Corporate Social Sustainability Research Articles

Management Students’ Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: The University Context of Each Country as an Explanatory Variable

Many scientific articles have been written about management students’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility. Most of these investigations were carried out on small samples, made up of students from a single university. Very few investigations have compared students from different universities and countries. The main objective of this paper is to investigate whether students’ countries operate as an explanatory variable for their perceptions of this concept. Fifty-four previous articles were reviewed, identifying some important conceptual problems and a high amount of methodological diversity. The second objective of this paper is to describe and analyze these problems and methodologies, with the aim of contributing to the development of this field of research. A sample of 1992 undergraduate students in management courses who were studying at 18 universities located in three countries (Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) was selected. A definition of corporate social responsibility was adopted. This concept was operationalized through a set of 18 indicators. An exploratory factor analysis showed that these indicators operationalize the main dimensions of social responsibility. It was found that there are statistically significant differences between the perceptions of the students from the 18 universities, but when comparing universities from the same country, these differences disappear. In addition, it was found that the relationship between perception and country is independent of gender, age, work experience and the degree that students are pursuing. This work contributes to our current knowledge in this field of study, because it shows that the university environment of each country operates as an explanatory variable for students’ perceptions of social responsibility. Also, this work contributes to the design of appropriate methodological strategies for carrying out comparative studies on the perceptions of social responsibility, both locally and internationally.

A Relationship Assessment Between Environmental Practices, Corporate Value, and CSR in Sustainability Context

AbstractThis study examines the influence of environmental performance disclosure within corporate social responsibility on company value. It assesses the impact of green intellectual capital (human, structural, and relational), green innovation (product and process), carbon emission disclosure, and eco-efficiency on Price Book Value (PBV). The sample includes 11 companies from the Sri Kehati Index 2018-2022, which apply Sustainable Responsible Investment (SRI) and ESG principles. Using multiple regression analysis, the findings reveal that green intellectual capital disclosure does not significantly affect company value. However, green innovation positively impacts PBV, suggesting its importance in enhancing corporate valuation. In contrast, carbon emission disclosure and eco-efficiency are found to negatively influence PBV. These results highlight the critical role of green innovation in driving company value while suggesting that certain environmental disclosures may lower valuations. The study provides valuable insights into how environmental practices affect corporate value within the framework of corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Keywords:Green Intellectual Capital, Green Innovation, Carbon Emissions Disclosure, Eco-Efficiency, Company Value

Enhancing sustainable mineral extraction through corporate social responsibility and green innovation

The objective of this study is to investigate the role of green innovation and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in improving the sustainability performance of mineral extraction firms. The rationale behind exploring said perspective is the extensive use of water, materials, and energy in mineral extraction, which necessitates developing new pathways to condense the use of natural resources. In this study, we used a well-structured questionnaire method to collect primary data from employees working in the mineral extraction sector. We performed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in SPSS after screening the initial data and then proceeded to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using AMOS. After verifying the structural arrangements of constructs and ensuring the data meets reliability and validity requirements, we created a structural model in AMOS to test our hypothesis. We performed the mediation analysis using bootstrap methodology, 5000 resamples, and a 95% confidence interval. The results demonstrate that corporate social responsibility to society and the environment does not have a direct impact on sustainability performance. However, corporate social responsibility toward employees and green innovation strengthens the sustainability performance of mineral extraction firms. Additionally, we found that green innovation mediates the relationship between corporate social responsibility and sustainability performance. The study concludes that the role of green innovation in the mineral extraction sector is crucial to promoting sustainability performance via CSR activities. The conclusion of this study portrays promising implications for managerial decision-making and policy development regarding the mineral extraction sector. We suggest that firms seeking to improve sustainability performance through corporate social responsibility must adopt green innovation practices, which serve as a bridge between corporate social responsibility and sustainability performance. Without doing so, the results of corporate social responsibility efforts might not be successful.

Increasing the Manifestation of the Sustainable Development Principles in Logistics Organizations

The logistics sector is increasingly pressured to integrate sustainable development principles to align with their corporate goals. This paper reviews theoretical and practical frameworks of the logistics industry to examine how service providers in the sector can achieve a balanced economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Businesses are purposely created to maximize profits; however, increased awareness of corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability has made them to look beyond that. Logistics service providers that adopt sustainable practices stand to benefit from long-term cost savings, improved brand reputation, and enhanced stakeholder relationships. Performed research leads us to point out that IoT, big data and blockchain are a some of the digital enablers that improve sustainability. Such advancements are necessary to minimize carbon emission, enhance the transparency of supply chain, and minimize negative effects on environment. At the same time, the literature analyzes emphasizes the fact that collaboration between various actors also contributes to the creation of incentives for achieving the goal of creating sustainable logistics systems. The literature points to stakeholder theory whose focus is on the issues of transparency, cooperation, and novelty in managing supply chains. The model gives a structure for achieving business objectives of generating returns without considering environmental and social factors. Obtained results also highlights those policies such as tax incentives given to companies that meet environmental standards weigh in greatly. Such measures have the potential to steer the logistics sector towards more sustainable operations with a corresponding competitiveness and economic growth. However, it is important to point out that more radical changes are required for reaching the desired state of sustainable development. Consequently, continuous investment in sustainable technologies, supportive government policies, and stakeholder collaboration are key to fostering a profitable logistics industry

Model Pengelolaan Dana Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) untuk Keberlanjutan Lingkungan: Kajian Program Sedekah Sampah Digital PT. Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa Tbk

PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa Tbk, a leading producer in Indonesia, has implemented a new waste management program as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental sustainability efforts. This program utilizes a unique waste management model and a social-based waste management concept. The study employs a mixed-method approach, including both quantitative and qualitative methods, with data collected through questionnaires, focus group discussions, and field observations. The waste management system is digital, using the scrum method, making it easier to adapt to changing user needs. The digital platform facilitates waste management, distribution, and efficiency, ensuring transparency in waste management. The program also helps the company report total waste and waste management performance in real-time.

The knowing–doing gap: Family SMEs and sustainability in Germany and Sweden

ABSTRACT The article compares family small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Germany and Sweden with a large family company in their work on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. This study aims to understand how and why (small) family firms work with sustainability. In total, 14 interviews were conducted with family firms in different industries. Large family companies are a benchmark, as they have worked with these questions since 2000. However, family SMEs also work with these issues. It is the family owner-managers who actively work with these questions. Accordingly, findings are of relevance for family firms and their managers, working with sustainability.

Implikasi Sustainable Development Goals di Indonesia: Perspektif Riset Akuntansi dan Ekonomi

Sustainable development is essential for the continuity of companies and economic activities. This research investigates the implications of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Indonesia by reviewing previous research and filling gaps using accounting and economic perspectives. This research adopted a systematic literature review and content analysis approach using 13 articles from published articles indexed by the Science and Technology Index (SINTA) 2 and 3. Research findings, namely the variable presence of a Corporate Social Responsibility Officer or Sustainability Officer, appear to be a predictor of SDGs disclosure in corporate reporting. The following research finding is that educational accountants as educational curriculum creators can align with SDGs. Another research finding, Zakat plays a role in achieving SDGs, namely poverty, hunger, health, and education.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability through Institutional Legitimacy in Police Forces

This paper analyses the effect of institutional legitimacy on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability in police forces through their methods and procedures (procedural justice) that determine citizens’ trust in the police, which theoretically influences organised coexistence in human communities (social effectiveness). CSR can increase collective well-being through legitimacy, sustained by police action. An anonymous citizen survey was carried out to verify the theoretical proposal to inquire about their opinions on the legitimacy, methods, and community relations between Spanish police forces and the community. The hypotheses were analysed with a structural equation system. The practical implications aspire to know the citizens’ opinions about the methods and procedures used by the Spanish police and their relations with Spanish civilians. Finally, citizens consider that police actions and procedures are institutionally and legally regulated competencies, and, therefore, citizens cannot influence them.

Impact of Board Committee Characteristics on Social Sustainability Reporting in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Moderating Role of Institutional Ownership

The corporate strategic planning of businesses in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) largely focuses on immediate financial performance with minimal credence to social sustainability. Thus, studies on the linkage between corporate governance (CG) and sustainability reporting have focused on developed economies. This study therefore investigated the role of institutional ownership in the impact of board committee characteristics on social sustainability reporting. This study involved strongly balanced panel data with 1969 observations of 275 publicly listed non-financial firms in SSA within the timeframe of 2012 to 2021. Data were analyzed using STATA 14.1. The hypotheses were tested using the two-step system of the generalized method of moment (GMM) using the Arellano–Bond dynamic panel data estimation method. The rate of social sustainability reporting was 39.4%. Relatively, Mauritian and South African firms had the most effective board committee characteristics and higher levels of social sustainability reporting. Although institutional ownership had no significant effect on social sustainability reporting, it moderated the effect of sustainability committee independence and sustainability committee gender diversity on social sustainability reporting. This paper presents a new perspective on the corporate governance and social sustainability literature by examining the effect of institutional ownership on board committee characteristics and social sustainability reporting in SSA. In terms of policy implication, there is the need for mandatory regulatory and legal CG framework that is regularly updated at national and regional levels in SSA to motivate listed firms to establish sustainability committees with efficient characteristics to promote social sustainability reporting.

A bibliometric review of sustainability and firm performance

What is the past, present and future trajectories of sustainability and firm performance? The study identified seminal works, current and future trends relevant to sustainability and firm performance. The research employed bibliometric analysis tools such as co-citation, bibliographic coupling, and co-occurrence analysis combined with enrichment tools. Utilizing a dataset that spanned from 1998 to 2023, it used Biblioshiny and analyzed 735 articles from Scopus. The research results showed a growth rate of 23 percent and an average of 37 citations per article. The research established stakeholder theory and theory of the firm as foundational pillar and latest developments focused on finance, corporate social responsibility, environmental assessment, and sustainability. Emerging trends involved sustainability performance, disclosures, internal factors, sustainability and firm performance, corporate social responsibility and governance, sustainability reporting and stakeholder engagement, and costs. Researchers and practitioners can utilize these findings to direct their work and contribute to the ongoing discourse in sustainability and firm performance research.

Strategy Corporate Social Responsibility and Investment Efficiency: The Role of Substitute and Complement

This article investigates the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and investment efficiency from a strategic perspective. Taking into account the competitive strategy between firms, we proposed an adjusted competitive strategy measure and fitted CSR with a competitive strategy such as strategic CSR and examined the impact of competitive strategy on CSR and the sensitivity of investment to free cash flow. The results show that firms engage in CSR strategically. The stronger the strategic substitutes in which a firm competes, the more likely it is to engage in CSR activities. The weaker the strategic substitutes and complements in which a firm competes, the better its CSR performance. However, strategic CSR and corporate strategy do not have a synergistic effect in mitigating overinvestment. The results suggest that strategic CSR performance eliminates the sensitivity of investment to free cash flow. CSR can be a powerful tool to link corporate strategy and social sustainability, which has the potential to create a win-win situation for both the firm and society.

Integrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability Linkages with Employees’ Perceptions and Competence-Mediating Role of CSR Culture

The study examines the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) culture on the relationship between CSR strategy–sustainability linkages, ethics and the CSR outcomes in public sector organizations in India. Using a sample of 200 lower-, middle- and upper-level CSR managers, a mediation model by Baron and Kenny was outlined and tested. Results demonstrate that CSR strategy–sustainability linkages and ethics have a positive relationship with CSR culture and CSR outcomes. Further, CSR culture has a positive relationship with the CSR outcomes of employees’ CSR perceptions and competence. While CSR culture fitfully mediated the relationship between ethics and competence, partial mediation was found in all other cases. Thus, the adoption of strategic and sustainable CSR not only leads to desirable CSR outcomes but is also associated with a better fit between CSR and culture. Hence, strategic and sustainable CSR and organizational ethics must facilitate greater congruence between CSR and organizational culture.

Organizational Legitimacy: A Bibliometric Analysis of Web of Science Database

This study is an attempt to conduct a bibliometric review in the above-mentioned field. A bibliometric review is conducted using 644 articles from the Web of Science core collection database. The article evaluates the research article distribution based on time and geography. It also highlights notable articles, authors and journals. We make use of techniques like citation analysis, co-citation analysis and co-occurrence analysis. Software Vos Viewer and Biblioshiny are used. The article also explores the theme development in the area. The volume of publications has seen steady growth since 2003 but has seen rapid growth post 2020. On analysing the country-wide distribution, we realize that the top five positions are occupied by USA, England, China, Canada and Spain. In terms of the major sources of these publications, the list of journals has spread across various disciplines such as accounting, human resource management, economics, ethics, etc. Trending topics like corporate social responsibility, sustainability, financial performance, corruption, risk and trust whose linkages with legitimacy have gained emphasis in recent times have been highlighted. Further, the analysis emphasizes areas with research scope like social media and legitimacy, corporate governance and legitimacy, institutional pressures, etc. Additionally, co-citation clusters were developed to represent the distribution of the thematic structure. The article provides various suggestions for academicians and managers/policymakers.

THE IMPACT OF GREEN GOVERNANCE ON SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING & CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: FINANCIAL RISK AS MODERATOR

The present research endeavors to examine the effects of green governance namely board gender diversity, committee size, board independence, and board size, on corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting. The study also considers the moderating effect of financial risk, including liquidity risk and capital risk. The data has been obtained from banking institutions in financial sector of Pakistan. Dataset comprises information from 33 banks that were included in our analysis. Convenience sampling technique was employed to gather the time series and cross-sectional data, which was utilized to construct panels in order to obtain desired outcomes. The results show significant and favorable relationship amid board's size & degree of independence when it comes to corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting. There is a negative correlation amid presence of a board committee, board gender diversity and practice of sustainability reporting. Regression has confirmed consistent findings, indicating that both board size and board independence exhibit positive association with SRI & CSR, whereas board committee and board gender diversity show a negative link.

Enhancing employees’ quality of work life and engagement to foster corporate social responsibility: a data mining approach

PurposeThis paper aims to present a dynamic model for strategic and personalized decision-making in human resources (HR), using data mining techniques to enhance corporate social sustainability (CSS). The focus is on the interconnectedness of employee engagement (EE), enablement and the quality of work life.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed model integrates various HR data, including demographic information, job specifications, payment and rewards, attendance and absence, alongside employees’ perceptions of their work-life quality, engagement and enablement. Data mining processes are applied to generate meaningful insights for senior and middle managers.FindingsThe study implemented the model within a production organization, revealing that factors influencing EE and enablement differ based on gender, marital status and occupational group. Performance-based rewards play a significant role in enhancing engagement, regardless of the reward amount. Factors such as “being recognized for competency” influence engagement for women, while payment has a greater impact on men. Engagement does not directly influence the quality of work life, but subcomponents like perceived transparency and the organization’s processes, particularly the “employee performance evaluation system,” improve work-life quality.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are specific to the studied organization, limiting generalizability. Future research should explore the model’s effectiveness in different cultural and organizational settings.Practical implicationsThe proposed model provides practical implications for organizations that enhance CSS. Organizations can gain insights into factors influencing EE and enablement by using data mining techniques, enabling informed decision-making and tailored human resource management practices.Social implicationsThis research addresses the societal concern regarding the impact of business activities on sustainability. Organizations can contribute to a more socially responsible and sustainable business environment by focusing on work-life quality and EE.Originality/valueThis paper offers a dynamic model using data mining and machine learning techniques for sustainable human resource management. It emphasizes the importance of customization to align practices with the unique needs of the workforce.

Review of the Adoption of TQM Models and the Achieved Sustainable Business Results in the MENA Telecommunication Industry

Purpose: Understanding the criticality of the telecommunication industry in the current time and appreciating the significance of adopting total quality management models in organizations to extend business sustainability. This paper provides a comparison between two telecommunication leaders in the MENA region: Zain & Etisalat, to assess their adoption of TQM models and the impact on their organizational and market success. Methodology: this study uses a comparative case study. a mixed-methods methodology was applied, combining quantitative and qualitative data. Primary data collection methods included surveys given to employees at different levels to gauge the internal effects of TQM models on operational efficiency and employee satisfaction, as well as semi-structured interviews with key management personnel from both companies, aimed at gaining insights into the implementation and outcomes of TQM practices. Secondary data came from a number of sources, such as government publications that described TQM adoption and telecommunication trends, market analysis and financial performance data from industry databases like Statista, annual reports and official documentation from Zain and Etisalat, and relevant quality management certifications and standards (like ISO 9001:2015). Thematic analysis of interview transcripts to find recurring themes and implementation insights, content analysis of company reports and publications to evaluate the strategic alignment and integration of TQM models, and case study analysis to compare and contrast Zain and Etisalat's approaches to adopting and implementing TQM models were some of the qualitative data analysis techniques used. Findings: The study found that the adoption of TQM models like EFQM, Kaizen and Lean six sigma across the whole organization is more effective than localizing the application to one aspect as indicated by the comparison between Zain & Etisalat. The comparison indicated that the application of TQM extended the sustainability and resilience of Etisalat and Zain in the face of business challenges by improving performance and streamlining processes to increase customer satisfaction. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that both Etisalat and Zain should consider incorporating sustainability practices into their TQM frameworks, given the growing focus on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. This could be illustrating a dedication to sustainable business practices by coordinating Kaizen and Lean Six Sigma initiatives with objectives related to social responsibility and the environment. To improve the synergy between Kaizen, EFQM, and Lean Six Sigma initiatives, both companies should foster cross-functional collaboration.

“Creating shared value”: Time for a normative extension?

AbstractPorter and Kramer's “creating shared value” (CSV) proposal has achieved significant penetration into both the academic and corporate communities. Building on other critiques of CSV, this paper assesses whether the CSV framework, notwithstanding its popularity, currently possesses an appropriate and adequate theoretical foundation to represent an overarching normative framework for the entire business and society field. The analysis does so by comparing CSV with a series of other dominant business and society approaches including corporate social responsibility, business ethics, stakeholder management, sustainability, and corporate citizenship. The analysis finds that while CSV does address the fundamental business and society normative requirement that business activities should contribute to sustainable net societal value, it currently fails to adequately incorporate the equally important notions of (i) appropriately balancing stakeholder interests with those of the corporation's shareholders, as well as (ii) demonstrating sufficient accountability (i.e., taking responsibility) by properly reporting on and addressing any negative impacts resulting from the firm's activities. The paper concludes with a revised and expanded restatement of the CSV concept, which attempts to take into account and address its current theoretical limitations in order to enhance its appeal as an overarching business and society normative paradigm.

ENCOURAGING INTENTION IN SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH CSR SUPPORTING MECHANISMS

As an effort to pursue the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in higher education, this study identifies the potential for growing student interest in sustainable entrepreneurship. The basic idea in this study is to involve corporate social sustainability (CSR) as a support for forming interest in prospective and new entrepreneurs in this model. For this reason, the goal of this research is to identify the relationship between perceived CSR support and students' intentions for sustainable entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial students were selected as a sample (n=90) using a convience sampling method. The validity and reliability testing indicate that the six indicators of sustainable entrepreneurial intention are valid and reliable. The same results occurred for ten indicators of perceived CSR support. Results show a significant influence of perceived CSR support on sustainable entrepreneurial intention. The path coefficient produces a t-statistical value (16.735) with a p-value (0.000) so that the hypothesis is accepted at the 5 percent significance level. The regression results produce an R-square of 0.665 with an adjusted R-square of 0.661, thus depicting a relatively large contribution in forming sustainable entrepreneurial intention. The contribution of other factors was identified as 43.90 percent in forming this intention. These results are in accordance with the theory of planned behavior, theory of triple bottom line, and theory of pyramid CRS. The supporting realizes a balance between achieving economic growth, social welfare, and environmental sustainability. The formation of good perceptions regarding CSR support indicates that this mechanism is one of the entrepreneurial ecosystems that can be relied upon to support an atmosphere of sustainability in entrepreneurial learning and practice. As a suggestion, it is necessary to increase stakeholder involvement in education sector so that it will be in line with the SDGs agenda in 2030.

Accounting graduates’ perceptions on sustainability

PurposeThis study aims to test whether the perceptions of graduates of accounting-related degrees on the implications of companies’ commitment to sustainable development strategies can be influenced by certain factors associated with their previous training and characteristics.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on measuring and analyzing the assessment carried out by a sample of students graduating in degrees that include accounting subjects for five consecutive years, from 2016–2017 to 2020–2021, both inclusive. Nonparametric statistical tests are used to determine the type of association between the factors that characterize the graduates and their degree of agreement with the training they received and its relationship with their role in implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability strategies in the company.FindingsThe study’s significant findings reveal that the respondents’ perception of the training they received and their opinion of certain benefits provided by sustainable development and CSR strategies in organizations are positively related. This insight is crucial, as it suggests that the training graduates receive plays a pivotal role in shaping their understanding and support for sustainability. The respondents’ opinions do not vary depending on their personal and/or work characteristics, except in the type of contract, as significant differences are observed between the self-employed and temporary or nonworking workers and between those with a permanent contract and those who are linked to the company with a temporary contract.Originality/valueIn a field where most studies focus on employee–employer relationships and human resource management policies, this research stands out. It delves deeper, not just into employees’ perception of sustainability but also into the causes of this perception. It explores what factors may be influencing employees’ opinions on sustainability, and importantly, it extends this analysis to graduates who will be in charge of these issues. This work covers a significant gap in the research, incorporating the study of variables such as personal characteristics and work-related aspects of employees and the training received in accounting matters.

Evaluating Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Policies and Sustainability Development Goals Achievement in Indonesia

<div class="WordSection1"><p><em>The enactment of the 2007 Company Law confirms Indonesia’s requirement for mandatory disclosure of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). However, there has not been any research specifically examining CSR activities from the report disclosed. Only a few studies have examined the mandatory disclosure of CSR for companies whose core business does not directly include natural resources but whose activities significantly impact the environment. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate and analyse the mandatory disclosure of CSR through company annual reports, taking a sample of listed textile businesses in Indonesia and the correlation with the achievement of Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). The findings showed that the mandatory disclosure regulations in 2007 Company Law and Financial Service Authority Regulation Number 51/ POJK.03/2017 failed to improve optimal CSR implementation by textile companies in Indonesia. Various textile companies focused more on community development while paying little attention to environmental concerns. Additionally, detailed and explicit provisions were lacking in achieving the SDGs target. Reformulation of CSR disclosure policies was necessary to regulate reporting procedures, content, and criteria for environmental aspects of the programs in annual reports while correlating with </em><em>the targets of the 2030 SDGs policy.</em></p></div>