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Social purpose is the strategic commitment by leaders to generate positive outcomes in society for multiple stakeholders through their organizational operations. An organization's social purpose may benefit any number of causes from human rights to environmental sustainability, at a large or small scale. The stakes can be high, for the organization's stability as well as for the larger community, and complex strategizing is required by leaders to plan, execute, and evaluate the implementation of social purpose initiatives.
The Oxford Handbook of Social Purpose makes a foundational contribution to this field. Across twenty-eight chapters, the edited volume captures why social purpose is theoretically and practically important as well as timely. Throughout the Handbook, there are recurring themes around leadership, strategy, and stakeholders. The chapters are organized into four themes: First, conceptualizing social purpose; second, governance and strategy for social purpose; third, implementing and embedding social purpose; fourth, social purpose in practice. While the Handbook provides a valuable contribution to social purpose, it recognises that there is valuable future research and practice to follow. The Handbook concludes by calling on academics to build the evidence-base and practitioners to commit to delivering on social purpose through their activities. The stakes could not be higher to act now.
