Corporate social investment – good business and good revenue: The case of woolworths holdings ltd South Africa

Abstract

This paper examined the relationship between corporate social investment and revenue in Woolworths Holdings Limited South Africa. The approach is thus a single case study, and financial data on social investment and revenue was retrieved from the Woolworths Holdings’ Good Business Journey report 2008 -2013 and from its annual report of 2002 - 2007. Using the SPSS statistics software, a correlation was sought between the Woolworths Holdings’ social investment expenditure and revenue, earnings per share and return on equity. Findings from the analysis revealed that, within the six years of Woolworths Holdings’ Good Business Journey, a significant positive relationship exists between Woolworths Holdings’ social investment and its revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and return on equity (ROE). A further analysis of difference in means using the t-test statistics indicates that the revenue streams to Woolworths Holdings’ between 2008 – 2013 is significantly greater than the revenue streams in the six years before the Good Business Journey. In conclusion, the paper suggests a new research model, referred to in this research as the share holders’ support for corporate social investment model, and it is represented as: SHSSI = f (Rv+Es+Re+Of). The paper thus offers an agenda for further research to apply the above model to evaluate the degree of shareholders’ interest and support for corporate social investment in retailing and other companies.