The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Performance on Competitive Advantage and Business Success

Abstract

This study investigates how types of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices (economic, legal, ethical, philanthropic, and environmental) affect competitive advantage and business success in an emerging country. Data were collected by surveying 869 respondents from manufacturing, real estate, trade, and service sectors. The data analysis applied partial least square structural equation modeling. The results showed that ethical, legal, and philanthropic CSR initiatives have a positive effect on competitive advantage. Economic CSR practice is the only factor that affected both competitive advantage and business success. The competitive advantage also directly affected business success. Environmental CSR practice did not show a significant relationship with competitive advantage or business success. The findings of this study may be beneficial in informing managers’ decisions on CSR investment to gain competitive advantage, and in turn, business success in a developing context.