The Effect of Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility on Business Success: Insights from Wa Township in Ghana

Abstract

Purpose: Over the years, small businesses have been the backbone of economic growth in many low-middle-income settings. Thus, small firms/small businesses have attempted to develop codes of conduct, which can be used to guide managers when making decisions. This study, therefore, explored business ethics, repurchase and corporate social responsibility within Wa Township. Design/Methodology/ Approach: The study employed the case study approach of both qualitative and quantitative methods. A total of 358 smallholder shop owners were randomly selected to participate in face-to-face interviews. The data were keyed into a Microsoft Excel sheet and cleaned. The data set was then imported into SPSS and analysed using frequencies, proportions and chi-square test of independence. Findings: The results have shown a strong statistical relationship between business ethics and purchase (p=0.000), business ethics and repurchase (p=0.000), business ethics and corporate social responsibility (p=0.000). Practical implications: Small shop owners recognise the central place of ethical behaviours and repurchase and corporate social responsibility on business growth through increased sales. This study therefore recommends investment in growing smallholder business owners’ knowledge about the necessity of business ethics and customer satisfaction.