Responsible management functions in the eyes of the employees of Polish enterprises: between economic calculation and a moral imperative

Abstract

The article develops the thesis that the importance of responsible management is perceived by employees in the aspect of the company’s marketing activities. The following research problem was formulated: which of the distinguished areas of activity (relations with the company’s stakeholders, market position, revenues, and costs of the company) is most influenced by responsible management? The purpose of the article was to demonstrate what functions responsible management serves in the eyes of representatives of Polish enterprises. Quantitative research based on a standardized questionnaire was conducted based on representative samples of Polish enterprises in March 2022. On the basis of the research, it was found that marketing instruments have a greater impact on the competitive position of companies than activities in the area of responsible management. Ethical issues are perceived depending on the situational context. Responsible management is more often seen as a marketing instrument than a moral imperative to act.