In this classic text, Masahiko Aoki explores how the 2008-9 financial crisis demanded a re-examination of the role of corporations and the working of financial markets around the world, providing a compelling new analysis of the corporate firm; the role of shareholders, managers and workers; and institutional governance structures. In recent decades the firm has predominantly been seen as an organization run and governed in the interests of shareholders, where management act as the agent of shareholders, and the workers simply as instruments for share-value maximization. This book reverses this viewpoint. It sees corporations as associational cognitive systems where 'cognitive actions' are distributed amongst managers and workers, with shareholders supplying 'cognitive tools' and monitoring their use in the systems. Aoki analyses the different relationships that can exist between shareholders, managers, and workers from this perspective, and identifies a range of different models of organizational architecture and associated governance structures. He also discusses ways in which corporations act as players in social, political, and organizational games, as well as global economic games; how these inter-related social dynamics may change particular distinctive national structures into the diversity incorporated in the global corporate landscape; and how they now call for new roles for financial markets.

This book offers a concise and accessible overview and analysis of the place of large multinational and regional corporations in the political economy of global governance.May argues that not only do corporations have an impact on the institutions of global governance, but they must be understood as a multifaceted institution of global governance in their own right, controlling and shaping significant aspects of the global political economy. Topics include: What are global corporations? Corporations and global governance The legal personality of the corporation Corporations and power Corporations and tax The future role of corporations in a post crisis global system Highlighting the central role of corporations in the generation and reproduction of norms in global governance, this work shows that corporations’ practices and relations are themselves both subjects, and sources of, global governance. It offers an enhanced understanding of the complex of issues that pattern the corporate global governance in the contemporary political economy and will be of interest to students in areas including IPE, global governance and international organizations.

In this rapidly evolving era, grasping the intricacies of corporate governance is essential for organizations aiming to secure a sustainable competitive edge. This book provides an extensive overview of the multifaceted aspects of governance, including ethical considerations, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, and stakeholder engagement, offering a critical examination of both established practices and innovative strategies within diverse organizational contexts. As corporate governance continues to evolve in response to global shifts in technology, regulation, and market demands, this volume equips readers with the insights necessary to navigate these transformations. Through a synthesis of expert perspectives, the book explores the implications of effective governance on sustainability and ethical business practices, highlighting the strategic importance of integrating stakeholder interests in fostering long-term value creation. Corporate Governance - Evolving Practices and Emerging Challenges is an essential resource for scholars, business professionals, and students, providing a comprehensive and accessible guide to the complexities of governance in today's business landscape. Its thorough analysis offers not only a deep understanding of the current state but also sheds light on the emerging challenges that shape the future of corporate governance.

The urgent and sustained interest in corporate governance is unprecedented, with the connections between corporate governance and economic performance being emphasized by the World Bank, the IMF and others in the global economic community. In this timely and definitive intellectual analysis of a key discipline, The SAGE Handbook of Corporate Governance offers a critical overview of the key themes, theoretical controversies, current research and emerging concepts that frame the field. Consisting of original substantive chapters by leading international scholars, and examining corporate governance from an inter-disciplinary basis, the text highlights how governance issues are critical to the formation, growth, financing, structural development, and strategic direction of companies and how corporate governance institutions in turn influence the innovation and development of industrial and economic systems globally. Comprehensive, authoritative and presented in a highly-accessible framework, this Handbook is a significant resource to those with an interest in understanding this important emerging field.

Today's economic and social context demands that corporations - once seen only as private actors - owe duties to the public.

While innovation is widely recognised as being critical to organisational success and the well-being of societies, it requires careful management to ensure that innovation processes have the best possible impact. This volume provides a wide range of perspectives on the nature of innovation management and its influences.

Corporate social responsibility is examined in this book as multi-stakeholder approach to corporate governance. This volume outlines neo-institutional and stakeholder theories of the firm, new rational choice and social contract normative models, self regulatory and soft law models, and the advances from behavioural economics.

This book highlights the most critical aspects of diversity and their implications for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), examining them in a collection of conceptual and practical contributions from researchers and practitioners alike. In particular the book discusses good and best practices for diversity management and analyzes possible links between CSR and diversity within organizations. Examples are drawn from a diverse range of organizational settings including corporations, educational institutions and other (non-profit) organizations and in various countries, including Germany, the UK, the USA and India.

'Birgitte Andersen revisits in a modern context the ideas of Kuznets on technological growth paths, but emphasises the structural variety in patenting where earlier authors focused on aggregate trends. This is an important contribution for scholars interested in the interface between the recent history of technology and evolutionary economics.' - John Cantwell, Rutgers University, US

This book provides a critical analysis of the evolution of corporate disclosure. Building upon prior academic literature, it assesses the most important changes in mandatory corporate disclosure, the growing relevance of social and environmental disclosure, and revolutionary new forms of corporate communication, in particular social media. It also includes empirical analyses that shed further light on the impact of voluntary communication, i.e. social and environmental reporting and corporate social media communication, on managerial and investment decisions. Lastly, it discusses new directions for accounting and corporate governance research on the theoretical and empirical challenges of corporate disclosure. Offering a wealth of relevant and timely advice, the book will help regulators design policies that allow businesses to overcome current and emerging economic, social, and technological challenges.