Corporate Social Responsibility Agenda Research Articles

Customers’ perceptions and responses to hotels’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) orientation: the case of Bethlehem hotels, Palestine

ABSTRACT This study investigates customers’ perceptions of the notion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and how such perceptions influence their consumption behavioural intentions and outcomes in the hospitality industry in Bethlehem, Palestine. The research study adopted a qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews with fifteen tourists who stayed in Bethlehem hotels. This study reveals that customers view the different dimensions of CSR in their right and stand-alone constructs. Paradoxically, our study suggests that customer’s willingness to pay and loyalty were not influenced by understanding such a distinction as responsibilities. This study further reveals that the interaction between customers’ perceptions of CSR and contextual and situational factors such as trust, transparency and service quality can determine customer behavioural responses to the hotels’ CSR orientation. The study offers recommendations on practical measures that can be undertaken to influence and enhance customers’ responses to hotels’ CSR agenda. The paper finally ends by identifying the study’s limitations and avenues for further research.

CHALLENGES AND PARADOXES IN MODERN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ITS ROLE IN BUILDING SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISES

Debates around corporate social responsibility (CSR) suggest that human resource management (HRM) is well-suited to help companies achieve the goals of many stakeholders. HRM is founded on pluralistic ideals. What strategies may HR professionals employ to actively participate in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda? This is the problem they encounter. This research investigates the solution to that issue by utilizing findings from an SRL. Through this approach, we can ascertain the crucial roles of human resource management in establishing sustainable organizations and highlight the challenges that arise from conflicting organizational goals. As a concluding step, this analysis provides two recommendations to practitioners: firstly, how to comprehend these conflicting objectives in order to exert a tangible impact on CSR projects, and secondly, where to proceed in terms of further research.

What is (and is not) stakeholder dialogue in CSR? A review and research agenda

AbstractStakeholders increasingly expect to be engaged in corporate social responsibility (CSR) agendas through dialogue; the joint creation of meaning between firms and stakeholders, or among stakeholders. Dominant conceptions of stakeholder dialogue in CSR prioritize firm interests, and uncertainty as to what constitutes stakeholder dialogue, and how it should be practiced, permeates theory and practice. What is (and is not) stakeholder dialogue and how does it generate positive impacts for business and society? To unpack this question, we systematically reviewed 374 scholarly outputs across the CSR and stakeholder dialogue literatures over a 30‐year timeframe. Operating at the intersection of these two literatures, we identify ‘conceptualizations’ of stakeholder dialogue in CSR as either integral (an intrinsic component of CSR) or incidental (a communicative response to CSR), as well as the ‘contours’ (i.e., boundaries) and ‘contexts’ of stakeholder dialogue in CSR. In doing so, we posit that the key to generating effective stakeholder dialogue for business and society lies not only in greater cohesion between CSR and stakeholder dialogue literatures, but in practicing dialogue that is ongoing, stakeholder (rather than firm) focused and avoids idealization. Herein, we stimulate a research agenda for scholars interested in communication and CSR at a time when the social and environmental demands placed on firms continue to escalate.

Sustainable Human Resource Development: An Empirical Study From An Organization Perspective To A Community Perspective

The notion of human resource development is changing. It relates to individual development for organizational growth. Due to internationalization and technological advances, it is linked to the community, environmental, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agendas. Now, organizations realize the importance of creating products and services in a highly sustainable way. In this background, a study on HRD with a societal perspective is relevant for any firm’s sustainability. It helps to identify the confronts organizations face in addressing diversity and ethical awareness. Accordingly, this study is focused on the UAE among different industrial sectors with the help of a survey. It consists of both qualitative and quantitative analysis using SPSS 24.0. The outcome stressed the relationship between independent variables and the significance of sustainable HRD at the community level in shaping the well-being of the entire society. Hence, this study confirms that organizations must be vigilant in their actions and related activities regarding the welfare of stakeholders and the entire world. Further, the report sheds light on sustainable HRD practices for a sustainable community

From CSR to Impact; How to Integrate CSR in a University Strategy

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, which was drawn up in 2020, after the adoption of the Strategic Plan. The topic “Research and education to contribute to societal challenges” is at the top of the CSR agenda, because we assume that WUR will have the greatest societal impact through its education and research activities. CSR is all about Impact and impact is a key term in the current strategy. Because CSR, Impact and Strategy are so closely related, especially in a university, it is important to develop new perspectives on how CSR can best be integrated into the strategy. This fits in well with WUR as an organization with a great social responsibility: at an organization like WUR you would expect CSR to be anchored in the core of the organization, so that no separate CSR strategy is needed. The article explores the various ways to embed the CSR perspective in the new Strategic Plan of the organization, describes the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches and concludes which approach would be the most suitable for a future-proof sustainable university.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): The Role of Government in promoting CSR

This paper examines corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the role government can play in promoting CSR. Corporations are an integral part of the large economy of any given society or country whereby these corporations operate. The government’s role is critical in promoting CSR activities or agendas because CSR is voluntary without mandatory legislation. The method used in this paper is a normative literature review and secondary data procedures. The research results show the need for developed and developing countries to share CSR’s best practices and build human institutions capable of enhancing CSR agendas by creating awareness, soft laws, partnering, and mandating business enterprises to be transparent in solving society’s problems wherever they operate. Governments in some developed nations have taken a far-reaching agenda in promoting CSR, especially the UK, European Union, the USA, and other developing countries in East Asia. However, developing countries are lagging behind in developing CSR agendas but should not simply copy from developed countries but adopt CSR’s agenda susceptive to their multiple nations’ sustainable and equitable developments. The result also shows that the lack of good governance and transparency in abundant natural resources in developing countries in the south has led to corrupt elites diverting CSR activities funds for their self-interest and not their local communities. Some developing countries still see CSR as an act of philanthropy, not as means for sustainable and equitable development for economic growth, hence the lack of transparency surrounding CSR by the various government and their elites.

Challenges of CSR in Sub-Saharan Africa: clarifying the gaps between the regulations and human rights issues

This paper discusses the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa. The main purpose is to highlight and clarify the gaps between CSR regulations and human rights abuses caused by business organizations.From a historical perspective, natural resources have been recognized as a common reason for pushing the CSR agenda in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially with the presence of big businesses in the outcome of globalization. However, despite a development-oriented CSR agenda and therefore on African local needs such as hospitals, housing, and roads, big businesses that have embarked on CSR activities are often involved in human rights violations. This is despite the insertion of human rights in some African state regulations, the UN Global Compact, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in which those businesses are signatories. This is the case in Gabon, Nigeria, and South Africa whose regulations were established by the respective states indicate business’ broader societal priorities directed towards stakeholders (local communities in particular) but in terms of corporate obligations, ‘Human Rights appear to be a blind spot in CSR’.The reasons for that are indicated in the findings of this qualitative inquiry, which reveals deep problems of corporate governance and little understanding of corporate human rights in domestic legislation. According to international law, human rights fulfillment focuses on nation-states as sole bearers. This means other non-state actors have indirect human rights responsibilities. Therefore, the challenge remains to extend and interpret existing domestic and international frameworks to include CSR alongside traditional state obligations. This could make corporate human rights more ‘applicable’ to businesses.Previous research by Visser and Amodu has focused on proposing models to respond to the challenges of CSR in Africa. This paper clarifies the challenges of CSR with human rights issues and suggests an extension of the current legislative framework covering CSR. The article is qualitative and has used a Desk Research study approach that includes published academic papers, government documents some secondary data such as case studies, interviews, and discussions.

Preliminary Study on Website Disclosures for Sustainability Reporting of Islamic Religious Institutions

Public sector organizations play an essential role in supporting the government’s commitment to sustainable development. These organizations are expected to disclose more social and environmental information than private companies due to public contracts. Malaysian State Islamic Religious Councils (SIRCs) is one of the government agencies responsible for distributing and disseminating adequate and accurate information to various stakeholders, especially the public. These SIRCs frequently organize sustainability-related activities as part of their corporate social responsibility agenda and have a vast potential to contribute by disseminating sustainability-related information on their websites. However, the extent of sustainability website reporting by the SIRCs remained largely unaddressed. Drawing from the literature, this preliminary study proposes a website disclosure index for sustainability reporting by the SIRCs in Malaysia. A content analysis on three SIRCs websites representing three regions in Malaysia have been performed. A total of sixty-seven disclosure items were used as indicators during the website content analysis. Key findings indicate that more effort needs to be initiated by SIRCs in supporting a unified digital reporting that promotes accountability and transparency among government agencies. Nevertheless, the proposed website disclosure index may assist in formulating policies to encourage the use of SIRCs’ websites to report sustainability information to the public. This study provides valuable input in supporting the government’s aspiration to develop future strategies for achieving Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and adds to the limited literature on the website sustainability reporting by the public sector. Future research may use a larger sample of SIRCs to validate the disclosure index proposed in this study.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Customer Satisfaction: Role of Artificial Intelligence

Every corporation for maintaining long- term customer relationships in terms of customer retention and loyalty, certainly considers customer satisfaction as one of its major objective as it not results into retaining the customers who generate the revenues but also supports the business firms to relieve their social obligations towards the customer segment of the society. To remain economically and socially viable, every firm is looking forward to incorporate the customer satisfaction in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda so as to achieve the objective of enhanced customer satisfaction. The rapid advancement in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has opened the new ways to perform CSR in times of competitive environment to bring increased customer satisfaction for several firms. Many companies are using AI strategically to enhance CSR efficiency to widen the scope for improved customer satisfaction. But the question arises here how companies can make use of AI techniques for increasing the customer satisfaction through CSR in this competitive environment? The objective of the present research paper is to address this question by proposing that applicability of AI techniques such as machine learning, neural networks, predictive analysis ,visual searching ,chatbots ,sentiment analysis etc., will help the corporations to deliver the abundant benefits to customers and target increased customer satisfaction. This research throws light on that how AI driven CSR will result into augmented customer satisfaction in this competitive environment. This study is carried out by with the help of secondary sources like conceptual and empirical papers, books and websites to explore the concept.

“We should educate the public that cosmetic procedures are as safe as normal medicine”: Understanding corporate social responsibility from the perspective of the cosmetic procedures industry

The cosmetic procedures industry is profitable and expanding. Through its premise and promotion, the industry contributes to unrealistic societal appearance pressures considered harmful to body image. In the context of limited regulation, there is an uneasy reliance on businesses in the sector to act in a socially responsible way. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to voluntary business practices designed to benefit society, and engagement in CSR is shaped by extrinsic and intrinsic drivers. This study aimed to explore how senior UK industry professionals view CSR as it applies to their sector and to body image. Findings from 14 semi-structured interviews show that participants’ understanding of CSR was limited to a myopic focus on patients. Little reflexivity was demonstrated in relation to the industry’s responsibilities concerning negative body image in society. More broadly, the drivers of socially responsible practice were overwhelmingly extrinsic – oftentimes explicitly linked to bolstering or protecting company and/ or industry reputation. Participants, acknowledging a lack of intrinsic motivation for CSR across the sector, were largely in support of greater regulation. This research contributes to understandings of how the adoption of a CSR agenda might combine with regulatory efforts to curb the industry’s impact on negative body image.

The corporate influence on food charity and aid: The "Hunger Industrial Complex" and the death of welfare.

There is an existing literature on how food companies, including the unhealthy food commodity industries, influence policy through a number of approaches. Direct approaches include lobbying and funding of research. Backdoor or indirect tactics used by food companies to demonstrate engagement include funding community groups, tactics previously used by the tobacco industry. Food industry support for food charities engaged in food donations is an area that has not received attention. This is another backdoor approach and one which may compromise more general public health policy. It is no surprise that the companies that engage in this can be largely fall under the rubric of unhealthy food commodity industries. This link is sometimes referred to as the “hunger industrial complex” and is based on the argument that an alliance exists between the food industry and the food banking movement. With rising levels of food insecurity there is pressure on the food system to donate food to charitable enterprises such as food banks and soups kitchens, which is often encouraged by government policy such as “Good Samaritan legislation”. Food businesses contribute surplus food and often promote it as part of their corporate social responsibility agenda. The argument presented here is not an anti-food charity one but one which challenges the development of charitable food aid as a system and a replacement for public policy. The reasons for this can be summarized under three headings: (1) such donation systems compromise the wider application of public food welfare and give the impression that food poverty is being addressed; (2) the links with food corporations provide a backdoor for influence on wider food policies; and (3) researchers taking money from food charities may be compromised by the direct and indirect relationships with companies. The focus in this paper is on the latter two issues; the first will be established as a context with work we have published elsewhere. This article draws on examples from the UK of how charities have linked with chocolate and soft drink companies. Examples include: “For every Easter egg bought on the Cadbury Worldwide Hide, Cadbury will donate an Easter egg to a food bank in our network”; a Coca-Cola initiative in December 2021 “Win a meal, give a meal on-pack competition across Coca-Cola Original Taste and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar consumption packs, giving consumers the chance to win food-related vouchers, while donating to FareShare”; and an October 2021 initiative where “McDonald's joins forces with FareShare to fund 1 million meals for UK families”. These relationships go beyond companies donating surplus food to food charities such as food banks and pantries to encouraging consumers to buy their products with the promise that the company will contribute products to such charities or provide cash donations in return for the purchase of their product.

Stakeholder Salience Formulation in a Non-Western Context

The stakeholder salience typology (Mitchell, Agle & Wood, 1997) has been extensively examined by scholars ever since its introduction. Despite its valuable contribution to stakeholder management practice, the Mitchell et al.’s (1997) typology is often questioned for the exhaustiveness of its attributes – power, legitimacy and urgency. At the same time, scholarly understanding in terms of the typology’s applicability in non-Western countries is extremely limited and academic research is lacking evidence if the contextual specifications, institutional factors, and social processes of non-Western countries have any impact on the formulation of stakeholder salience. The study examines this research problem from the perspective of 63 senior managers in three non-Western countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates). The findings suggest presence of particular contextual specifications, institutional factors, and social processes that result in transforming youth from a formerly silent stakeholder group to a stakeholder group with significant influence in shaping macro level policies and regulations but also meso level organizational practices, to extent where national policies and organizational agendas with focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) revolve around them. As a result of completing the study, a couple of contributions are offered to the literature. First, with reference to the stakeholder salience literature the study offers a fourth attribute to Mitchel et al.’s (1997) typology that shapes power, legitimacy and urgency of stakeholder claims, namely context. Secondly, the study contributes to the institutional theory and CSR literature by shedding light on the institutional determinants that can shape organizational CSR agenda, particularly in terms of CSR engagement. Recommendations to policy makers and practitioners are also offered.

Perceived corporate social responsibility and pro-environmental behaviour: Insights from business schools of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and environmental sustainability have become urgent concerns for contemporary businesses. This study focuses on the interplay between corporate social responsibility perceptions and pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) in response to experts’ call for research on the micro-foundations of corporate social responsibility. In addition, it reveals the mechanism underpinning how perceived CSR shapes pro-environmental behaviour in an understudied developing context. Empirically, a qualitative multiple-case research design is utilised by selecting three business schools from Peshawar, Pakistan. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior management and faculty to collect data. Besides primary data, a qualitative documentary review is used to enhance the research. Data analysis is done through the thematic network technique. Plantation, cleanliness, waste reduction, and energy conservation are the environmental aspects of CSR as regarded by employees. In addition, perceived CSR shapes pro-environmental behaviour via environmental knowledge and awareness, eco-civic sense, environmental values, personality traits, religious perspective, and perceived organisational support for the environment. This study provides original additions to the CSR literature by suggesting eco-civic sensibility and religious perspective as new CSR drivers for pro-environmental conduct. Incorporating stakeholder salience into the context of the present study also advances CSR research. The findings are also valuable for management to make the CSR agenda of business schools more strategic, comprehensive, and centred on the priorities of salient stakeholders.

The role of trade unions in promoting CSR in Bangladesh’s ready-made garments sector: the post-pandemic scenario

PurposeThis study investigates the effectiveness of trade unions in preserving and promoting the rights of the worker, and being their voice in ensuring safe working conditions as part of the firms’ CSR activities.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from employees, managers, and owners of ready-made garments firms in Bangladesh. An open-ended survey instrument was used and distributed widely. Analysis of the 200 responses was undertaken using the qualitative narrative technique.FindingsThe findings show that, unlike traditional labor-management relations, in Bangladesh managers tend to have a more favorable attitude towards unions than employees do. The strong political links between the factory owners and the unions’ leadership raise questions about whose interest the unions represent.Practical implicationsThe authors highlight how adopting a CSR agenda can help unions make better representations on behalf of their members. This, in turn, can enhance the workforce’s efficiency and help strengthen the sector to develop processes to help face disruptions like those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.Originality/valueThe study is unique in addressing the role of unions in promoting CSR activities in emerging economies, where the formal institutional application remains limited. The study’s findings can help explain some of the sector’s challenges.

Corporate social and community-oriented support by UK food retailers: a documentary review and typology of actions towards community wellbeing.

This article provides a comprehensive exploration of the varied Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) actions in relation to supporting communities reported by the UK's leading food retailers. Findings are discussed against a backdrop of enduring inequalities, exacerbated by the on-going global Coronavirus pandemic, with actions considered for their potential contribution to community-based approaches to addressing local wellbeing and inequalities. This article presents the structure and key characteristics of community-oriented CSR in food retailing in the UK. A thematic analysis of comprehensive documentary evidence from the 11 principle UK food retailers was conducted, drawing on asset-based frameworks of community-centred actions towards wellbeing. The findings suggest an increasing acknowledgement in food retail that local community is of key importance. Initiatives were categorised according to a typology, comprising national partnerships, local store-based funding and support actions, targeted programmes on healthy lifestyles or employability, and changes to store operations, in the favour of priority groups, prompted by the pandemic. The article combines an up to date overview of community-focused CSR agendas and support by food retailers at a time of significant economic and social challenge for the UK. It highlights the potential of the sector to contribute more strategically to reducing inequalities and supporting community wellbeing, alongside statutory and voluntary sector partners.

An analysis of responses on Twitter to the English Premier League’s support for the anti-homophobia rainbow laces campaign

This article examines the responses by users of the social media platform, Twitter, to the English Premier League’s (EPL) support, via four tweets from their official Twitter account, for the annual Rainbow Laces anti-homophobia in football campaign. Locating our analysis within the corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda of the EPL, the four tweets received a total of 24,997 ‘likes’, 4,951 retweets, and 1,865 comments. Of those comments directly responding to the campaign and wider CSR agenda of the EPL (n = 407), 236 contained supportive comments and 171 contained negative comments. Despite support for the Rainbow Laces campaign, the comments also reflected some resistance to the overall CSR agenda of the EPL. Here, responses called for a greater focus on issues outside of LGBT+, such as mental health and reducing the financial burden placed on fans to consume football.

Shell Failed Community Engagement in Niger-Delta Region and Implications for CSR Practices: Towards Global Best Practices for Sustainable Stakeholders’ Involvement

The study examines the experience of Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices. The study observes that the experience of SPDC is one of deep frustrations occasioned by inappropriate and ineffective stakeholders’ engagement. The study also observes that aside from making host community encounter repeated deprivations, the SPDC in the Niger Delta fails to adequately involve stakeholders in its CSR agenda in ways that are acceptable. All these raised the challenge of designing best CSR practices for stakeholders’ engagements to address communities that perennially suffer the negative impacts of business activities. The study concludes by attempting a template for global best practices for sustainable stakeholder engagement with hostile host communities in CSR practices in order to achieve sustainable business practices. Keywords: CSR, Niger-Delta, Relationship Management, SPDC, Sustainability DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/93-03 Publication date: January 31 st 2022

Long-term corporate social responsibility agenda considering climate change policy and conservation of forest - an exploratory analysis of Kerala-based companies

Long-term corporate social responsibility agenda considering climate change policy and conservation of forest - an exploratory analysis of Kerala-based companies

Long-term corporate social responsibility agenda considering climate change policy and conservation of forest - an exploratory analysis of Kerala-based companies

Nowadays, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is being viewed as a valuable approach for achieving stronger relations with an organisation's internal and external stakeholders. Also, environmental management initiatives are crucial in the present scenario owing to the growing environmental concerns. The business organisations also view environment-related CSR activities as a social obligation and a way of paying back to society. In light of such considerations, the present paper discusses the significance of CSR statutory policies related to CSR, climate change and conservation of forest, and the organisational motives behind taking CSR initiatives with particular reference to the Kerala-based organisations. The purpose is to recognise the challenges sourced by climate change along with shortage of forest conservation and the role that can be assumed by the organisation-based CSR initiatives in re-mediating such rising environmental concerns. Also, the benefits of undertaking such efforts for the organisations have been discussed.

Mapping the maritime CSR agenda: A cross-sectoral materiality analysis of sustainability reporting

The transportation industry is recognized as a central pillar of the global economy, setting the foundations for the successful development of world trade. Sustainable transportation is one of the most difficult challenges of our era. This paper attempts to shed light on the maritime sector's CSR agenda, both short and long term, by mapping its most significant operational aspects by conducting a deep content analysis of 90 sustainability reports and surveying experts of varied experience a and perspectives. 544 material issues of economic, environmental, and societal nature were reviewed and assessed. Findings highlighted occupational health and safety, air emissions, energy management, innovative technologies and security systems as the most material aspects of the maritime industry.