Although most MNE have engaged into sustainability programs, academics as well as practitioners still lack models and methodologies to analyze the internal evolutionary processes related to sustainability and CSR within corporations. Accordingly, this communication proposes a research framework and a methodological approach to investigate sustainable enterprise evolution. Grounding our analysis on Basu & Palazzo's model of CSR (2008) as a sensemaking process, we complement their model by differentiating sensemaking processes among individuals, countries and business functions within the firm. We then show how the model can be operationalized using mixed methods (i.e. by combining quantitative and qualitative methods) to study sustainable enterprise evolution. We discuss the academic and empirical relevance of the model, and illustrate its potential by presenting an ongoing research project with ASICS, the fourth biggest worldwide sport apparel manufacturer.
