Engagement In Corporate Social Responsibility Activities Research Articles

Corporate social responsibility practices of banks in Bangladesh: a structuration theory perspective

The aim of this paper is to illuminate the role of the socio-economic, cultural and religious context in shaping corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of banks in Bangladesh. The authors utilize content analysis of annual reports and websites of banks to identify CSR activities in healthcare, education and financial inclusion sectors. Structuration theory (ST) is used to explain how interactions between bank managers (as agents) with the social structures (institutions and government) shape CSR practices. The findings show that banks’ engagement in CSR activities is embedded in the social fabric of Bangladesh and not a result of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). It is also noted that Islamic banks focus their CSR activities on social justice, while other banks target education and other humanitarian issues. The authors contribute to the literature on the determinants of CSR by revealing the rationalizations of different actors in the production and reproduction of CSR practices in Bangladesh, an insight attributed to ST. The researchers conclude that Islamic beliefs influenced managers to mitigate poverty through CSR investments.

English

Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) has globally been recognized by both large and small businesses, little literature is currently available regarding the motivation and barriers for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) engagement in CSR practices. Until recently, the involvement of SMEs in social activities has received little attention by both scholars and practitioners. Therefore, this study is aimed at conducting a thorough literature review with regard to SMEs engagement in CSR activities. The study critically analyses the drivers and barriers to SMEs engagement in CSR practices, and then proposes strategies that SMEs can adopt to effectively participate in CSR activities. Key words: Corporate social responsibility (CSR), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), drivers and barriers for SMEs engagement in CSR.

TECHNOLOGICAL POSTURE AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: EFFECTS ON INNOVATION PERFORMANCE

Interest in the relationship between innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has grown considerably in the last few years. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between a company’s technological posture and CSR, as one of the main determinants of technological innovation performance. From knowledge-based and stakeholders’ theories a structural equations model of relationships was established and statistically tested through Smart PLS on a sample of Spanish firms from the renewable energy sector. Our findings suggest that in these kinds of industries, leadership postures (proactive strategies) lead firms to engage in high levels of CSR commitment. Moreover, CSR activities are positively related to innovation performance, which suggests that the higher the level of a firm’s engagement in CSR activities, the greater the possibility of achieving further innovation derived from the exploitation of its stakeholders’ knowledge.

How is corporate social responsibility addressed by biotech firms? A case study analysis

This paper explores corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the biotech high–tech sector as a way to achieve competitive advantages. After presenting the importance of science for high–tech firms, the paper focuses on the social and economic role of CSR. Next, the primary reasons for firms' engagement in CSR activities are presented, followed by an analysis of CSR activities, as disclosed by 26 international biotech firms in their websites. CSR biotech actions are presented and their stakeholders' interests are considered to classify their CSR motives as strategic or operational. The different CSR activities are evaluated to determine if they enhance or support a competitive advantage or just imply an unavoidable cost.

The role of corporate social responsibility, perceived quality and corporate reputation on purchase intention: Implications for brand management

Businesses increasingly consider corporate reputation as a valuable asset that has a positive impact on purchase intention. Concurrently, corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues have received growing attention and the importance of CSR has been increasingly emphasized. Claims have been made that both CSR and corporate reputation can provide a competitive advantage as in conjunction with perceived product quality they can influence purchase intentions. In this article we explore the interaction between these concepts and put forward a set of hypotheses about the expected linkages. Our discussion is based on findings from a study on a sample of customers of two brands of a traditional type of Italian Christmas cake – Panettone. The two brands are widely known in a specific geographical and cultural area and one is well known for its strong engagement in CSR activities. We conclude by discussing the limitations of our study and drawing implications for future research.

Relating Personal, Firm-based and Environmental Factors to the Monetary and Temporal Engagement in Corporate Social Responsibility in German Gazelles

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to voluntary actions of firms to address the needs of societal stakeholders. Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) are important agents of CSR, and information about the antecedents to their engagement in CSR activities is needed to inform practitioners, researchers and policy makers. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relative impact of personal, firm-based and environmental factors on the monetary and temporal engagement in CSR activities of these firms. Based on a quantitative analysis of 62 rapidly growing owner-managed small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany, we found that the personal involvement of the entrepreneur and slack resources contribute about equally to the monetary and temporal engagement in CSR, while market-based factors only seem to have a small influence. Also, we find that monetary spending is related to firm profits, while the time spent on CSR is related to its number of employees.