Integrating instrumental and normative stakeholder theories: a systems theory approach
Journal of Organizational Change Management
ISSN: 0953-4814
Article publication date: 28 October 2019
Issue publication date: 16 September 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The stakeholder theory encompasses instrumental and normative varieties whose mutual relationship remains unclear and exhibits a classic tension between rational self-interest and moral motivation. The purpose of this paper is to develop a strategy for navigating this tension.
Design/methodology/approach
Niklas Luhmann’s social systems theory is concerned with the limited ability of social systems to codify, and be receptive to, the complexity of the environment. Drawing on this theory, the paper juxtaposes the codification problems of two types of social systems: the for-profit firm and the economic function system.
Findings
This juxtaposition allows to identify four firm behavior patterns, two of which can be aligned with instrumental and normative stakeholder theories. If the codification capacity of the economic function system is assumed to be sufficient, the codification problems of the for-profit firm are shown to specify the range of applicability of the instrumental stakeholder theory. Dropping the above assumption is shown to specify the range of applicability of the normative stakeholder theory.
Originality/value
The argument offers a fresh way of understanding the institutional economics foundations of the stakeholder theory. Given that the systems-theoretic idea of codification reflects the functioning of the real-world institutions, the argument shows that both instrumental and normative stakeholder theories reflect the institutional texture of the modern society in distinct but equally legitimate ways.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The first author gratefully acknowledges the support from the German Research Foundation (DFG). The second author gratefully acknowledges the support from the Leibniz Association. The authors are grateful to anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.
Citation
Valentinov, V. and Hajdu, A. (2021), "Integrating instrumental and normative stakeholder theories: a systems theory approach", Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 34 No. 4, pp. 699-712. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-07-2019-0219
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited