Corporations as agents of social change

A case study of diversity at Cummins Inc

Bibliographic Data

ID8419486
AuthorsHeidi Reed (0000-0002-4456-8509, Applied Social Science, The Hong Kong Polytechnic, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume59
Issue6
Pages821-843
Publication date2017-08-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueBusiness History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-6791 • E-ISSN: 1743-7938
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00076791.2016.1255196
OpenAlexW2582569245
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited51

This case study on the American multinational Cummins Inc. calls into question traditional, normative theories of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Although the dominant literature views CSR as a response to society, Cummins’ promotion of diversity dates back to the 1940s, making their efforts well in advance of society’s expectations. The article shows that Cummins’ management pushed for civil and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights at times when society viewed these actions as being illegitimate and against community values. The study suggests that leaders for diversity at Cummins were able to gain support during these difficult times due to their high level of influence and by connecting the value of diversity to Cummins’ organisational identity

Corporate social responsibility · Diversity (politics · Diversity management · Identity (music · Lesbian · Multinational corporation · Normative · Political science · Politics · Promotion (chess · Public relations · Social group · Social identity theory · Social science · Sociology · Transgender · Value (mathematics · Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting · Ethics in Business and Education · Gender Studies · Law · Management and Organizational Studies

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