RT editorial
T1 Guest editorial: Happiness and corporate social responsibility: the role of organizational culture and consumers in a sustainable economy
A1 Ravina Ripoll, Rafael
A1 Cuesta-Valiño, Pedro
A1 Gutiérrez-Rodríguez, Pablo
A2 Organización de Empresas
K1 Happiness Management
AB People have always been interested in happiness. At the start of the 20th century, thescientific discussion was reserved for philosophy, but other scientific disciplines have sincebecome interested in this topic (Rela et al., 2020). Since the beginning of the 21st century,empirical research has focused on happiness mainly in sociology, social and personalitypsychology and physiology (N u~nez-Barriopedro et al., 2020). Today, disciplines such aspolitics, economics and marketing have a well-developed body of knowledge on happiness todraw on. In marketing, consumer research treats happiness as an emotion within thepsychological determinants of consumer behavior (Kroeber-Riel and Weinberg, 1996). Thedistinction between external and internal models of happiness is common to all scientificdisciplines. Happiness “from the outside” is a state that depends on external, objectiveconditions, such as material prosperity or consumption (Yoshida et al., 2021). Happiness“from within” is a state that depends on internal, subjective judgments. Research in businessorganizations and empirical results of research show that prosperity and well-being shouldbe treated “from within” (Guti errez-Rodr ıguez et al., 2024). This means that we conceptualizehappiness as a subjective phenomenon of internal states that are only partially influenced byobjective factors (Ravina-Ripoll et al., 2019).At the same time, the world is immersed in frenetic economic and social change wheresociety demands socially responsible behavior from organizations (Tiwari et al., 2021).Applying a practical management methodology oriented towards happiness can lead ourorganizations to move towards a more sustainable society. The strategic directions ofcompanies and organizations should maximize the happiness of both their consumers andtheir human capital as a sustainable source of competitive advantage (N u~nez-Barriopedroet al., 2021). This approach by organizations is, in itself, responsible and sustainable. Supposehappiness is understood as a reflection of well-being. Companies must undertakemanagement models where organizational, psychological, communicative or social factorsstimulate corporate happiness within organizations (Jim enez-Mar ın et al., 2021). In the case ofthe consumer, organizations must be prepared to understand the term happiness as beingused interchangeably with subjective well-being, life satisfaction and utility (Cuesta-Vali~noet al., 2020). In any case, research shows that the happiness of workers and consumers isclosely linked to productivity, intrapreneurship, innovation, creativity, satisfaction, loyaltyand responsibility (Momparler et al., 2011; Onkila, 2015).Despite all these academic advances, we need to find out more – from this postulate ofhappiness management and consumer happiness –about developing corporate governancethat significantly improves the happy experiences of workers and consumers. Yet littleattention has been paid to the social role organizations and corporate social responsibility(CSR) can play in generating happiness in society (Cuesta-Vali~no et al., 2019; Guti errez-Rodr ıguez et al., 2017).In this respect, two fundamental things have to happen. The first is to explore humanresources and internal marketing policies to stimulate employees’ work performance in acollaborative culture based on commitment, positive psychology and teamwork (Jim enez-Mar ın et al., 2020). Second, happiness in CSR should be used as a measurement to achievesustainability and economic, social and environmental responsibility (Garc ıa-S anchez et al.,2021), given the importance of proactively promoting happiness in internal and externalcustomers (Zhou et al., 2021).From this perspective, this special issue entitled Happiness and corporate socialresponsibility: The role of organizational culture and consumers in a sustainable economyhas a primary purpose: to show that the intangible resource of happiness will play a key rolenot only in the transformation of the green economy currently underway but also in forging acorporate image of companies that says they are committed to the passion for work of theirhuman capital and the satisfaction of their customers (Cuesta-Valino et al., 2022). Thephilosophy is that monetary benefits are not exclusive to the guiding principles of CSR,respect for the environment, emotional consumption and happiness management (Ravina-Ripoll et al., 2021).This special issue was developed to encourage the development of theories and practicesin human resources and internal marketing that stimulate the work performance ofemployees in a collaborative culture based on commitment, positive psychology andteamwork (Jim enez-Mar ın et al., 2020). Happiness has an important role in the transformationof the green economy and works to improve the corporate image of companies from theperspective of CSR, emotional consumption and happiness management (Ruiz-Rodr ıguezet al., 2023).What follows is a brief synopsis of each academic article included in this special issue. Wethen offer some concluding remarks on the role of happiness and social responsibility intoday’s society.
PB Emerald
SN 0025-1747
YR 2024
FD 2024-03-19
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/31485
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/31485
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 09-nov-2026