Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategic Management: Integrating Ethical Practices with Sustainable Goals

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue explores the evolving landscape of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in response to the dynamic interplay between business practices, societal expectations, and environmental challenges. As organizations face increasing scrutiny from stakeholders, including consumers, investors, and regulatory bodies, the integration of CSR into core business strategies has become more critical than ever.

Contributions in this issue shall examine CSR from diverse perspectives, addressing its role as a driver of sustainable growth, ethical governance, and stakeholder engagement. Topics will focus on the analysis of how businesses can navigate emerging trends such as climate change, social inequality, and digital transformation while maintaining their competitive edge. This Special Issue also highlights the influence of global frameworks such as the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in shaping CSR practices and fostering cross-sector collaborations.

Key themes include the transition from traditional philanthropy to strategic CSR initiatives, the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics in decision making, and the rise in purpose-driven organizations. Additionally, the issue delves into the complexities of measuring CSR outcomes, managing trade-offs, and addressing greenwashing concerns.

This collection shall offer actionable insights for practitioners, policymakers, and scholars aiming to create resilient organizations that prioritize long-term value creation over short-term gains. By bridging theoretical and practical dimensions, it shall promote a transformative path for CSR, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to meet the demands of an interconnected and rapidly changing world.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200-500 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editors or to the Assistant Editor Ms. Zoya Zhang (zoya.zhang@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors to ensure a proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer-review.

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 November 2025

Notification of Abstract Acceptance: 31 December 2025

Dr. Gianpaolo Tomaselli
Dr. Anna Roberta Gagliardi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Administrative Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.