The influence of corporate social responsibility on corporate competitive advantage: a case of Zimbabwean stock exchange listed companies

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Competitive Advantage on Zimbabwean listed companies. A stratified sample of 10 participants from 10 companies listed on Zimbabwe Stock Exchange was utilised to examine the influence of corporate social responsibility on competitive advantage during a period from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013. The study utilised a mixed method approach and data was analysed in the form of descriptive statistics. The results show a significant influence of corporate social responsibility on competitive edge on Zimbabwe stock exchange listed companies. Results also reveal that the degree to which social responsibility is emphasized can impact a firm’s credibility, ultimately influencing the ability to raise capital, retain effective and productive staff, bid for quality raw materials from reputable suppliers and even manage to secure relatively lucrative growth opportunities. All these collectively help entities build and sustain strong competitive edges against their fellow competitors