*2.4. Sensemaking and Values*

While 'sensemaking' can be a general phrase (see, for example, [64]), the definition used here is based on the process put forward by Karl Weick [65] whereby 'people discover their own inventions' [65] (p. 15) and construct their own reality [66] (p. 316), thereby creating and reinforcing their own world view. For example, Weick [65] explains that problems do not just arise but need to be recognized, actively constructed, and engaged with before a person will start to make sense of it. CSR is an example of what Weick [65] (p. 9) called a complex, 'messy' problem for individual managers as they manage the uncertainty of conflicting ideas. In such contexts, Weick claims that an individual will kickstart their sensemaking process by ignoring information that does not already agree with their existing values, beliefs, and attitudes. For example, information about climate change seen as frightening could be dismissed in order to reduce personal uncertainty and anxiety [67]. There is recent growing interest in the micro-level of how individuals within work draw on sensemaking concepts with respect to CSR [10,68,69]. This has reflected interest in wellbeing at work, as well as motivation to engage with CSR at work and how CSR might motivate individuals to engage with work [70]. However, despite this interest, there is still a gap in understanding how individuals make sense of CSR differently [10], with merit in looking to understand these processes better [69].

At the heart of the process of sensemaking [65] is the need to comprehend the social world and all the implications that has for self-identity. Self-identity is a reflection of how an individual views the social world, along with their own place within that. Values are central to identity [71] (p. 119) and motivation [72] (p. 121) and therefore are an essential part of sensemaking. Values, infused with ethical components and cues to action, produce different emotional reactions to information and thus influence how information about concepts such as CSR are received, understood, and engaged with. This process may threaten, challenge, or support the individual's self-identity. This means, as Weick [65] (p. 133) expresses it: 'we see what we believe'. This also implies that an individual's beliefs about their own responsibilities will be anchored to the actions they will consider and the approaches they will sponsor [73]. Drawing on Rokeach [74], an individual's expressed beliefs about a topic can be viewed as an expression of values [12,74]. An individual may be aware or unaware about their values but their values will be understood from what that person says or how they act. This means that, similar to sensemaking being a quest for 'plausibility rather than accuracy' [65] (p. 17), Rokeach [74] (p. 113) draws on Jastrow [75] (p. 284) to see individual consciousness as belief-seeking rather than fact-seeking. In the context of this current research, this implies an understanding of how individuals think about and act on CSR and sustainability is considered a reflection of their own individual values and how they make sense of the world around them.
