Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine why the South Korean Government chose to partially adopt ISO 26000 labor-related provisions. It explores how the state selectively incorporated certain elements of this international standard while marginalizing others and analyzes the political and economic interests that shaped this process. Design/methodology/approach A neo-Gramscian theoretical perspective guides the analysis. The data comprise 21 semistructured interviews with government officials, NGO and business association representatives, corporate social responsibility (CSR) managers and academics in South Korea, supplemented by policy documents, corporate CSR reports and labor union working papers related to ISO 26000. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns in state strategy, stakeholder responses and the selective deployment of ISO 26000 labor-related provisions. Findings The analysis reveals that the South Korean Government’s partial adoption of ISO 26000 reflects a spectrum of administrative constraints, political calculation and ideological commitment that together produced a hegemonic outcome: labor-related provisions compatible with neoliberal competitiveness and corporate reputational management were endorsed, while provisions supporting genuine worker empowerment and binding accountability were marginalized. Rather than fostering substantive labor reform, this selective adoption functioned as a passive revolution, absorbing labor activism through institutional accommodation while preserving the state-conglomerate alliance. Originality/value This study makes three contributions to the political CSR literature. Conceptually, its recenters the state as an active strategic agent in global CSR governance, directly challenging the firm-centric bias of early political CSR scholarship. Theoretically, it extends Levy et al.’s (2016) value regime framework to state-led CSR governance, showing how governments deploy international labor standards to sustain state-business coalitions. Empirically, it provides a non-Western developmental state case showing how passive revolution operates through voluntary international standards.
Purpose This study aims to examines the influence of gender and social validation – proxied by the number of campaign supporters – on the success of reward-based crowdfunding campaigns. It explores whether female entrepreneurs experience disparities in funding outcomes and assesses the extent to which social endorsement mitigates or amplifies these effects. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a dual-method approach, combining traditional logistic regression with supervised machine learning (ML) models to examine the effects of gender and supporter count on crowdfunding success (1 = successful, 0 = unsuccessful). Using data from 561 campaigns (188 female-led, 373 male-led), eight ML models – Bagging, Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, Random Forest, SVM, XGBoost, Deep Learning (MLP) and Adaptive Tree Induction (ATI) – were trained and evaluated using accuracy-based metrics. This comparative analysis assesses the relative effectiveness of logistic regression versus ML models in predicting crowdfunding success. Findings Supporter count consistently emerges as the strongest associational predictor of crowdfunding success, with early social backing particularly benefiting female-led projects. Gender alone does not drive crowdfunding success, but its interaction with supporters highlights the role of social validation in overcoming credibility barriers. Across classification models, XGBoost, SVM and Bagging Classifier achieve top predictive performance, while logistic regression remains a reliable, interpretable option. Feature importance and model rankings consistently emphasise community support, supporter–gender interactions, social engagement and project visibility as key predictive features associated with crowdfunding success. Research limitations/implications While the analysis is limited to a single country and platform, potentially constraining generalisability, the findings offer valuable insights. Future research should explore cross-platform and cross-country comparisons to enhance external validity. Despite these limitations, the results have practical implications for female entrepreneurs, crowdfunding platforms and policymakers seeking to address gender bias and foster inclusive access to entrepreneurial finance. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to use predictive analytics using ML models to investigate the determinants of crowdfunding success and if there exist gender disparities in crowdfunding within the Malaysian context. By assessing both the determinants and predictability of campaign success, it offers a nuanced understanding of the gender gap – examining not only why certain campaigns succeed but also how effectively success can be predicted based on campaign characteristics.
Purpose This study investigates how digital disruption through fintech influences women’s entrepreneurial empowerment (EE) by examining the role of digital financial capability (DFC) and Fintech service perception (FSP). This study aims to uncover not only the direct impact of digital skills but also how cognitive perceptions and contextual factors mediate or constrain empowerment in emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and self-efficacy theory, this study uses a quantitative approach using primary survey data from female entrepreneurs in India. A first-order reflective model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the direct, indirect and mediating effects among the constructs. Findings DFC emerged as the strongest predictor of EE, both directly and indirectly through FSP. Mediation analysis confirmed that FSP partially mediates the relationship between DFC and EE. However, the contextual control variables, support networks and perceived digital disruption benefits showed low significance and prevalence, indicating structural gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Research limitations/implications The findings urge stakeholders to move beyond basic access strategies and toward integrated interventions that build deep digital skills, enhance the perception of usefulness and develop local support systems. Empowerment is most sustainable when skills, trust and ecosystem readiness are aligned. Originality/value This study contributes to the emerging literature on gendered digital entrepreneurship by providing an integrated model that captures the psychological, technological and contextual pathways to empowerment in the Fintech space. It emphasizes that inclusion is not merely about access but also about meaningful engagement and support.
Purpose This commentary aims to examine corporate communication as a mechanism through which sustainability rollback is constructed, amplified and normalized. It argues that firms are not merely affected by these developments but may actively shape them through communication practices, brand positioning and stakeholder engagement. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a conceptual commentary approach and develops a critical perspective on the communicative dimensions of sustainability rollback. Findings Sustainability rollback is not only a political phenomenon but also mediated through consumer-facing narratives. Consumers and other stakeholders interpret corporate actions through political and identity-based lenses. Corporate communication practices, including misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, greenwashing, greenhushing and brand politicization, contribute to the normalization of sustainability rollback by reshaping perceptions of what constitutes legitimate corporate conduct. Rather than serving as neutral communication channels, firms may inadvertently reinforce broader political dynamics that undermine sustainability commitments. Research limitations/implications Future research should examine how corporate communication strategies influence the legitimacy of sustainability norms across different political and cultural contexts. Practical implications Managers should critically assess the broader societal consequences of their communication strategies. They need tools that help identify how corporate narratives may unintentionally reinforce polarization, misinformation and the erosion of sustainability commitments. Social implications By normalizing sustainability rollback, communication practices can have significant consequences for environmental protection, social equity, human rights and public well-being. Originality/value A marketing and consumer behavior perspective to emerging debates on sustainability rollback identifies corporate communication as a strategic battleground where sustainability norms are either reinforced or undermined. It proposes futures literacy as a means of strengthening reflexivity, enabling firms to recognize blind spots, challenge dominant narratives and evaluate the long-term social value implications of their communication and strategic choices.
Purpose Multinational enterprises (MNEs) face mounting pressure to cut emissions, yet a persistent ambition–action gap remains. This study aims to investigate how internal discontinuities arise in MNE climate strategies and which adaptive approaches help sustain long-term decarbonization. Design/methodology/approach The research combines analysis of 1,000 + pages of sustainability reports from 23 European MNEs with 31 semi-structured interviews across two years. Data were thematically coded and triangulated with expert validation to propose a new carbon management framework. Findings A myriad of discontinuities in MNE climate strategies stem from internal dynamics – limited leadership commitment, misaligned planning, premature scaling, siloed operations and inadequate systems – rather than external shocks alone. Adaptive responses include phased rollouts, centralized tracking, credible target setting and transparent communication. The proposed Carbon Management Framework conceptualizes decarbonization as a recursive process defined by feedback loops and recoverable setbacks, reframing carbon strategy from a linear plan to an adaptive process shaped by resilience and alignment. Originality/value Where prior studies emphasize external disruptions or static strategy models, this study positions internal discontinuity as a key mechanism shaping MNE climate strategies. By anchoring this mechanism in organizational resilience theory, the study offers a more granular ac-count of how MNEs sustain (or lose) climate ambition over time. The empirically grounded framework advances understanding of how such adaptation unfolds and provides both theoretical and managerial insight for sustaining long-term climate ambition.
