Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Research Articles

Exploring the Role of Education and Professional Development in Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility Policies in the Banking Sector

This study investigates the influence of education, professional development, and job satisfaction on the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices among employees in the banking industry. A survey was conducted among 139 professionals employed in the banking sector in Romania to assess their engagement in CSR practices. In essence, the research explores four main objectives: the impact of demographic factors on CSR adoption, the influence of values formed during high school, the correlation between job satisfaction and CSR engagement, and the effect of professional development on CSR engagement. The findings from a hierarchical regression model indicate that job satisfaction plays a significant role in fostering stronger CSR practices within the banking sector, thereby contributing to broader social objectives. However, it is essential to conduct further research to elucidate the causal relationship between CSR adoption and job satisfaction, as the current study’s research design only establishes the existence of an association. Overall, this study holds implications for managers in the banking industry, highlighting the critical role of employee satisfaction in shaping individuals’ commitment to CSR initiatives.

Deliberative ideals and hegemonic practices – political CSR in extractive industries

PurposePolitical Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), based on ideas about deliberative democracy, have been criticised for increasing corporate power and democratic deficits. Yet, deliberative ideals are flourishing in the corporate world in the form of dialogues with a broad set of stakeholders and engagement in wider societal issues. Extractive industry areas, with extensive corporate interventions in weak regulatory environments, are particularly vulnerable to asymmetrical power relations when businesses engage with society. This paper aims to illustrate in what way deliberative CSR practices in such contexts risk enhancing corporate power at the expense of community interests.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on a retrospective qualitative study of a Canadian oil company, operating in an Albanian oilfield between 2009 and 2016. Through a study of three different deliberative CSR practices – market-based land acquisition, a grievance redress mechanism and dialogue groups – it highlights how these practices in various ways enforced corporate interests and prevented further community mobilisation.FindingsBy applying Laclau and Mouffe’s theory of hegemony, the analysis highlights how deliberative CSR activities isolated and silenced community demands, moved some community members into the corporate alliance and prevented alternative visions of the area to be articulated. In particular, the close connection between deliberative practices and monetary compensation flows is underlined in this dynamic.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to critical scholarship on political CSR by highlighting in what way deliberative practices, linked to monetary compensation schemes, enforce corporate hegemony by moving community members over to the corporate alliance.

Social reputation, loan contracting and governance mechanisms

PurposeThis study aims to investigate whether social reputation via corporate social responsibility (CSR) awarding facilitates access to debt and decreases the cost of debt and whether governance mechanisms moderate this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe sample covers the period between 2002 and 2021, during which CSR award data were available in the Thomson Reuters Eikon/Refinitiv database. The empirical models are based on country, industry and year fixed-effects regression.FindingsWhile the main findings produced an insignificant result for access to debt, they indicated strong evidence for the positive relationship between CSR awarding and the cost of debt. Moreover, the moderating effect highlights that while the sustainability committee helps CSR-awarded companies access debt more easily, independent directors help firms decrease the cost of debt via CSR awarding. Furthermore, the results differ between the US and the non-US samples, earlier and recent periods, high- and low-leverage firms and large and small firms.Originality/valueFor the first time, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the authors assess whether social reputation via CSR awarding facilitates access to debt and decreases the cost of debt in an international and cross-industry sample. Little is known about the effect of social reputation on loan contracting, although social reputation conveys broader information that goes beyond the firm’s internal (performance) and external (reporting) CSR practices. The authors also draw attention to the differing roles of distinct governance mechanisms in leveraging social reputation for loan contracting.

Trick or treat? A bibliometric literature review of corporate social responsibility and earnings management

AbstractResearch QuestionThis study seeks to examine and synthesize the extant literature to summarize whether the essence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) genuinely stems from an authentic social commitment, or if it primarily serves as a tactic to obscure earnings management (EM) practices.Research MethodologyA systematic literature review methodology is employed to thoroughly assess 75 articles selected from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, integrating bibliometric techniques, and following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.Research FindingsAmid evolving economic and social landscapes, the research of the CSR‐EM relationship increases, particularly in Asian contexts. Further research found that ESG (environmental, social, and governance) was gradually introduced into the theoretical framework of CSR‐EM. However, most of the research does not study the impact of the three dimensions of ESG, respectively. The study concludes the four varied CSR‐EM relationships: positive, negative, mixed (depending on EM type), and no correlation, and suggests that this should be determined by both macro (e.g., political and economic environment) and micro determinants (e.g., industries and governance). Therefore, the CSR‐EM relationship cannot be simply generalized. At present, most studies study CSR as a whole, and some literature uses CSR disclosure and performance to measure CSR respectively. However, distinctions between CSR disclosure and performance, namely CSR decoupling, remain underexplored.Theoretical and Practical ImplicationsThis review synthesizes four key findings and summarizes seven relevant theories from existing literature, thus enriching the theoretical contributions of CSR‐EM research. It underscores the significance of both macro and micro factors on the CSR‐EM relationship, introduces the concept of CSR decoupling, and outlines directions for future studies. The review offers insights for policymakers on CSR‐EM dynamics and suggests strategies for companies to enhance CSR practices and reporting consistency.

Linking Corporate Social Responsibility and Organizational Performance in WH Industrial Holdings Company in China

The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between corporate social responsibility and organizational performance of WH Industrial Holdings Company. The study identified the profile of the respondents and determined the level of organizational performance in terms of financial and non-financial measures as assessed by the employees and how the employees perceive the corporate social responsibility practices of the company relative to economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic/discretionary aspects. It also determined how other stakeholders describe the CSR practices of the company.

Corporate Social Responsibility Practices of Global Automakers in Asia: Application of Carroll Model with Multi-Case Study Method

In spite of acknowledging the importance of sustainable and socially responsible practices; researchers have not been able to unanimously identify the priority areas of CSR for the automotive sector. This research was designed to understand the CSR activities of the global automakers in the Asian countries by applying the Carroll model wherein researchers wished to analyse the CSR programs of the global automakers, identify the priority CSR areas and assess the effect of CSR strategies on business performance of global automakers. Case study method was used in the existing study. This study utilised multiple case study research strategy whereby two automobile companies were studied in depth namely, Toyota and Volkswagen. The data for the study was secured from different- structured data sources like company reports, sustainability data records and media coverage. Data was analysed using content analysis. The study concluded that both companies are widely engaged in CSR initiatives that covered ethical, philanthropic, legal, and economic responsibilities. Toyota focused on their production process and policies that was employee centric, Volkswagen worked on industry modernization as well in their ethical practices. The philanthropic initiatives at both places worked towards education/training, employment generation, collaborations/partnerships, environmental and social welfare. Volkswagen also focused on sports and, art and cultural aspects in their humanitarian responsibilities. Both the peers were on the same page regarding economic practices where the cutting costs and improving efficiency was in focus. Both Toyota and Volkswagen gave more priority to the philanthropic and ethical aspect than the economic aspect. Both the companies experienced similar outcomes from these CSR initiatives like positive financial measures, quality metrics, brand identity improvement and differentiation, worker and consumer satisfaction, risk management and aversion, improved partnership opportunities.

Circular economy orientation from corporate social responsibility: A view based on structural equation modeling and a fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis

AbstractSeeking sustainable development, companies voluntarily implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach, considering economic, social and environmental aspects of interest to global society. Searching for sustainable development, the Circular Economy (CE) emerged as a new philosophy of life to meet the new challenges in society. This research links CSR and CE but considering jointly the Institutional and Stakeholder Theories to delimit the sustainable development framework from the EC approach driven by CSR. According to this framework, it was tested whether the CSR practices of companies positively and significantly impacts on a business orientation towards CE, through two models (Model A and Model B) each of them analyzed with two independent samples of companies in Spain. Both samples are composed of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) at two different stages of CSR adoption. The hypotheses were analyzed through a structural equation modeling‐fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (SEM‐fsQCA). The result of the SEM supports the hypothesis in both models. So, CSR practices are driving companies towards CE, incorporating propositions on stakeholders' value creation. Moreover, an fsQCA revealed combinations of relationships that ensure the consistency of obtained results, generating five configurations based on two models defined. Main contribution of this work is CSR practices of companies and their orientation towards CE can be linked. This encourages to deep in analysis about the relations between CE and CSR, and of the specific CSR practices that should be enhanced for their beneficial effect on the implementation of CE.

An Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices and Their Impact on Local Communities in the Case of Samsung Electronics in India

This paper delves into Samsung Electronics’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in India and assesses their impact on local communities. It examines a range of programs aimed at social and economic development, from educational enhancements to healthcare access and environmental sustainability. The study seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of how these initiatives are planned, executed, and received by the communities they intend to serve. The analysis includes an exploration of Samsung’s Smart Class Program, which has transformed educational experiences by integrating digital technologies into classrooms in underserved areas. This initiative’s effect on student engagement and learning outcomes is evaluated to gauge its contribution to educational advancement. The paper also investigates Samsung’s healthcare projects, such as the deployment of mobile healthcare units and telemedicine centers, which have been instrumental in bringing medical services to remote and marginalized communities. Additionally, the research addresses the challenges Samsung faces in implementing its CSR initiatives, including issues of scalability and sustainability. It discusses the strategies the company has employed to overcome these hurdles and the lessons learned from these experiences. The paper emphasizes the importance of collaboration between corporations, government entities, and NGOs in enhancing the effectiveness of CSR activities. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of Samsung Electronics’ CSR practices in India and their significant contributions to community welfare and sustainable development. It highlights the potential of corporate social responsibility as a powerful tool for driving positive social change and underscores the need for ongoing commitment and innovation in CSR strategies to meet the evolving needs of local communities.

Environmental corporate social responsibility practices and firm innovation: Complementarities and empirical evidence from Spanish firms

This study examines the complementarity effect of combining different types of environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) practices on firm innovation. We apply the complementarity approach to test whether the adoption of different ECSR practices (i.e. practices for fewer materials per unit produced [materials], less energy per unit produced [energy], or decreasing environmental impact [impact]) generates super-additive effects on firms’ innovation, measured by innovations type: adoption, new-to-the-market, and new-to-the-firm innovation. We use data from the Spanish Community Innovation Survey for the period 2009–2014. The results show that the best combination of ECSR practices depends on the innovation type. For innovation adoption, all possible combinations of the three practices produce super-additive effects; however, the complementarity patterns differ for new-to-the-market and new-to-the-firm innovations. For new-to-the-market innovation, energy practices appear to be a key factor in fostering innovation when combined with materials or impact practices. For new-to-the-firm innovation, the combination of these three ECSR practices shows complementarity effects. These findings provide useful insights for the design of corporate social responsibility strategies.

Enhancing Firm Value: Exploring the Nexus of Social Responsibility, Dividend Policy, and Profitability

This research delves into the intricate relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR), dividend policy, profitability, and company value within the consumer goods sector of the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2019 to 2022. Employing a purposive sampling method, 27 companies were selected for analysis using SPSS techniques. The study reveals a noteworthy finding: while dividend policy shows no significant impact, both CSR and profitability significantly influence company value. This underscores the critical importance of integrating social responsibility practices into corporate strategies, as they not only contribute to enhanced company value but also augment profitability. These findings have substantial implications for businesses, emphasizing the imperative of embracing CSR initiatives as integral components of sustainable corporate development strategies. Highlights : CSR integration: Study underscores the importance of integrating CSR practices into corporate strategies. Profitability impact: Profitability significantly influences company value in the consumer goods sector. Limited impact of dividend policy: Dividend policy shows no significant impact on company value in the Indonesian context. Keywords: CSR, dividend policy, profitability, company value, consumer goods sector

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Financial Performance: A Bibliometric Analysis using Biblioshiny

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of the relationship between ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors and financial performance. The purpose is to gather bibliometric data on citations, scientific publications, authors, sources, affiliations, contributions from different nations, keywords, trending aspects, and potential future research fields. The study collects data from the Scopus research database covering the period from 2013 to 20th May 2023. Biblioshiny in R Studio is used for data evaluation. The analysis includes annual publication output, average citations, influential authors and institutions, commonly used keywords, and country-wise research output. The analysis reveals a consistent and growing interest in ESG and financial performance research, with a significant increase in scientific articles over time. Earlier publications have higher average citations, indicating their impact, while recent ones show lower citation rates. Key focal points include "financial performance" and "ESG." Noteworthy institutions such as the University of Zaragoza, Nord University, New York University, and the Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment demonstrate high overall impact. The study emphasizes the ongoing research interest in the relationship between financial performance and ESG and the growing importance of sustainability and corporate social responsibility in corporate practices. The findings indicate a recent emphasis on ESG, financial performance, CSR, sustainability, and corporate governance within environmental studies.

ASSESSING CSR PRACTICES IN INDIA'S POWER SECTOR: A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices within India's power sector. The study aims to analyze the extent, effectiveness, and impact of CSR activities undertaken by major power companies, focusing on sustainability, community development, and environmental stewardship. Through a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative case studies and quantitative data analysis, the research highlights best practices, identifies gaps, and offers recommendations for enhancing CSR initiatives. The findings suggest that while there is a growing commitment to CSR in the power sector, challenges such as inconsistent implementation and inadequate stakeholder engagement persist. This paper contributes to the discourse on CSR by providing actionable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academics interested in promoting responsible business practices in the energy sector.

Corporate social responsibility, reputation and performance in the Zimbabwe’s mining sector

Orientation: The Zimbabwe’s mining sector regrettably has a poor corporate social responsibility (CSR) record, which has earned the mining corporations a bad reputation and poor business performance.Research purpose: The study investigated the relationship between CSR, corporate reputation (CR), and performance in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.Motivation for the study: The implementation of CSR programmes in the Zimbabwean mining sector has been inconsistent over the years, with some firms virtually uninvolved in such activities. The impact of CSR in that sector remains largely unexplored.Research approach/design and method: The study was quantitative, involving a survey of 330 managers and other professionals working in Zimbabwean mining sector firms. The collected data were analysed using correlation and regression analyses.Main findings: Two CSR dimensions, namely, stakeholder CSR and ethical CSR, contributed to CR. Corporate reputation exerted a positive impact on social performance and negatively towards operational performance.Practical/managerial implications: The study provides practical solutions to mining firms on which CSR practices are essential for strengthening both CR and performance.Contribution/value-add: The study represents a novel effort to model the relationship between CSR, CR and the performance of Zimbabwe’s mining sector. It offers the basis for future research studies on CSR practices and CR in several sectors of the Zimbabwean economy.

Institutional view of corporate social responsibility in the Iranian context

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how formal and informal institutions play a role in the Iranian context in shaping corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and practices.Design/methodology/approachUsing a multiple case-study approach combining comparative and cross-sectional methods with semi-structured interviews, primary data was collected from eight corporations that actively participated in CSR activities in Iran. A microanalysis approach was used to examine the meanings and dynamics in the data. Through thematic analysis and pattern-matching techniques, the authors separately examined the roles of formal and informal institutions. Cross-case analysis was used to highlight the cases’ similarities and differences.FindingsThis study demonstrates that both formal and informal institutional structures exist in Iran and that both types influence CSR. This study also shows that informal institutions (such as personal values, culture, religion, traditions, charity and philanthropy) play a more explicit role than formal institutions (such as legal regulations and laws) in shaping CSR adoption policies and practices. The results indicate that, among institutions linked to CSR, formal and informal institutions are complementary and potentiate each other in Iran. Nevertheless, compared to formal ones, informal institutions play a more prominent role in shaping CSR policies and practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors recognize that, although the eight corporations are large, and although they interviewed their key personnel, they do not claim that these findings are generalizable, owing to the qualitative nature of the study and the small number of selected corporations.Originality/valueThis study makes relevant theoretical and empirical contributions. First, it contributes to the growing body of CSR literature that highlights the necessity of linking informal and formal institutions. Although the CSR literature lacks research on informal institutions in developing economies, researchers have yet to push forward and explore how the CSR adoption process works in developing economies that have influential informal institutions.

An investigation of corporate social responsibility conformity: The roles of network prominence and supply chain partners

AbstractNumerous studies on corporate social responsibility (CSR) indicate that firms adopt CSR practices for various reasons related to their supply chain. However, the necessity to conform to a firm's own industry CSR norm is overlooked. Conforming to one's industry CSR norm—a herding behavior known as CSR conformity—ensures firm in‐group legitimacy and preserves internal resources for core business activities. On the other hand, deviating from industry norms sets a firm apart from its peers, making the firm more appealing to supply chain partners. Motivated by this dilemma, this study draws on middle‐status conformity theory and explores how a firm's network prominence determines its CSR conformity. Panel data analyses of 1650 firm‐year observations reveal an inverse U‐shaped relationship between firm network prominence and its CSR conformity, indicating that firms with a mid‐level network prominence engage in higher CSR conformity. However, the inverse U is flattened when a firm's supply chain partners (and their respective industries) share similar CSR standards, suggesting that a firm can only prioritize its own industry CSR norms if its supply chain partners share a compatible CSR standard. These findings highlight the importance of understanding CSR from an organizational conformity perspective, especially in the context of supply chain network.

Social network centrality and the corporate environment: The case of sexual diversity policies

AbstractWe study the external influence of social capital, measured by Facebook's (now Meta) Social Connectedness Index, on a firm's decision to adopt policies that promote a more diverse corporate environment. Recent studies find corporate policies that embrace sexual diversity are beneficial to firms and their stakeholders, thereby contributing to their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and business sustainability. We find that firms with a high social network centrality are more likely to adopt policies and business strategies that support sexual diversity. Moreover, firms that adopt good CSR practices are more likely to implement more inclusive policies such as sexual diversity policies. This provides for a more comfortable work environment for the LGBT+ community. However, we also find that firms reduce their adoption of inclusive policies during times of economic uncertainty, supporting the pessimistic view that firms decrease window dressing activities during economic downturns when governance is tightened, and resources are scarce. We attribute this phenomenon to the exploitation of agency benefits by managers.

The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development Practices on Employer Branding—A Case Study of an International Corporation Operating in Poland

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development practices and employer branding (EB) significantly influence the effectiveness of recruitment processes, human resource management (HRM), and an employer’s image. The main aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of internal and external CSR practices in an international corporation operating in Poland. The empirical study consisted of two stages. In the first stage, an in-depth interview was conducted with a group of managers in the examined company. In the second stage, the company’s employees and local residents (non-employees) were surveyed with the use of questionnaires. The study demonstrated that CSR activities addressing environmental issues were most effective. External CSR practices received greater recognition among white-collar (office) employees, whereas blue-collar (manual) employees were more appreciative of internal CSR measures—in particular, financial support schemes. The effectiveness of internal and external CSR practices has been rarely compared in the literature, and the present study was undertaken to fill in this knowledge gap.

Effect Of the Disclosure of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices on The Financial Value of The Companies Listed on The Colombian Stock Exchange

This research project intends to analyze the financial effects caused by the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in companies, and the shareholders’ perspective regarding the disclosure of these practices in the stock market. The Colombian Stock Exchange (BVC) market’s reaction was studied, using as a reference 20 companies included in the COLCAP index. The influence of this CSR-type announcements published in important local newspapers was analyzed. The results show that the social practices developed by the Colombian companies listed on the BVC have a positive relationship with financial performance; this fact is evidenced by the change in the share price.

The impact of the collaborative consumption triangle on purchasing intentions within online food delivery platforms

PurposeThis study adopted the collaborative consumption triangle to explore the influence of online food delivery platforms (OFDP) on consumer purchase intentions. It investigates the effects of restaurants' corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, individuals' food neophilic tendencies (FNT), and platforms' perceived benefits on purchase intention within OFDP. Furthermore, the study analyses differences in consumers' pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) on OFDP.Design/methodology/approachThe 497 participants conducted a web-based self-completion survey, using structural equation modelling to analyse the path structure of consumer purchasing intention. Furthermore, differences in PEB among OFDP consumers were compared through multigroup analysis.FindingsThe findings indicate that CSR influences the perceived value of sustainability and that the perceived value of sustainability influences purchase intention. Additionally, the influence of the perceived value of sustainability on purchase intention is more pronounced among consumers with low PEB compared to those with high PEB.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings may not be generalisable to other countries due to cultural differences, CSR policies, and strategies for promoting sustainable development.Social implicationsThe study provides valuable contributions related to (1) restaurants increasing their revenue and meeting their long-term sustainable development goals; (2) providing reusable containers policy and reusable containers policy and category tags for restaurants within OFDP.Originality/valueThis study is a pioneering work examining factors influencing purchase intentions within OFDP from the tripartite collaborative consumption perspective post-COVID-19 and focuses on the differences in PEB concerning OFDP.

Exploring the multifaced influencing factors of corporate social responsibility in Chinese-listed manufacturing enterprises

Although scholars have conducted research on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of Chinese firms from different perspectives, there has been no unified conclusion so far. Therefore, identifying the factors that influence CSR in Chinese enterprises is an important topic for further investigation. Does the debt leverage ratio, ownership type, degree of internationalization (DOI), and auditing by the Big Four accounting firms have an impact on CSR? Based on a series of questions, our study aims to explore the influencing factors and relationships of CSR from multiple angles. Using data from 252 Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2014 to 2019 and the CSR scores from the Hexun.com rating index, we constructed a panel dataset comprising 1,414 firm-year observations. After comparing models, the fixed effects method of panel data is ultimately used for empirical regression. The research results indicate a significant negative correlation between the leverage ratio and CSR. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) outperform non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs) in terms of CSR. There is a significant positive correlation between DOI and CSR. However, the contribution of audits by the Big Four accounting firms to CSR in Chinese enterprises is limited. While our study examines many aspects of the elements that affect corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Chinese companies, each firm must consider its circumstances and apply suitable strategies to improve its CSR practices.