Science has been the basis for many of the most significant technological advances across the globe. From new drug treatments and energy production, to computer chip technology. While innovation is the primary power behind science however, business is all about making money and keeping shareholders satisfied. Traditionally the two fields of business and science were thought of as distinct entities. The two are interconnected and it’s impossible to separate their impact on business from the impact of research.
While the business world is primarily focused on making money, its long-term effects can have significant social, environmental and economic repercussions. Science is equally concerned about the effects of its actions, in particular its decisions regarding the exploitation of resources and sustainable development. A shrewd company will, for instance exploit a resource at the level that science deems sustainable. But greedy businesses have led to over-exploitation of natural resources and ecological catastrophe.
We have coded the desired results and the effects of these strategies. (TL was the first to do the coding, and AG coded 20% of papers). We found that corporations use five macro-level strategies, which work together to minimise perceived credibility of unfavourable science and maximise favourable science. These strategies are operationalised through meso-strategies which, over time, alter evidence in favor of the industry. This leads to three distal outcomes – to create doubt on the potential harms that industry products and practices, promote industry-friendly policy responses and to boost consumption, use and sales of products and services, thereby increasing profits for corporations.