CSR focus in the mission and vision statements of public sector enterprises: evidence from India

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to explore the weightage rendered to corporate social responsibility (CSR) keywords in mission and vision (M&V) statements of public sector enterprises (PSEs) in India.Design/methodology/approachAnalysing the contents of M&V statements of 230 PSEs, this study has the twin research objectives of seeking to illuminate the current use of CSR-related keywords in PSEs’ M&V statements that reflect organisational strategy and provide an understanding for how firm age, industry and firm size variables serve to influence CSR keyword reporting in these statements.FindingsThe findings of this study provide evidence that half of the Indian PSEs reported at least one CSR-related keyword in their M&V statements. These public enterprises predominantly use 38 different categories of CSR keywords in their M&V statements. Furthermore, the authors find that environment-related keywords were predominantly used by PSEs in their M&V statements. The results indicate that PSEs’ size and industries are significantly associated with the use of CSR-related keywords in M&V statements, suggesting that bigger PSEs and PSEs in extractive industries (e.g. mining, coal and petroleum) tend to report more CSR-related keywords in their M&V statements.Research limitations/implicationsFindings imply that small public enterprises (those having a low annual turnover) lack CSR focus in their M&V statements. The authors argue that, irrespective of the size of the enterprise, CSR should be an integral part of these PSEs in framing their M&V statements.Originality/valueThis study systematically analyses CSR-related keywords in the M&V statements of all PSEs in India.