Corporate social responsibility, social bonding and place attachment among entrepreneurs of small and medium‐sized tourism enterprises

Abstract

AbstractExisting person‐centric corporate social responsibility (CSR) research has focused on corporations and neglects the roles of small and medium‐sized tourism enterprises' entrepreneurs. The few studies available have also overlooked local factors crucial to small and medium‐sized enterprises. We have introduced the use of sensemaking theory to build a model to illustrate the impact of CSR activities on place attachment. Findings showed that respondents interpret CSR activities as establishing or strengthening place‐social bonding, and define or re‐define themselves based on place, thereby developing place attachment. The main contribution is to break through the organizational and individual levels, connecting people and places to understand the impact of CSR on entrepreneurs' place‐based identity.