Department of Management, Society and Communication

MSC scholar Rikke Rønholt Albertsen gains her PhD degree

On May 19th 2025, Rikke Rønholt Albertsen successfully defended her PhD titled A Paradox Perspective on the Sustainability Implementation Gap.

Rikke's dissertation explores the gap between the promises of corporate sustainability strategies and their actual contributions. It highlights how a predominant focus on the legitimacy and profitability of organisations often overlooks the limited impact these strategies have on societal and environmental sustainability. Her research shows that, given the complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity inherent in the sustainability context, conventional strategic planning frequently falls short of delivering meaningful results. Instead, by adopting a paradox

perspective and integrating systemic insights, corporations can develop strategies that are more likely to fulfil their sustainability commitments.

The dissertation consists of three single authored papers, which have been published in Business and Society, Business Strategy and the Environment and the Academy of Management Proceedings (forthcoming). Her thesis received much praise and constructive feedback by the examination committee: Miguel Pina e Cunha, NOVA School of Business and Economics, Lisbon; Valentina De Marchi, ESADE Business School, Barcelona and Tanusree Jain, CBS.

• Albertsen, R. R. (2025). Outcomes of Paradox Responses in Corporate Sustainability: A Qualitative Meta-Analysis. Business & Society, 64(5), 889–932. https://doi.org/10.1177/00076503241255498
• Albertsen, R. R. (2025). The Legitimacy–Commitment Paradox in Corporate Sustainability Strategy Formulation. Business Strategy and the Environment, 34(3), 2863–2881. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.4131
• (Forthcoming) Expanding the Repertoire of Paradox Management Strategies in Corporate Sustainability: Normative and Material Dimensions, Albertsen R. R. Academy of Management Proceedings (2025)

MSC scholar Tanusree Jain receives Carlsberg Foundation funding for new research project

Associate Professor Tanusree Jain has received a Semper Ardens grant from the Carlsberg Foundation for her research project D-CORE: Dark Side of Corporate Responsibility.

Platform companies often engage in content moderation as part of their responsibility to keep the online space safe for users. Content moderation work results in an often-overlooked toll on digital workers resulting in negative spillovers for employees. This highlights deeper governance challenges tied to the darker side of CSR.

Project D-CORE seeks to push the boundaries of how we understand,  govern and regulate corporate responsibility in the platform

economy. Drawing on in-depth interviews with multiple actors across platform companies, the project will conduct a fine-grained analysis of the micro-processes shaping digital work. The ultimate aim of project D-CORE is to develop human-centred governance strategies for platform-based organizations.

For further information about the project, visit the Carlsberg Foundation website or contact Tanusree Jain, tj.msc@cbs.dk.

The Department of Management, Society and Communication

The department came into existence on 1 January 2017 as a result of the merger of the Department of Intercultural Communication and Management and the Department of International Business Communication. Read about MSC's research profile here and about its research-based education here.

MSC is located in the Dalgas Have part of the CBS campus. As one of CBS' largest departments, it occupies most of the second floor of the building.