information on the website of Inderscience Publisher.  

3rd International Conference on CSR, HU-Berlin, 8-10 October 2008
Invitation and Call for Papers

Invitation and Call for Papers
Abstracts (3-5 pages) are due June 15th, 2008.
For additional details (registration, submission) see: www.cr08-berlin.de
Note: to be acceptable, abstracts have to be submitted through the conference web site: http://system.cr08-berlin.de/index.php5?action=callforpapers 

Special guests (among others):
Jagdish Bhagwati, Columbia University
Peter Eigen, Chairman EITI and Founder of Transparency International
R. Edward Freeman, University of Virginia
Bradley Googins, Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College
Dirk Matten, York University, Toronto
Mark Pieth, Chairman of the OECD Working Group on Bribery and University of Basel
Pietra Rivoli, Georgetown University
Michael Spence, Stanford University, Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences

Topics to be discussed will range widely within the general field of CSR but in particular centre on ‘Corporate Responsibility and Governance’. The so called global governance describes the universe of mechanisms, institutions, rules and/or regulations with which different actors (e.g. governments, companies, NGOs, civil society) discuss and decide global issues. Especially, the following areas will be covered:

• Collective voluntary commitments vs. governmental regulation
• Global governance in different countries
• Management process and corporate governance as a precondition for corporate responsibility
• Democratic accountability: The role of different stakeholders
• Global C(S)R issues and key challenges in certain industry sectors and governance
• Responsible Management Education

For any questions please contact Anja Schwerk: conference@cr08-berlin.de