Title: Advancing Corporate Social Responsibility through Green Management: A Strategic Framework for Environmental Innovation and Stakeholder Engagement
Authors: Temitope Stehphen Adeyemi & Favour Folushade Olaleye
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
Pages: 55-70
Publication Date: 2026/05/28
Abstract:
Corporate social responsibility has evolved from peripheral philanthropy to a strategic imperative, yet the integration of CSR with green management practices remains fragmented across both theory and practice. This paper develops and empirically validates a strategic framework that advances corporate social responsibility through the systematic implementation of green management principles, with particular emphasis on environmental innovation and stakeholder engagement. Through a sequential mixed method design comprising a systematic literature review of 142 peer reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2026 and a multiple case study analysis of ten organizations across high impact sectors including manufacturing, energy, retail, and transportation, we identify four pathways through which green management advances CSR outcomes: operational greening, product innovation, supply chain collaboration, and stakeholder dialogue. Our findings reveal that firms achieving advanced integration of CSR and green management exhibit distinct capabilities in environmental sensing, cross functional coordination, and legitimacy management. We propose a maturity model with four stages from compliance driven CSR to regenerative value creation. The framework contributes to CSR theory by specifying the microfoundations of green management implementation and provides practitioners with a diagnostic tool for assessing and advancing their environmental responsibility practices. We conclude with propositions for future research on circular economy transitions, carbon neutrality strategies, and the role of digital technologies in green management.