Corporate Social Responsibility In Context Research Articles

CSR's Moral Commitment and Greenwashing

This research explores the phenomenon of greenwashing within the context of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and examines its ethical implications. Greenwashing refers to the practice of companies presenting themselves as more environmentally responsible than they are, misleading stakeholders and undermining genuine CSR efforts. The study investigates the deceptive nature of greenwashing, analyzing its prevalence across various industries and its impact on corporate credibility. It also explores ethical frameworks, such as Max Weber’s typology of ethics, to understand how current CSR practices may inadvertently promote greenwashing. Effective communication and stakeholder engagement are identified as critical factors in preventing greenwashing, emphasizing the need for transparency. The paper reviews existing regulatory measures and voluntary standards aimed at curbing greenwashing and proposes a hybrid approach that combines both to enhance corporate accountability. The findings underscore the importance of a robust framework to ensure that CSR initiatives are genuine and impactful, addressing the challenges posed by greenwashing

Corporate social responsibility and job pursuit intention: the role of job seekers’ perception on employer prosocial orientation, value congruence and employer attractiveness

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and job pursuit intention (JPI), and the role of job seekers’ perception on employer prosocial orientation, value congruence and employer attractiveness in this relationship. CSR is measured based on internal and external CSR.Design/methodology/approachBy adopting quantitative approach, data was obtained through survey questionnaire from 420 bachelor’s degree university fresh graduates from five universities in Malaysia who are actively seeking for jobs. Data was analysed using structural equation modelling technique.FindingsResearch findings show that internal and external CSR positively impact job seekers’ perception of employer prosocial orientation. Job seekers’ perception towards employer prosocial orientation has a significant positive impact on value congruence. Value congruence has a significant positive influence on employer attractiveness. Finally, employer attractiveness has a significant positive impact on JPI.Practical implicationsThe findings are useful for human resources management. Organisations (employers) should focus on effective internal and external CSR practices through a prosocial orientation approach to attract the best talents and create a strong position in the job market.Originality/valueThis study extends the Signalling Theory and P-O Fit theory by applying them to an entirely different context of CSR and JPI, by incorporated the holistic job seekers’ psychological processes of the recruitment signals (internal and external CSR), signalling process and person-organisation fit (perception on employer prosocial orientation, value congruence and employer attractiveness) thoroughly.

Implementing a stakeholder capitalism approach through values-based leadership: case studies in the private, nonprofit and educational sectors

Purpose Stakeholder capitalism has gained attention among business practitioners and academia, often discussed within the context of corporate social responsibility, ethical practices and values-based leadership. Many societal institutions, including businesses and higher education institutions, have a role to play in the transition toward stakeholder capitalism. This study aims to discuss insights gained from a multiyear research and pedagogical project coordinated among a group of academics and an Israel-based holding company to study the implementation of a values-based leadership process focused on establishing a stakeholder-oriented model in a variety of organizations. Design/methodology/approach Conducted over a decadal period, this project relied on a qualitative case study methodology. The project was conceived as an exploratory and inductive study examining organizations that implemented a values-based leadership model and a university that used this model for curriculum and pedagogy. Semi-structured interviews, observations of leadership practices and operations, and substantive reviews of organizational documents informed the study’s iterative methodology. Findings The case studies presented explore the benefits of a stakeholder capitalism and values-based leadership transformation in organizations and highlight the importance of senior leadership engagement at the outset to set the tone and direction of implementation while also role modeling values-based behaviors for the organization. The utility of aligning the new values-based approach with existing elements of the organizational culture and priorities was also identified in addition to the benefit of individuals linking the new values initiative to their personal values and life. These practices, and a broader stakeholder dialogue on values, helped establish a transition that was inclusive within the organizational hierarchy and in its connections to the larger society. The cases also explored how stakeholder principles and values-based leadership models can be integrated into management education based on the outcomes of the organizational investigations. Originality/value These case studies offer insight into the implementation of a values-based leadership framework, which draws on stakeholder theory, in diverse organizations across a for-profit to non-profit spectrum. These studies also provide a unique opportunity to evaluate the implementation of a common values framework in different sectors. The cases further highlight the potential role of business-education sectoral partnerships in educating a workforce that is dedicated to business for good.

A Systematic Literature Review on Green Human Resource Management Practices: Current Insights and Future Directions

This systematic literature review (SLR) aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of existing research on Green Human Resource Management (HRM) practices. As organizations increasingly recognize the imperative of integrating environmentally sustainable strategies, the role of HRM in fostering green initiatives has gained prominence. The review follows a structured methodology involving the identification of key databases, formulation of a targeted search strategy, and application of rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to select relevant literature.
 The review categorizes the selected studies based on themes such as the types of Green HRM practices, implementation strategies, and the associated environmental and organizational outcomes. Methodological rigor and quality assessments are employed to evaluate the credibility and reliability of the included studies. The synthesis of findings reveals patterns, contradictions, and gaps in the current state of the literature, providing insights into the diverse approaches organizations adopt to embed environmental sustainability in HRM practices.
 Key discussions encompass the implications of Green HRM practices on organizational performance, employee engagement, and the broader context of corporate social responsibility. The review critically examines the strengths and limitations of existing research, identifying areas for future investigation. Ethical considerations are emphasized throughout the review process, ensuring the integrity of the findings and acknowledging the contributions of original authors.
 This SLR contributes to the ongoing discourse on Green HRM by offering a consolidated overview of the current state of research, highlighting practical implications for organizations, and proposing a roadmap for future investigations. The findings of this review are valuable for HR professionals, scholars, and policymakers seeking to enhance the environmental sustainability of organizations through effective HRM practices.

Teleworking, diversity and inclusion: an analysis of legislation and companies from the perspective of people with disabilities in Brazil

The significant increase in people teleworking, resulting from the Technological Revolution, made it possible for people with disabilities to enter this new type of work, as it reduces travel and accessibility barriers. This text seeks to broaden the discussion on legislation, public policies and corporate strategies and their intertwining regarding the inclusion of these professionals with disabilities. To this end, we used a review of standards and literature on the topic within the context of Corporate Social Responsibility, considering new dynamics in the economy and sociology of work. Question: what are the ways to manage people for the effective inclusion of people with disabilities in teleworking, taking into account diversity, productivity and promoting quality of life? The results point to the importance of applied legislation, public and business policies and strategies in the area of People Management and mainly the use of Assistive Technologies, aiming to promote diversity and inclusion in the business environment.

Impact of stakeholder engagement strategies on managerial cognitive decision-making: the context of CSP and CSR

PurposeThis study aims to explore the strategies corporations use in engaging stakeholders to sustain healthy corporate partnerships and create value for the corporate entity and the society in which they operate and their influence on the corporate manager’s cognitive abilities and decision-making.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used an interpretive research approach leveraging the strengths of qualitative method of content analysis and comparative and critical analyses to report the results. Interpretive methods incorporate social theories and standpoints that view reality as the social construction of understandable events in the context of organizational communication.FindingsThe findings of this study suggest that corporations are assumed to follow and execute the principles of engaging stakeholders to achieve corporate social responsibility (CSR) claiming to manage a sustainable and responsible business practices that recognize local cultures, human rights and protect the environment. However, little attention has been paid to the cognitive reasoning of the individuals responsible for CSR and corporate sustainability (CS) as opposed to the growing concerns about strategies corporations use in engaging stakeholders to sustain healthy corporate partnerships and create value – especially the processes that take place during engagement and decision-making including cognitive offloading.Practical implicationsStakeholder engagement requires practical approaches that enable corporations and individuals charged with decision-making responsibilities to understand, respond and fulfill their CSRs. To achieve CSRs, corporations and managers responsible for relevant decision-making would need to involve stakeholders in social performance planning, as social reporting/auditing has long been advocating for preventing managerial biasness, groupthink and increased information dissemination via detailed reporting practices toward more collaborative stakeholder relationships. Thus, it is crucial for corporations to implement enhanced stakeholder and managerial decision-making strategies such as integrative approaches to achieve balance in the trio elements of sustainability as well as the growing use of paradox perspective to understand the nature of the tensions being sought to balance and, in the process, provide opportunity for a better evaluation of complex sustainability issues for innovative approach to resolving them. While cognitive decision-making is at play, in practice, managers tasked with making decisions must ensure the most effective stakeholder engagement strategies that are transparent and inclusive are used.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this study is its argument regarding the tools corporations use in engaging key stakeholders and the cognitive reasoning of the individuals responsible for CSR and CS. The study further contributes to interpreting the integrative approach to achieving balance in the trio elements of sustainability as well as the growing use of paradox perspective to understand the nature of the tensions being sought to balance and, in the process, provide an opportunity for a better evaluation of complex sustainability issues for an innovative approach to resolving them.

How Companies Restrain Means–Ends Decoupling: A Comparative Case Study of CSR Implementation

AbstractWe use the concept of means–ends decoupling to examine why companies continue to be major contributors to environmental and social problems despite committing increasingly to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Specifically, we ask: How do companies restrain (versus fail to restrain) means–ends decoupling? We answer this question through a comparative case study of four multinational companies with different levels of means–ends decoupling. Based on interviews and secondary data, we inductively identify two distinct approaches to CSR implementation: experimental vs. consistency‐oriented CSR implementation. Experimental CSR implementation means that companies (1) produce CSR knowledge about what is happening in specific CSR contexts and use this knowledge to (2) adapt CSR practices to local circumstances – an interplay that restrains means–ends decoupling. Consistency‐oriented CSR implementation lacks this interplay between knowledge production and practice adaptation, which fosters means–ends decoupling. Our model of experimental versus consistency‐oriented CSR implementation advances two streams of research. First, we advance research on means–ends decoupling by highlighting the importance of experimentation for restraining means–ends decoupling. Second, we advance research on the impact of CSR activities by questioning the widespread assumption that consistency should be at the heart of CSR implementation.

Corporate social responsibility and individual behaviour.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) research can help to address some of society's grand challenges (for example, climate change, energy sustainability and social inequality). Historically, CSR research has focused on organizational-level factors that address environmental and social issues and the firm's resulting financial performance, with much less focus on individual-level factors. In response to research calls to consider the individual level of analysis, we provide a narrative review to improve our understanding of the interconnections between CSR and individual behaviour. We organize existing research around three individual-level categories: CSR perceptions, CSR attitudes and CSR behaviours. We summarize research elucidating how perceptions and attitudes influence behaviours and how organization and higher-level CSR context and individual-level CSR readiness moderate perceptions-behaviours and attitudes-behaviours relationships. We offer a conceptual model that organizes the diverse, conflicting and multidisciplinary research on the CSR-individual behaviour link and that can be used to guide future research.

Unraveling business ethics: unethical practices within the context of corporate social responsibility

Unraveling business ethics: unethical practices within the context of corporate social responsibility

Analyzing the employee/employer relationships in the corporate social responsibility context: An empirical investigation of SMEs

AbstractWith the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR), firms are invited to identify, consult and take into account the expectations of their stakeholders. In this context, firms are expected to promote direct relationships with their employees while employee participation traditionally took the form of indirect institutional participation via trade unions or employee representatives. By mobilizing stakeholder theory, this study aims to analyze the impact of adopting a CSR approach on the existence of direct relationships between employees and employers. Three relationships are analyzed: information, consultation, and dialog. Using survey data, the empirical analysis shows that SMEs which have adopted a CSR approach in the social field are more likely to inform and consult their employees; but the adoption of CSR is not linked to dialog with them. This research is closely linked to the sustainable development goals 8.8 and 16.7 and gives new argument to promote CSR in SMEs. In particular, our findings underline the importance of CSR as a driver of employer–employee relationships because the CSR‐oriented companies seem more open to stakeholder dialogs with employees. This argument is relevant to companies that are seeking to implement, CSR, innovative human resources practices and industrial relations policies to improve working conditions and to create a win–win situation. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The impact of perceived corporate social responsibility on consumer happiness and brand admiration

PurposeThis study examines the effect of perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) on consumer happiness and brand admiration as a consequence of consumer happiness. It suggests an original conceptual model that investigates perceived CSR, ethical consumption and hope as antecedents of consumer happiness.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed a quantitative approach. A face-to-face survey was conducted to examine the conceptual model. Data were analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsHope and perceived CSR significantly influence consumer happiness. Consumer happiness is a significant antecedent of brand admiration. Although consumers' ethical position (idealism and relativism) is linked to ethical consumption, ethical consumption does not influence consumer happiness. Idealism and relativism are insignificant in moderating the perceived CSR–consumer happiness relationship.Practical implicationsBrands' CSR actions create a positive atmosphere and contribute to consumer happiness and brand admiration. Managers can emphasize happiness and hope in CSR programs to build stronger consumer relationships. CSR activities can be engaging for consumers regardless of their ethical consumption levels.Originality/valueAlthough CSR, consumer happiness and their impacts on consumer–brand relationships are crucial, previous studies mainly focused on the organizational perspective and employee emotions regarding CSR. This study focused on consumer happiness in the CSR context and tested a conceptual model that revealed the significant relationships between hope, perceived CSR, consumer happiness and brand admiration. It extended previous findings by showing the direct positive impact of perceived CSR on consumer happiness.

Changes in the structure of the CSR strategy of companies in the context of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in 2022

Purpose of paper: This is a presentation of basic changes in the approach to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy of Ukrainian and Polish companies in the context of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, and their impact on business efficiency. This study was conducted to determine how businesses have changed CSR strategies based on the assistance provided. Design/approach: The paper is consisted with 3 parts. The first is about a theoretical context of CSR in Ukraine and Poland – as a short view of literature and practices related to topic, in the time of begging of War. The second part includes findings on research sample – questionnaire research among Ukrainian companies and their practices with CSR during the begging the War. The last part is an attempt of conceptualization own proposal of operationalization of CSR strategy in a time of war called Emergency Reflection Algorithm. Practical implications: The development of corporate social responsibility is one of the ways of strategic business development in achieving strategic goals, strengthening competitive positions in the market, building partnerships, establishing stable relationships between all elements of the internal and external environment of enterprises. Social implications: With the beginning of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, there is an active participation of business in addressing the vital needs of civilians, military support, for Ukrainian citizens. Enterprises spend insane resources in material and financial terms in turbulent times of war. In general, understanding they bring emergency impact into a social surviving. The main subject of the research was the assessment of CSR practices in the face of a huge change, which was Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Findings: Half of the surveyed enterprises changed the strategic goals of CSR. In general, the primary goals are “Income” and “Use of material and financial resources: hire productivity of assets, better capital use, cost decrease”. The identified CSR strategy meets the criterion of measurability, and therefore all changes that are made to the current strategy or when formulating a new strategy must be adjusted to the strategic goals of CSR. Surveyed enterprises changed their strategic goals, while the rate of change in the strategic indicators of the positive contribution of CSR. This result demonstrates the need for changes in the enterprise management system. Originality/value: There was proposed the Business Model Canvas as tool to help forming/ adapting a CSR strategy. Keywords: CSR, Ukraine enterprises, war in Ukraine, sustainability management. Category of the paper: research paper, conceptual paper.

Giving-by-proxy triggers subsequent charitable behavior

How can we foster habits of charitable giving? Here, we investigate the potential power of giving-by-proxy experiences, drawing inspiration from a growing trend in marketing and corporate social responsibility contexts in which organizations make charitable donations on behalf of employees or consumers. We create laboratory models of giving-by-proxy in workplace (Studies 1a-3) and consumer (Study 4) contexts. We then investigate how giving-by-proxy experiences (with varying amounts of autonomy) influence subsequent charitable behavior. Across five preregistered studies (N = 3255), we provide evidence that (i) giving-by-proxy experiences (that mirror those that typically occur in both workplace and consumer contexts) trigger increases in subsequent charitable behavior, (ii) this process is mediated by participants taking “charitable credit” for their behavior, and (iii) manipulating the amount of autonomy involved in the giving-by-proxy experience does not moderate these effects. Results highlight potential societal impacts of giving-by-proxy policies and campaigns.

Corporate Social Responsibility of Chinese Multinational Enterprises: A Review and Future Research Agenda

This study analyzes papers on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of Chinese multinational enterprises (CMNEs) published in top-tier management and international business journals. We extracted six key constructs from these studies, examined their interconnections, and identified five themes. These themes are (1) the relationship between corporate governance and CSR practice, (2) the relationship between institutional environments and CSR practice, (3) the relationship between resources and capabilities and CSR practice, (4) the relationship between strategy/activity and CSR practice, and (5) the relationship between corporate performance and CSR practice. Our study aim is to reveal research gaps that have not been identified in other previous review articles. Thus, based on the research gaps identified through a review of previous studies, we identified that there is a strong relationship between CSR and national cultural contexts; however, most current research on CSR has focused on Western cultural contexts. Thus, to further explore how CSR of CMNEs may differ from other countries (e.g., Western countries) that is our review aim, we provide five directions for future CSR research on CMNEs. Finally, we theoretically and conceptually analyze recent studies on the impacts of corporate governance, resources, and capabilities on CMNEs’ CSR practices in relation to corporate performance through a theoretical framework and identify future research directions on Chinese MNEs’ CSR by reviewing various theories and perspectives over the last 13 years.

Does Top Management Team Media Exposure Affect Corporate Social Responsibility?

This study examines the impact of top management team (TMT) media exposure on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the moderating effect of TMT characteristics based on the upper echelons theory and stakeholder theory. Based on the observations of 5,352 firms between 2010 and 2019, multiple regression analysis is conducted to empirically test whether TMT media exposure can promote CSR. TMT media exposure is further divided into paper media and online media to reveal the impact of different types of TMT media exposure on CSR. Some robustness tests are also conducted to strengthen the regression results. The results found that a high level of TMT media exposure promotes social responsibility. In addition, the TMT power and political connections negatively moderate the relationship between TMT media exposure and CSR. The main contribution of this study is to develop a TMT media exposure model to assess the impact of TMT media exposure on CSR, providing a theoretical contribution to the existing literature and enriching the research in the CSR context from the perspective of the TMT characteristic moderating role.

Unearthing the Context of Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development and Climate Change: Towards Future Research Direction

Although the social and environmental effects of global business are not fresh, there have been increased concerns in recent years as a result of urgent global issues such as climate change and deprivation. In terms of their regional reach and operations, multinational corporations are perceived as having a particular role, since they address a variety of concerns, stakeholders and societal structures, in both home and host countries. They are regarded continuously as having the capacity to be not only part of the issue but also potentially part of the remedy and have been illustrated in their research interests in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and global business' sustainable development implications. However, there was no formal research and inclusion in the literature. This paper discusses how these topics have been explored in IB work and describe specific knowledge differences and solutions. It often introduces recent experiments that yield insightful findings that lead to exciting areas for more study.

Moral licensing and corporate social responsibility: A systematic literature review and a research agenda

Moral licensing describes people’s sense of ethical entitlement to morally questionable behavior after they have previously exhibited socially desired behavior. The objective of this review is to examine the concept of moral licensing in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature. To this end, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) covering the period from 2012 to 2021. First, our research explains why moral licensing is defined differently across CSR contexts. Second, we illustrate how CSR practices precede moral licensing and misconduct among top executives and employees (List & Momeni, 2021; Ormiston & Wong, 2013). Third, findings suggest that currently underexplored variables moderate the relationship between CSR and moral licensing, including the moral identity symbolization of CEOs and the style of CSR communication. Fourth, we suggest that very few studies have addressed these potentially negative effects of CSR. In conclusion, this review offers an initial overview on moral licensing, examines implications for practice, proposes extensions to existing theory, and sets an agenda for future research.

Dual institutional embeddedness and home country CSR Engagement: Evidence from Indian MNEs

This study contributes to the international corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature and emerging market multinationals research by examining the influence of dual institutional embeddedness on home country CSR engagement in the understudied context of Indian multinational enterprises (MNEs). Specifically, we study the role of internationalization, depth of involvement in stringent CSR contexts, and implementation of mandatory CSR regulation in the home country on the domestic CSR engagement of Indian MNEs. Our results indicate that heterogeneous institutional pressures experienced by firms embedded in dual institutional contexts encourage greater home country CSR engagement.

Unearthing the Context of Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development and Climate Change: Towards Future Research Direction

Although the social and environmental effects of global business are not fresh, there have been increased concerns in recent years as a result of urgent global issues such as climate change and deprivation. In terms of their regional reach and operations, multinational corporations are perceived as having a particular role, since they address a variety of concerns, stakeholders and societal structures, in both home and host countries. They are regarded continuously as having the capacity to be not only part of the issue but also potentially part of the remedy and have been illustrated in their research interests in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and global business' sustainable development implications. However, there was no formal research and inclusion in the literature. This paper discusses how these topics have been explored in IB work and describe specific knowledge differences and solutions. It often introduces recent experiments that yield insightful findings that lead to exciting areas for more study.

The role of Chinese mining corporates in adhering to corporate social responsibility in Zambia's mining industry, 2010–2018

Within the context of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), this secondary data‐based research paper examined the role of China's mining companies' adherence to CSR within the context of its engagement with Zambia. The central question grappled within this paper is whether there is a practise of CSR as a corporate ethic strategy to further social good which must be interpreted even beyond the firm or companies' interests, all required by the internal laws of Zambia. The central objective is to analyse CSR which ought to be applied to enhance high ethical standards, reduction of legal risks, and positive public relations. As such, this paper argues that there is a deficit literature and/knowledge existing which outlines the role of Chinese mining corporates' CSR in the Zambian mining industry. Implying that there are limited policy blueprints or scholarly documents, outlining how Chinese mining companies are expected to conduct themselves. The only scholarly relevant available knowledge at our disposal in respect to the subject under scrutiny exists in Euro‐American Multimedia video‐sharing engines such asYoutube and Twitter. These knowledge systems are North [ern] angled, contributing to an imbalanced body of knowledge, that triggered the adoption of Afrocentricity as the alternative theoretical telescope.