Prof Mette Morsing

Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment

Profile

Professor Morsing is the Director of the Smith School. She's also a Fellow by Special Election at St Edmund Hall.

Professor Morsing’s area of research expertise is organisation theory and corporate sustainability, with a focus on governance, strategy, communication, identity and cross-sector partnerships.

She is appointed to a number of international board/council memberships and honorary fellowships, including RSM Rotterdam School of Management (Holland), Kings College London (UK), Sasin School of Management (Thailand), RRBM Research for Responsible Research for Business and Management (USA), and Boards Impact Forum (Sweden).

She is also an editorial member of internationally highly recognised academic journals as well as the co-editor of the 'Business, Society and Values Creation' book series at Cambridge University Press. She has been awarded and served as the lead on a number of international prestigious research grants.

She has served on numerous boards, committees and councils with regards to sustainable development and her research has won several international recognitions, especially her research with a practice orientation. She is an invited author, researcher and speaker at global academic and business conferences, with expertise spanning responsible management, responsible management education and sustainable development. In 2022, she was invited to do more than 200 global public speaking engagements in Africa, East Asia, Australia, Eurasia, China, Middle East, North America, Latin America, and Europe.

She was previously the Head of the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME), UN Global Compact, in New York USA, a role she held from 2020-2023. She led the United Nation’s largest initiative on responsible management education with more than 800 business school and university signatories signed up to advance sustainability in leadership education. Previously, Professor Morsing held professorial positions at the Copenhagen Business School (Denmark), where she was the Founding Director of the Centre for Corporate Sustainability, and the Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden), where she was Executive Director of the Mistra Centre for Sustainable Markets (Misum).

Publications

Journal (32)

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Fontana E, Frandsen S and Morsing M, ‘Saving the World? How CSR Practitioners Live Their Calling by Constructing Different Types of Purpose in Three Occupational Stages’ (2023) 185 Journal of Business Ethics 741

Olkkonen L and Morsing M, ‘A Processual Model of CEO Activism: Activities, Frames, and Phases’ (2023) 62 Business & Society 646

Frandsen S and Morsing M, ‘Behind the Stigma Shield: Frontline Employees’ Emotional Response to Organizational Event Stigma at Work and at Home’ (2022) 59 Journal of Management Studies 1987

Vestergaard A, Langevang T, Morsing M, and others, ‘Partnerships for Development. Assessing the Impact Potential of Cross-Sector Partnerships’ (2021) 143 World Development 105447

Latapí M, Jóhannsdóttir L, Davíðsdóttir B, and others, ‘The Barriers to Corporate Social Responsibility in the Nordic Energy Sector’ (2021) 13 Sustainability 4891

Christensen L, Morsing M and Thyssen O, ‘Talk–Action Dynamics: Modalities of Aspirational Talk’ (2021) 42 Organization Studies 407

Rasche A, Morsing M and Wetter E, ‘Assessing the Legitimacy of “Open” and “Closed” Data Partnerships for Sustainable Development’ (2021) 60 Business & Society 547

Vestergaard A, Murphy L, Morsing M, and others, ‘Cross-Sector Partnerships As Capitalism’s New Development Agents: Reconceiving Impact As Empowerment’ (2020) 59 Business & Society 1339

Glozer S and Morsing M, ‘Helpful Hypocrisy? Investigating ‘double-talk’ and Irony in CSR Marketing Communications’ (2020) 114 Journal of Business Research 363

Christensen L, Morsing M and Thyssen O, ‘Timely Hypocrisy? Hypocrisy Temporalities in CSR Communication’ (2020) 114 Journal of Business Research 327

Schoeneborn D, Morsing M and Crane A, ‘Formative Perspectives on the Relation Between CSR Communication and CSR Practices: Pathways for Walking, Talking, and T(w)alking’ (2020) 59 Business & Society 5

Morsing M and Spence L, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Communication and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises: The Governmentality Dilemma of Explicit and Implicit CSR Communication’ (2019) 72 Human Relations 1920

Christensen L, Morsing M and Thyssen O, ‘License to Critique: A Communication Perspective on Sustainability Standards’ (2017) 27 Business Ethics Quarterly 239

Morsing M and Roepstorff A, ‘CSR As Corporate Political Activity: Observations on IKEA’s CSR Identity–Image Dynamics’ (2015) 128 Journal of Business Ethics 395

Christensen L, Morsing M and Thyssen O, ‘Discursive Closure and Discursive Openings in Sustainability’ (2015) 29 Management Communication Quarterly 135

Christensen L, Morsing M and Thyssen O, ‘The Polyphony of Values and the Value of Polyphony’ (2015) 8 ESSACHESS - Journal for Communication Studies 9

Guthey E and Morsing M, ‘CSR and the Mediated Emergence of Strategic Ambiguity’ (2014) 120 Journal of Business Ethics 555

Castelló I, Morsing M and Schultz F, ‘Communicative Dynamics and the Polyphony of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Network Society’ (2013) 118 Journal of Business Ethics 683

Christensen L, Morsing M and Thyssen O, ‘CSR As Aspirational Talk’ (2013) 20 Organization 372

Frandsen S, Morsing M and Vallentin S, ‘Adopting Sustainability in the Organization’ (2013) 32 Journal of Management Development 236

Morsing M, ‘State-Owned Enterprises’ (2011) 25 Management Communication Quarterly 710

Kjærgaard A, Morsing M and Ravasi D, ‘Mediating Identity: A Study of Media Influence on Organizational Identity Construction in a Celebrity Firm’ (2011) 48 Journal of Management Studies 514

CHRISTENSEN L, MORSING M and THYSSEN O, ‘THE POLYPHONY OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. DECONSTRUCTING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.’ (2010) 2010 Academy of Management Proceedings 1

Morsing M and Oswald D, ‘Sustainable Leadership: Management Control Systems and Organizational Culture in Novo Nordisk A S’ (2009) 9 Corporate Governance: The international journal of business in society 83

Morsing M and Perrini F, ‘CSR in SMEs: Do SMEs Matter for the CSR Agenda?’ (2009) 18 Business Ethics: A European Review 1

Morsing M, Schultz M and Nielsen K, ‘The ‘Catch 22’ of Communicating CSR: Findings from a Danish Study’ (2008) 14 Journal of Marketing Communications 97

Christensen L, Cornelissen J and Morsing M, ‘Correspondence: Corporate Communications and Its Receptions’ (2007) 60 Human Relations 653

Morsing M and Schultz M, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Communication: Stakeholder Information, Response and Involvement Strategies’ (2006) 15 Business Ethics: A European Review 323

Morsing M, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility As Strategic Auto-Communication: On the Role of External Stakeholders for Member Identification’ (2006) 15 Business Ethics: A European Review 171

Morsing M, ‘Corporate Moral Branding: Limits to Aligning Employees’ (2006) 11 Corporate Communications: An International Journal 97

Kumar A, Bapuji H, Soundararajan V, and others, ‘Addressing Socioeconomic Inequalities through Management Education and Learning’ Academy of Management and Learning

Guthey E, Morsing M and Langer R, ‘La Responsibilidad Social Corporativa Como Moda De gestión Empresarial’ 150 Harvard-Deusto Business Review 56

Book (7)

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Rasche A, Morsing M, Moon J, and others, Corporate Sustainability Managing Responsible Business in a Globalised World (Cambridge University Press 2023)

Rasche A, Morsing M and Moon J, Corporate Social Responsibility (Cambridge University Press 2017)

Morsing M and Rovira A, Business Schools and their Contribution to Society (SAGE 2011)

Buhmann K, Roseberry L and Morsing M, Corporate Social and Human Rights Responsibilities Global, Legal and Management Perspectives (Springer 2010)

Chouliaraki L and Morsing M, Media, Organizations and Identity (Springer 2009)

Christensen L, Morsing M and Cheney G, Corporate Communications Convention, Complexity and Critique (SAGE 2008)

Kakabadse A and Morsing M, Corporate Social Responsibility Reconciling Aspiration with Application (Springer 2006)

Chapter (24)

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Morsing M and Spence L, ‘Sustainability and Responsibility in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Multinational Corporations’ in A Rasche, M Morsing, J Moon, and others (eds.), Corporate Sustainability: Managing Responsible Business in a Globalised World (Cambridge University Press 2023)

Morsing M and Stohl C, ‘A Conversation about Three Key Yet Underexplored Tensions in Contemporary Notions of CSR Communication’ in A O’Connor (ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility Communication (Routledge 2022)

Morsing M, Oswald D and Stormer S, ‘The Ongoing Dynamics of Integrating Sustainability into Business Practice: The Case of Novo Nordisk A S’ in G Lenssen and N Smith (eds.), Managing Sustainable Business: An Executive Education Case and Textbook (Springer 2018)

Christensen L, Morsing M and Thyssen O, ‘Strategic Aspirations’ in C Carroll (ed.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Corporate Reputation (SAGE Publications, Inc. 2016)

Irwin A, Salskov-Iversen D and Morsing M, ‘Business Schools in Society. The Distinctiveness of Diversity’ in M Morsing and A Rovira (eds.), Business Schools and Their Contribution to Society (SAGE Publications Ltd 2011)

Morsing M and Rovira A, ‘Business Schools As Usual?’ in M Morsing and A Rovira (eds.), Business Schools and Their Contribution to Society (SAGE Publications Ltd 2011)

Rovira A, Morsing M and Vilanova M, ‘A Platform for Debate, Seizing the Opportunity and Challenges Ahead’ in M Morsing and A Rovira (eds.), Business Schools and Their Contribution to Society (SAGE Publications Ltd 2011)

Buhmann K, Roseberry L and Morsing M, ‘Introduction’ in K Buhmann, L Roseberry and M Morsing (eds.), Corporate Social and Human Rights Responsibilities: Global, Legal and Management Perspectives (Palgrave MacMillan 2011)

Morsing M and Beckmann S, ‘Virksomhedens Sociale Ansvar: Danske CSR Traditioner I Lyset Af Angelsaksiske Og Kontinentale CSR Traditioner’ in H Djurså and P Neergaard (eds.), Sociale regnskaber og social ansvarlighed (Systime Academic 2010)

Kjaer P and Morsing M, ‘Corporate Reputation and the News Media in Denmark’ in C Carroll (ed.), Corporate Reputation and the News Media (Routledge 2010)

Christensen L, Morsing M and Thyssen O, ‘The Polyphony of Corporate Social Responsibility’ in G Cheney, S May and D Munshi (eds.), The Handbook of Communication Ethics (Routledge 2010)

Morsing M and Kjærgaard A, ‘Strategic Auto-Communication in Identity - Image Interplay: The Dynamics of Mediatizing Organizational Identity’ in L Chouliaraki and M Morsing (eds.), Media, Organizations and Identity (Palgrave Macmillan 2009)

Chouliaraki L and Morsing M, ‘Introduction: Towards an Understanding of the Interplay Between Media and Organizations’ in L Chouliaraki and M Morsing (eds.), Media, Organizations and Identity (Palgrave MacMillan 2009)

Morsing M, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility in Organizational Behavior’ in N Smith and G Lenssen (eds.), Mainstreaming Corporate Responsibility. Cases and Text for Integrating Corporate Responsibility across the Business School Curriculum (John Wiley 2009)

Morsing M and Oswald D, ‘Novo Nordisk A S: Integrating Sustainability into Business Practice’ in C Smith and G Lenssen (eds.), Mainstreaming Corporate Responsibility. Cases and Text for Integrating Corporate Responsibility across the Business School Curriculum (John Wiley 2009)

Vallentin S and Morsing M, ‘Developing Social Responsibility’ in L Zsolnai and A Tencati (eds.), The Future International Manager. A Vision of the Roles and Duties of Management (Palgrave Macmillan 2009)

Morsing M, Middtun A and Palmas K, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility in Scandinavia – a Turn towards the Business Case?’ in S May, G Cheney and J Roper (eds.), The Debate Over Corporate Social Responsibility (Oxford University Press 2007)

Morsing M, ‘Strategic CSR Communication: Telling Others How Good You Are’ in J Jonker and M Witte (eds.), Management Models for CSR: A Comprehensive Overview (Springer Verlag 2006)

Morsing M, ‘Novo Nordisk A S: Integrating Sustainability into Business Practice’ in A Kakabadse and M Morsing (eds.), Corporate Social Responsibility: Reconciling Aspiration with Application (Palgrave Macmillan London 2006)

Morsing M and Vallentin S, ‘CSR and Stakeholder Involvement: The Challenge of Organisational Integration’ in A Kakabadse and M Morsing (eds.), Corporate Social Responsibility – Reconciling Aspiration with Application (Palgrave Macmillan 2006)

Beckmann S, Morsing M and Reisch L, ‘Strategic CSR Communication: An Emerging Field’ in M Morsing and S Beckhmann (eds.), Strategic CSR Communication (DJØF Publishers 2006)

Guthey E, Morsing M and Langer R, ‘CSR Is a Management Fashion. So What?’ in M Morsing and S Beckhmann (eds.), Strategic CSR Communication (DJØF Publishers 2006)

Morsing M and Schultz M, ‘Stakeholder Communication Strategies’ in M Morsing and S Beckhmann (eds.), Strategic CSR Communication (DJØF Publishing 2006)

Kakabadse A and Morsing M, ‘Introduction: Corporate Social Responsibility —Reconciling Aspiration With Application’ in A Kakabadse and M Morsing (eds.), Corporate Social Responsibility – Reconciling Aspiration with Application (Palgrave Macmillan)

Conference paper (4)

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Fontana E, Frandsen S and Morsing M, ‘Entrepeneurship As Emancipation? The Bodywork and Dignity in the Market Space’

Morsing M, Mintzberg H and Elwan-Ibrahim S, ‘Coaching Ourselves: How Peer-Learning Empowers Managers and Workers to Achieve Climate Solutions’

Morsing M, Suddaby R and Freeman E, ‘Tackling Grand Challenges through Responsible Management’

Fontana E, Frandsen S and Morsing M, ‘Entrepeneurship As Emancipation? The Bodywork and Journeys of the Hijra Entrepeneurs’