Aim

This area works on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the private sector, the 2030 Agenda for the public sector and organisational support for non-profit organisations.
The CSR area aims to guide companies in non-financial reporting processes and in defining corporate sustainability strategies. Here, researchers support companies in holistically integrating the concept of sustainability into their operations and enhancing their commitment to sustainability in line with new sustainability reporting standards such as CSR-D and CSDD.
Public sector research guides the institutionalisation processes of the 2030 Agenda in regional and local governments. Here, support is provided for the definition of local climate change strategies.
Support for non-profit organisations sees researchers engaged in guiding third sector organisations and representative bodies in assessing their impact, reporting on it and studying the managerial dynamics that, in a peculiar way, shape organisations led by volunteers.

Research streams

The research conducted is qualitative in nature and mainly anchored in the principles of Action Research. The use of NVivo software supports the documentary analyses conducted.

From time to time, researchers construct interview protocols capable of capturing the peculiarities of the individual organisations observed.

The assessment of sustainability performance is ensured through the adherence and, if necessary, customisation of sustainability indicators proposed within the non-financial reporting standards.

Main research projects

Unicoop Tirreno Sustainability Report: support the drafting of a Sustainability Report in line with the new European regulatory standards and detects the impact generated on the SDGs.

UISP Social Report: definition of a Social Report model for UISP Italy in line with the regulations for Third Sector entities.

Uisp Veneto Organisational Analysis: analysis of organisational barriers to the filling of senior roles in third sector organisations.

Main publications 

1. De Bernardi, C; Corsini, F.; Annesi, N.; Frey, M.; (2024). Unveiling the impact of territorial and network embeddedness on circular economy adoption in cooperatives. Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility (DOI: 10.1111/beer.12711) (A Anvur, Scopus) 
2. Annesi, N.; Battaglia, M.; Ceglia, I.; Mercuri, F.; (2024). Navigating Paradoxes: Building a Sustainable Strategy for an Integrated ESG Corporate Governance. Management Decision (DOI:10.1108/MD-10-2023-2006) (A Anvur, Scopus, 2 ABS) 
3. Corsini, F., Annesi, N., Annunziata, E., & Frey, M. (2023). Exploring success factors in food waste prevention initiatives of retailers: the critical role of digital technologies. British Food Journal. (A Anvur; Scopus; ABS) DOI: 10.1108/BFJ-01-2023-0034 
4. Annesi, N., Battaglia, M., & Sganzetta, L. (2023). Mutual benefits of sustainability integration in the value chain: Responsible innovation by public utilities. Utilities Policy, 82, 101564. (A Anvur; Scopus; ABS) DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2023.101564 
5. Annesi, N., Battaglia, M. and Frey, M., 2021. Stakeholder engagement by an Italian water utility company: Insight from participant observation of dialogism. Utilities Policy, 72, p.101270. (A Anvur; Scopus; ABS) DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2021.101270 
6. Passetti, E.E., Battaglia, M., Bianchi, L. and Annesi, N., 2021. Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic: the technical, moral and facilitating role of management control. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. (A Anvur; Scopus; 3 ABS) DOI:10.1108/AAAJ-08-2020-4839 
7. Annesi, N., Battaglia, M., Gragnani, P., Iraldo, F., (2021) “Integrating the 2030 Agenda at the municipal level: Multilevel pressures and institutional shift”, Land Use Policy. (A Anvur; Scopus) DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105424 
8. Battaglia M., Gragnani P., Annesi N., (2020) “Moving businesses toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Evidence from an Italian “Benefit-for-Nature” Corporation”, Entrepreneurship Research Journal, 1. (A Anvur; Scopus; 2 ABS) DOI: 10.1515/erj-2019-0305 
9. Giacomelli, G., Annesi, N., Barsanti, S. and Battaglia, M. (2019), "Combining ideal types of performance and performance regimes", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. (A Anvur; Scopus; 1 ABS) DOI:10.1108/IJPSM-11-2018-0246 
10. Battaglia, M., Annesi, N., Pierantoni, I. and Sargolini, M., 2019. Future perspectives of sustainable development: An innovative planning approach to inner areas. Experience of an Italian alpine region. Futures, p.102468. (A Anvur; Scopus; 2 ABS) DOI:10.1016/j.futures.2019.102468