Contributions to Theory
My research is building normative inter-organizational relations theory. I have co-developed and published theories of cross-sector partnerships, civil regulation, stakeholder democracy, democratic organisational accountability, and capital accountability.
Cross-sector partnerships theory proposes that business and NGOs can achieve social and environmental outcomes through working together, and the means of doing this. Read more: In The Company of Partners (Murphy and Bendell, 1997) and Partners in Time (Murphy and Bendell, 1999). Note that you need to subscribe to have the password to access these files.
Civil regulation theory proposes that businesses are being regulated by civil society, through the dual effect of negative impacts from conflict and benefits from collaboration, and this provides new means for people to hold companies accountable, thereby democratising the economy directly. Read more: Civil Regulation, the conclusion to Terms for Endearment (Bendell, 2000).
Stakeholder democracy theory proposes an ideal system of governance of a society where all stakeholders in an organisation or activity have the same opportunity to govern that organisation or activity. Stakeholder groups are key to this process, as well as also being the subjects of democratic governance. Read more: In Whose Name? (Bendell, 2005a).
Democratic organisational accountability theory proposes that whether greater or lesser accountability of organisations to those they affect is beneficial for democracy and human rights, depends on power relations in complex social systems, and provides a framework for analysing organisations on this basis. Read more: Beyond Accountability (Bendell, 2005b).
Capital accountability theory proposes that the scale of current social and environmental problems arises because of the unaccountability of financial property rights, and that this could be ameliorated by ensuring bearers of financial property rights have a duty for ensuring that economic activities undertaken under direction of their property are accountable to those affected that the activity. Read more: Barricades and Boardrooms (Bendell, 2004).
A search of my name on Google Scholar will give an indication of how this work is contributing to academe: http://scholar.google.com/scholar
