Bridging Institutional Theory and Social and Environmental Efforts in Management: A Review and Research Agenda.

This review focuses on the integration of institutional theory with social and environmental efforts in management, encompassing sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. Analyzing 720 studies from 1997 to 2023, it develops a multi-level model that maps how actors at systemic, organizational, and individual levels respond to or reshape institutional structures, the mechanisms and moderators involved, and the outcomes of these practices. Key findings highlight a predominant focus on how institutions shape actors, an underexplored role of individual-level dynamics including resistance and failure, and a critical need to investigate unintended consequences of social and environmental efforts. The review concludes by proposing a research agenda emphasizing cyclical structure-agency dynamics, individuals' lived experiences, and the complexities of unintended outcomes to advance understanding in this interdisciplinary field.