CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY OF THE CIVIL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF BAHIA, BRAZIL

Manoel Joaquim F De Barros,Edson Jorge M De Sousa,Paulo Melo

doi:10.23925/2179-3565.2020v11i3p73-82

Manoel Joaquim F De Barros, Edson Jorge M De Sousa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.23925/2179-3565.2020v11i3p73-82

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Abstract

The main aim of this research is to verify the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the context of the civil construction industry in the State of Bahia. The CSR became relevant as business environment is increasingly more complex and competitive, and society has demanded from organizations concrete actions about issues such as sustainability and social development. Those actions are aligned with the ten principles suggested by the United Nations Global Compact. To carry out this research, a multiple case study strategy was used through interviews with key respondents from six construction companies based in the State of Bahia. The findings showed that CSR is a relevant issue as far as business strategies are concerned for 67% of companies surveyed. Despite the theme is not a consensus, this study showed that several actions have been developed informally related to CSR, especially those linked to the welfare of communities surrounding construction sites and the use of modern technologies that help reducing environmental impact, the management of construction waste (debris).

Highlights

The increase of complexity in the business sector, together with the advances of latest information and communication technologies and consequent improvements of firm’s productivity, have resulted in significant growth of competitiveness among organizations
Findings showed that four of the surveyed companies (67%) totally agree that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a relevant issue for their organizations (See Table 1); only two companies (33%) clearly showed that CSR is part of its business strategy
One of the main outcomes of this study is to verify that, in general, companies surveyed are concerned with CSR; this concern, in some of them, does not seem to be translated institutionally nor are formally adopted as business strategy

Summary

Introduction

The increase of complexity in the business sector, together with the advances of latest information and communication technologies and consequent improvements of firm’s productivity, have resulted in significant growth of competitiveness among organizations. This growth of competitiveness has caused significant changes inside companies, those focused on new differentiation strategies that include economic, social, organizational, and environmental dimensions. Organizations which are social and environmentally responsible are in constant searching for answers for new challenges presented by contemporary management strategies These strategies aim sustainable competitive advantages for companies in different markets and countries. CSR aims to drive businesses to make companies an important partner of society and coresponsible for its development, economically and social and environmentally speaking

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