The business case for corporate social responsibility: A company-level measurement approach for CSR

Abstract

Although theoretical and empirical research often points to a positive relation between CSR and company competitiveness, approaches to measure the company-specific business impacts of CSR are missing in the current literature. However, such an approach could strengthen the overall CSR involvement and support rational decision-making in this area. This paper thus focuses on the question how to measure the business impact of CSR activities from a company perspective. Using a theoretical approach a multi-step measurement model is developed that allows managers to evaluate their company-specific business case for CSR. A case example illustrates the use of the model in practice.