Area Of Corporate Social Responsibility Research Articles

Listen to the Voice of the Customer -First Steps towards Stakeholder Democracy

Recently, calls have grown louder for more stakeholder democracy and empowerment, especially in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Despite the relevance of the subject, t...

CSR in professional European football: an integrative framework

The increasing importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in professional football leads to the demand for a sector-specific framework for strategic CSR integration that takes the particularities of football into account. Based on CSR frameworks and a literature review, we analyse 72 academic papers on CSR in football and sports to develop our integrative framework. The framework consists of four dimensions that reflect values-based management: a normative, a strategic, an operative and a superordinate level. We find that a broad variety of drivers push clubs to develop CSR strategies. Despite this heterogeneity in drivers, the six key areas of CSR in football we identified are: (1) communities, (2) human capital, (3) fans and members, (4) the commercial environment, (5) compliance and (6) the ecological environment. Our contribution provides future studies with a framework for investigating CSR in football, and clubs with a concept on how to integrate CSR strategically.

A Case Study of Stakeholder Dialogue in Professional Sport: An Example of CSR Engagement

AbstractMany businesses, including professional sport teams, are designing and engaging in socially responsible initiatives which benefit stakeholders as well as the businesses themselves. Gaining insight into stakeholders' expectations regarding corporations' corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives through dialogue is important as the way a business is viewed and evaluated by stakeholders underlies subsequent interactions. Based on semi‐structured interviews with 42 diverse stakeholders involved in a professional sport team's CSR initiative we found that stakeholders' expectations of the team's involvement in the community related to social and institutional norms, values, and benefits. The team also appeared to be meeting stakeholder expectations about being socially responsible in the community. This study provides new insights into a firm's CSR expectations through engaging in stakeholder management and interaction. Future research directions and practical suggestions are offered for organizations attempting to understand and meet stakeholders' expectations in the area of CSR.

Social responsibility as a management system

Purpose: The aims of this research was to demonstrate what IQNet SR10 certification of a Social Responsibility management system means to companies. From the wide range of existing certifications, we identified the added value of having the IQNet SR10 standard by showing a specific company’s situation before and after certification. Design/methodology/approach: We used an exploratory study of items of Social Responsibility management system certification (IQNet SR10) to develop a qualitative questionnaire. The questionnaire was then administered to the company under study to determine the added value to companies of holding this certification. Findings and originality/value: The study describes how social responsibility (SR) management system certification benefits a company, what way of doing things it identifies in a company, and what effort is required to maintain the certification. It also highlights a way of managing companies that is focused on their survival, as management systems must provide economic, social and environmental added value for companies to have a future in an internationalised world that requires credentials to prove it. Research limitations/implications: The main limitation of this study is that it is based on the results of just one company, because few companies currently have this certification. To continue with this area of research in the future, we hope to obtain information about IQNet SR10 certification from other companies. Practical implications: The study demonstrates the need for certifications in the field of Social Responsibility in today's business world, to be in line with the normal dynamics of economy activity in different sectors, and for companies of assorted sizes to enjoy an added value that makes them more competitive. Social implications: The study identifies a new business management system, in line with the necessary Social Responsibility of companies today. This system must be integrated into business models to facilitate current business dynamics at international level, with appropriate certifications that show companies’ good economic, social and environmental behaviour. Originality/value: The study identifies a business management system that continuously organises and improves the performances of a company in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility, through audited certification that enhances the competitivity of companies that hold the international standard. The study also demonstrates the need for a management system to integrate into business models.

A Multidimensional Analysis of the Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility and Firms' Economic Performance

This paper analyses the relationship between firms' Corporate Social Responsibility activities and their economic performance, taking into account seven macro-categories of corporate social responsibility (CSR), six market-based and accounting-based performance indicators and by disaggregating for the firms' sector of activity. In particular, through a representative sample of 988 US-based companies from nine different sectors (Basic Materials, Consumer Goods, Consumer Services, Financials, Health Care, Industrial, Oil & Gas, Technology and Utilities), we study the dynamics of possible endogenous and non-linear relationships through the Arellano-Bond technique in the dynamic panel. The results show some common patterns and sectorial specificities—CSR engagement in general raises firms' total stock returns and reduces financial risks, but this depends on the area of CSR in which the firms invest. The results of an accounting-based figure analysis are less univocal, showing patterns that depend both on the specific area of CSR and the sectorial activities conducted.

Shaping a positive image of a hotel facility – corporate social responsibility approach

The aim of this article is to identify activities undertaken by hotel facilities in order to shape a positive image, especially in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The article consists of three content-related parts, as well as introduction and summary. The first and second part of the article, which are of theoretical character, discuss the essence of shaping the image of a hotel facility and the theoretical aspects of corporate social responsibility. The third part, which is of empirical character, presents examples of activities undertaken by hotel facilities in the area of corporate social responsibility.

Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Croatian Export Companies

Continuous globalization, rapid development of information-communication technologies, and the presence of new burning challenges for the global community have contributed to the perception of corporate social responsibility as a strategic tool that allows for successful differentiation and sustainable competitive advantage. The goal of this paper is to offer a short overview of the role of a strategic approach to corporate social responsibility, as well as emphasize the importance of such an approach in creating competitive advantage for a company, but also of sustainability of society as a whole. The paper is based on a primary research questionnaire conducted on middle-sized and large Croatian export companies, as well as a systematic analysis of previously published relevant international scientific papers in the area of corporate social responsibility.

Percepções quanto às contribuições da responsabilidade social corporativa para o fortalecimento do compliance em organizações

This research has the general objective to obtain perceptions about the contributions of Social Responsibility capable of collaborating with the compliance in organizations. Methodologically, the work was based on a review of the literature on the evolution of corporate social responsibility and compliance within organizations, and articles were raised that allowed the advent of a theoretical reference. This theoretical reference guided, through the methodology applied to the study, the creation of an instrument of data collection, through a questionnaire, to obtain results that demonstrate the objectives of the research. The data collected demonstrate that compliance, as an activity correlated to the area of corporate social responsibility, needs to further develop its implementation before companies and organizations for an effective result, and some improvements have been proposed at the end of the project, such as the application of the principles set forth in ISO 26000 and OECD, courses and seminars, for workforce, implementation of codes of ethics and conduct, routine and regular monitoring of activities carried out by organizations and studies of socio-financial impacts, including the implementation of compliance.

Actions of social responsibility in creating the brand image of a service organization

The article aims at responding to the following research question: do the undertakings in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) play a role in enhancing the desired image features of the analysed service provider’s brand, and if yes, what does this role consist in ? The decision to focus the attention on this particular subject has been motivated by the significance of corporate responsibility of today’s service organizations, and the awareness that in their decision processes people are guided by the service provider’s brand image. It is important therefore to increase understanding of methodological activities undertaken by a service organization in pursuit of its desired brand image, and of possibilities to attain this goal by means of CSR undertakings. The methodology of conducted research spanned the diagnosis of the actual state of knowledge in the analysed area, review of available results of research, own research using the case study method, and meta-analysis of the Internet sources of information on the Orange CSR activities. The analysed operator is socially responsible and has a well-considered strategy in this area. Methodical Orange CSR actions form a clear support for the creation of a strong socially responsible brand and enhances its positive image. In current market conditions the effective creating of brand image of a service organization seems to be determined by appropriate activities in the field of corporate social responsibility. The obtained results might be used to develop knowledge in the field of brand management of a service organization or by involved stakeholders from the service sector.

Corporate social responsibility practice of Malaysian public listed government-linked companies: A dimensional analysis

This paper examines the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of the Malaysian public-listed government-linked companies (GLCs) using a dimensional analysis. Four dimensions of CSR activities, namely community, employees, environment and governance, are investigated to study the latest CSR practice of GLCs in year 2016. Each dimension is divided into three subcat-egories to further examine the performance of GLCs on a particular CSR area. This is the first paper in Malaysia which uses CSR ratings (obtained from CSRHub database) to proxy for CSR practice. None of the past literature has been found to adopt this approach. The findings show that Malaysian public-listed GLCs performed better in community, employees and environment dimensions, whilst tend to underperform in governance dimension.

Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance on Firm Value: Empirical Evidences of the Listed Companies on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in the SET100

This study demonstrates the empirical impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Governance (CG) on Firm Value (FV). The CSR was measured using the CSR index developed by KLD Research & Analytics, Inc (KLD rating model). The CSR was categorized into the following six areas including (1) environment, (2) community, (3) diversity, (4) employee relations, (5) product, and (6) corporate governance, CG was measured by the proportion of ownership structure, institutional ownership structure, and board structure. Additionally, firm value was calculated by market value using Tobin’s Q. The results revealed that the average overall CSR Score of 0.7997. Employee relation exhibited the highest score of 0.9625. On the other hand, community had the lowest score of 0.5625. Multiple regression analysis result revealed a positive overall effects of CSR and CG on FV. All six areas of CSR demonstrated consistent results with positive significant effects.

Women on corporate boards: Do they advance corporate social responsibility?

Do women board directors change how companies do business? Firms face growing pressure to appoint more women to their boards of directors, yet little is known about the factors that enable female directors to impact their organizations. This study analyzes the representational thresholds that facilitate women’s leadership in the area of corporate social responsibility. We test the predictions of token theory and critical mass theory to evaluate the ability of women to impact firm outcomes based on their numerical representation on the board of directors. Our analysis focuses on board composition and organizational outcomes in the Fortune 500 from 2001 to 2010. Our findings challenge the theoretical assumptions that solo and token women are unable to exert significant influence over their organizations, and underscore the importance of board diversity for today’s firms.

Evolving Norms of Corporate Social Responsibility: Lessons from the European Union Experience with Non-Financial Reporting

This article examines an important development in the field of corporate social responsibility, namely the adoption of a 2014 European Union Directive (“2014 EU Directive”) mandating non-financial reporting by certain large companies. Such disclosure has traditionally been provided by businesses on a voluntary basis, but the 2014 EU Directive reflects an emerging global trends toward mandatory reporting. Such trend emerged in response to the perceived low quantity and poor quality of information disclosed voluntarily on social and environmental topics of importance to corporate stakeholders. The author analyzes the history and development of policy and legislation on this issue both at the European Union level and within two Member States that have been leaders in the area of corporate social responsibility reporting, namely France and Denmark. Such analysis draws on literature from the fields of both law and business and is conducted within the larger frame of the global growth of non-financial reporting and the role that such reporting plays as a mechanism to enhance socially responsible behavior by business. An important feature of the 2014 EU Directive is its regulatory approach, which has been called a “smart mix approach” because it introduces an element of government regulation while still allowing businesses to make significant choices about disclosure on a voluntary basis. The author concludes that the 2014 EU Directive may result in a greater quantity of disclosure, but it may not be as successful in achieving the goal of improved quality of such reporting due to fundamental weaknesses in the regulatory approach and content of the 2014 EU Directive, as well as to the lack of preconditions in Member States needed for improved corporate transparency on social and environmental issues. The lessons from the European Union experience detailed in this article may prove useful for countries like the United States, where the development of non-financial reporting has lagged behind other countries.

The natural environment as an area of Corporate Social Responsibility

Abstract Areas of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have been defined in ISO 26000. Guidelines of the International Standardisation Organisation distinguish seven areas: corporate governance, human rights, labour practices, natural environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, social commitment and development of local communities. This article presents good practices implemented by enterprises in the individual areas, in particular, actions in the area of the natural environment. Two research hypotheses are posited concerning the rate of implementing good CSR practices and the number of actions in the natural environment area. National Responsible Business Forum research and a survey of a group of enterprises in the Mazovian region, conducted by the authors in 2014–2016, served to verify the hypotheses. The results imply that the number of good practices realised in CSR areas tends to grow. In addition, actions in the area of the natural environment rank third with regard to good practices implemented.

Türkiye de Kurumsal Sosyal Sorumluluğun Kavramsallaştırılması: Meta Sentez Analizi

The study firstly includes a thematic meta synthesis of the national academic literature, including Master’s and Ph.D. theses that contain the keywords corporate social responsibility (CSR) have been examined to reveal the conceptualization this construct providing a detailed profiling and inventory of the literature. This meta synthesis provides researchers with a detailed outline of the literature in regards to; publication year, study area, theory and concepts used, definitions, methodological approaches, results and conclusions. This study also greatly helps determine the gaps in the national literature and aims to further contribute to theory development in CSR area. An analysis of the study findings reveals that most of the theses examined include mostly descriptive studies focused on implementation-based results, lacking theoretical contributions. This meta synthesis reveals a need for studies that combine various theories and develop/provide new conceptual frameworks.

Corporate Social Resposibility activities undertaken by enterprises

The paper shows areas of CSR included in corporate strategy, including particularly philanthropy, which may be pursued by an external organisation. It also presents areas of corporate social responsibility, providing a background for the results of the analysis of secondary data concerning the importance of CSR for enterprise. The procedure for creating a CSR strategy is explained and the possibilities of pursuing philanthropic tasks by an external organisation are shown. Using own research (the analysis of websites of 125 corporate foundations in Poland in 2015 and the results of the survey of 46 managers from corporate foundations), author present ways of delegating philanthropic tasks to corporate foundations and how the tasks are accomplished. This article is intended for researchers studying CSR and also for company managers who think about philanthropy.

The assessment of corporate social responsibility: approaches analysis

The problem of the last period becomes the assessment of individual areas of Corporate Social Responsibility, which is associated with a number of CSR approaches and with their ability to measure achieved level in every CSR item. The aim of this study is, based on a comparative analysis, to identify appropriate approach to assessing the achieved level of Corporate Social Responsibility. The study is organized as follows: the theoretical background (studies) of approaches to evaluating the CSR; the findings about primary and secondary data on structure, purpose and application of approaches to evaluating the CSR, the appropriate approach to evaluating the CSR activities of the company in the light of any previous research; conclusions in dealing with the issues and future research opportunities of the study.

China’s “Going-Out” Strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility: Preliminary Evidence of a “Boomerang Effect”

China’s rapidly growing outbound foreign direct investment (OFDI) has attracted a great deal of concern about its impact on the recipient countries. But so far there has been little research on what effect the “going-out” strategy has had on China itself. This is an important question to study because the answer to it will shed light on what kind of an international actor China is becoming as it becomes further integrated with the global economy and what outside influence there can be on China’s domestic governance reform. This article explores the effect of investing overseas on Chinese companies in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Through an analysis of an original sample of data, the authors find preliminary evidence of a positive impact of OFDI on Chinese companies’ commitment to CSR. More research will be needed to uncover the mechanisms and limitations of this apparent trend toward institutional convergence.

Corporate social responsibility and international business: examining the nexus and gaps from a developing economy perspective

Research into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Ghana generally, has seen increased scholarly attention but same cannot be said of the specific area of CSR and International Business (IB), ironically though much of the data on CSR research comes from IBs. This paper therefore reviews existing literature on CSR in Ghana with the objective of identifying gaps and developing a framework to guide future research in CSR and IB because of the peculiarities. The paper underscores the varying and conflicting interests of host and home nations as well as international standards that IBs must navigate in their CSR activities, and applies Impression Management theory to develop a framework for future studies in the subject area in Africa and emerging economies.

Corporate social responsibility and firm’s performance: empirical evidence

PurposeThe concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has emerged over the past 30 years to occupy a significant role in certain aspects of the organizational theory. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of CSR and firm’s operational competitive performance in terms of cost, quality, flexibility and delivery, as well as the overall performance, from a developing country’s environment.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modeling was used to study the relationship between CSR, competitive operational capabilities and the overall organizational performance using a survey of informants.FindingsUsing data from firms in Ghana, the work demonstrates that CSR initiative by firms will have a positive relationship with firm’s operational competitive performance in terms of cost, quality, flexibility and delivery performance, as well as overall performance. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that competitive operational capabilities in terms of cost and flexibility will lead to firms’ overall performance from the Ghanaian business environment, whereas delivery and quality seems to have no positive effect on overall performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe results indicate the relevance and the implications of CSR initiatives on firms’ performance in a developing country such as Ghana. Specifically, the results indicate that when organizations invest in CSR initiatives, they are likely to achieve cost reductions, improved quality, flexibility, improved delivery and overall performance.Practical implicationsThe research shows how CSR initiatives can enhance firm’s operational competitive performance and overall performance.Originality/valueThe work illustrates and provides some insights and builds on the literature in the area of CSR in a developing country’s environment.