Linking corporate social responsibility, cooperation and innovation: the triple bottom line perspective

Telma Mendes,Aldina Correia,Carina Silva,Vítor Braga

doi:10.1108/inmr-03-2021-0039

Abstract

PurposeDrawing on the resource-based view (RBV) and knowledge-based view (KBV) theories, this study contributes to deepen the knowledge that corporate social responsibility (CSR) exerts on firms' innovation, considering the role played by cooperation. The research also seeks to ascertain the factors that influence the development of business cooperation.Design/methodology/approachThe database used is the Community Innovation Survey (CIS, 2014) applied in the European Union (EU) during the time period 2012–2014. A sample of 7083 Portuguese firms were analyzed through the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe results suggest that CSR positively relates with firms' innovation, and business cooperation partially mediates this relationship. The outcomes also reveal that investing in certain types of innovation activities increases the firms' willingness to cooperate.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to encourage an open innovation strategy as an easy and effective way to cope with rapid trends and changes, since it demonstrates the complementary between innovation and cooperation, as sources of value creation. From a triple bottom line (TBL) perspective, it also highlights that CSR must include social, economic and environmental initiatives, and should be a part of the firms' innovation strategy. As a result, managers who intend to contribute for society in the long term should plan, monitor and manage all CSR dimensions.

Highlights

Over the last decades, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained particular relevance in the management field, being considered a relevant driver for competitive advantage (CurrasPerez, Dolz-Dolz, Miquel-Romero, & Sanchez-Garcıa, 2018)
In line with the above discussion, we pose the following research questions: What relationship really exists between CSR and innovation? Is innovation enhanced by cooperation? Are CSR practices explaining innovation through cooperation? Trying to answer these questions, our research aims to achieve a better understanding of the CSR– innovation link, considering the role played by cooperation
This article focuses on the effect of CSR on the firms’ innovation, while exploring the mediating role of cooperation

Summary

Introduction

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained particular relevance in the management field, being considered a relevant driver for competitive advantage (CurrasPerez, Dolz-Dolz, Miquel-Romero, & Sanchez-Garcıa, 2018). Moral values are changing, and firms’ innovation must be responsive to new shareholders demands (Sanchez-Hernandez, Gallardo-Vazquez, Dziwinski, & Barcik, 2019). Considering that organizations must apply CSR principles on their products and processes, “CSR will be a driver of companies’ innovation practices”

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion