What did they say? A typology of CEO activism
ISSN: 1746-5680
Article publication date: 19 October 2022
Issue publication date: 29 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The practice of corporate chief executive officer (CEOs) engaging in sociopolitical activism on issues both related and unrelated to their companies is gaining attention in the popular press and among management scholars. The purpose of this paper is to explore the antecedents and motivations of CEO sociopolitical activism in a typology of influences internal and external to the CEO and to the organization. This study’s typology highlights the need for greater understanding of CEOs’ sociopolitical activism for the CEO as an individual actor and for the company they represent.
Design/methodology/approach
This study’s approach is to conceptually review the literature on CEO activism and to create a theoretic framework for future analysis of the antecedents and motivations and ramifications of CEOs’ sociopolitical activism for the CEO as an individual actor and for the company they represent. The author highlights four theories and seeks future application of these theories to the phenomena in a typology.
Findings
The typology highlights the application of management theories to various ramifications of CEO activism to four influences on CEO activities. Upper echelons theory helps explain the motivation of a CEO internally, whereas agency theory applies to CEO activism internal to the CEO and external to the organizational operations. External to the CEO, organizational culture theory supports responses internal to the organization, and stakeholder theory provides insight into responses external to the CEO and the organization.
Originality/value
This study provides conceptual support for the study of CEO activism and encourages future research on the topic.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Opinions, conclusions and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of United States Air Force Academy, United States Air Force, the Department of Defense or any other government agency.
Citation
Cycyota, C.S. (2023), "What did they say? A typology of CEO activism", Society and Business Review, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 422-438. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBR-05-2022-0154
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited