Corporate Social Responsibility Focus Research Articles

Advancing Corporate Social Responsibility in AI-driven Human Resources Management: A Maturity Model Approach

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the corporate environment has been the subject of several current social debates of many scientific studies in reshaping human resource management (HRM) practices. There is a significant research gap in understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) can be ethically and effectively integrated into human resources management (HRM), particularly in relation to corporate social responsibility (CSR). This study aims to address this gap by proposing a maturity model to assess and guide the responsible implementation of AI in HRM practices. The research goal focuses on how AI can be aligned with CSR principles to ensure ethical, transparent, and socially responsible usage in organizational settings. The methodology includes a comprehensive review of 52 academic papers, employing bibliometrics, network analysis, and thematic content analysis to explore the interplay between AI, CSR, and HRM. These analyses allowed the identification of key ethical concerns and challenges in AI-driven HRM practices, such as bias in AI algorithms, data privacy issues, transparency, and the need for technical proficiency among HR professionals. The findings reveal a five-level AI maturity model, each stage representing progressive alignment with CSR principles. Organizations at lower maturity levels tend to have ad-hoc AI implementations with minimal CSR focus, while those at higher levels demonstrate full integration of ethical AI practices. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of transparency, accountability, and employee empowerment as critical elements for advancing AI maturity in HRM. This research contributes by offering organizations a practical tool to assess and enhance their AI-driven HRM processes through a CSR lens. It also provides a foundation for future research on strategic policy development, ethical AI governance, and continuous improvement in the integration of AI in HRM. Scholars are encouraged to explore these areas further, particularly in understanding how AI can foster not only organizational efficiency but also social responsibility and ethical standards.

Selling format choices in e-commerce platform considering green investment and corporate social responsibility

Environmental and social responsibility are crucial for sustainable development. Considering green investment and corporate social responsibility (CSR) simultaneously, we investigate the selling format choice within the context of an e-commerce supply chain comprising a single manufacturer and one e-tailer. We explore three scenarios: one without CSR (N-CSR), one where the e-tailer shows CSR (E-CSR), and another where the manufacturer demonstrates CSR (M-CSR). We discover that the manufacturer prefers the agency format when the commission rate is low and the wholesale format when it is high. The specific threshold for this decision balances the commission fee in the agency format with the double marginalization effect in the wholesale format. Under E-CSR, a stronger CSR focus makes the wholesale format more attractive to the manufacturer, while under M-CSR, it makes the agency format more appealing. Moreover, we find that CSR can encourage the manufacturer to invest more in environmental responsibility. From an economic standpoint, CSR can improve the overall profitability of the supply chain, but it may affect the e-tailer’s and manufacturer’s profits differently. Our study provides insights into how environmental and social responsibility influence decisions and economic outcomes in e-commerce supply chains.

Global Automobile Manufacturers Mission Statements and CSR Letters

This study takes the triple bottom-line perspective to compare the communications of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in some of world’s top automakers’ mission statements and the CEO’s introductory letters to annual CSR reports before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Content analysis based on Text Network Analysis (TNA) approach was deployed to examine the central messages and sub-themes of these documents based on CSR goals, time-orientation, and stakeholder groups, and then statistically compared within and among companies. Results reveal that Automakers’ mission statements collectively emphasized profit and customers, whereas CSR letters prioritized planet, people, and general society. As the pandemic progressed, the emphasis on people increased, indicating that organizations shifted their CSR focus towards supporting employees and local communities. However, the attention to profit and planet goals remained constant during the studied period.

Correction to: The Effects of CEO Awards on Corporate Social Responsibility Focus

Correction to: The Effects of CEO Awards on Corporate Social Responsibility Focus

The Effects of CEO Awards on Corporate Social Responsibility Focus

The Effects of CEO Awards on Corporate Social Responsibility Focus

Was CSR in our minds? The relevance of CSR in the vision and mission of Indian companies through the lens of ownership

PurposeThis study aims to explore the patterns of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and investments across different ownership groups and relevance of CSR practices in the vision and mission (V&M) statements of firms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses the neo-institutional theory approach, which explains similarities and differences in the CSR practices of organisations embedded within (and between) similar sectoral contexts. The study accounts the CSR activities of the top 100 companies listed on the Bombay Stock exchange (BSE) based on their ownership and checks the overlap of the CSR activities conducted by the companies with the ongoing social development schemes launched in India during the same of time. The time period between 2017 and 2020 is chosen to analyse the CSR studies. The study uses content analysis technique to derive conclusions. A textual analysis of top 100 listed firms across all ownership groups aimed at understanding patterns of CSR practices opted by the different groups and coherence of CSR patterns in the V&M statements. CSR related keywords were analysed in the V&M statements to understand what influence reporting of CSR practices in the strategic communication of firms.FindingsOverall analysis indicated that top 100 firms prefer to invest in the areas of “Education”, “Sustainability” “Skill” where public-owned firms preferred towards “Sanitation” and “Environment/Sustainability” showing concurrence with local development goals. Private and foreign groups preferred to park their CSR funds in “Education” and “Skill” development showing coherence with the global agendas. Public-owned firms tend to report more CSR related specifically “Environment’ and “Sustainability” in the strategic documents. However, private and foreign firms do not pay any significance to CSR related keywords in their V&M statements.Research limitations/implicationsFindings suggest that despite of huge CSR investments, private and foreign-owned firms lack CSR focus and communication in their V&M statements, which may create disintegration in the CSR investment and strategic alignment of near-term and future goals. The paper suggests that private and foreign firms should also communicate their CSR practices through their V&M to stakeholders so that CSR practices may not remain mere 2% mandated expenditure by the Government of India.Originality/valueThe study contributes in confirming the success of the CSR policy mandate in supplementing government’s social development programmes along with indications on the role of family firms in accelerating the process of community development as compared to foreign firms. The study also favours integration of CSR disclosures in the V&M statements to gain long-term benefit out of these investments.

Authentic leadership’s influence on strategic corporate social responsibility in South Africa: mediated by participative decision-making

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of authentic leadership on strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a less researched environment. This study set out to fill that gap in researching the direct influence of employees’ perceptions about the authenticity of their leaders as well as indirect effect through participative decision-making on strategic CSR which means the genuine intention to benefit society.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research approach was followed, with an online survey to employees in large South African corporations across various industries that were mostly more than 10 years old. There were 1,417 useable questionnaires. Structural equation modelling was used to test proposed hypotheses of mediation effects.FindingsThe results revealed that authentic leadership has a significant indirect effect through participative decision-making on employees’ perceptions around strategic CSR – that is, whether their corporations are genuinely socially and environmentally responsible.Research limitations/implicationsThe data collected were cross-sectional, and survey-based in the South African corporate environment; therefore, limited generalisations can be made, and causality could not be claimed.Practical implicationsAuthentic leadership and participative decision-making are required to significantly influence employees’ perceptions about companies’ genuine interest in benefiting external stakeholders. Consistency between leaders’ words and deeds is important for employees, and therefore, companies must be socially responsible towards employees.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this research lies in showing that perception of leaders’ authenticity was enhanced when employees were allowed to participate in decision-making, which then increased positive perceptions about the organisation’s CSR focus. The study highlights similarities between authentic leadership and the African humanism philosophy of Ubuntu.

Analisis Dampak Pandemi Covid-19 terhadap Perubahan Fokus Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pada Uniqlo Co., Ltd

This study aims to analyze: 1) The level and quality of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure before and during the COVID-19 pandemic of Uniqlo Co., Ltd for the year 2016-2021 based on the GRI 2021 Standard, 2) Differences in focus changes of CSR before and during the COVID-19 pandemic at Uniqlo Co., Ltd. This research is a qualitative research with analysis content method using Sustainability report of Uniqlo Co., Ltd for the year 2016-2021. The object in this study is Uniqlo Co., Ltd. The type of data were documentary data with secondary data sources and the analysis method were content analysis. The result show that: 1) The level and quality of disclosure of Uniqlo’s CSR during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) There is a change in the focus of Uniqlo's corporate social responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Uniqlo shifted the focus of CSR from environmental (300) to significant indirect economic impacts (203-2) and prevention and mitigation of occupational health and safety impacts directly linked by business relationships (403-7).

Analisis Dampak Pandemi Covid-19 terhadap Perubahan Fokus Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pada Hennes & Mauritz Co., Ltd

This study aims to analyze: 1) The level and quality of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure before and during COVID-19 of Hennes & Mauritz Co., Ltd for the year 2016-2021 based on the GRI 2021 Standard, 2) Differences in focus changes of CSR before and during COVID-19 of Hennes & Mauritz Co., Ltd for the year 2016-2021 based on the GRI 2021 Standards. This is a interpretative qualitative research using Sustainability Report of Hennes & Mauritz Co., Ltd for the year 2016-2021. Data for this study were secondary data were analyzed using content analysis technique. The result show that: 1) Based on the results of content analysis on the level of disclosure of economic, environmental and social indicator on the sustainability report of Hennes & Mauritz Co., Ltd there has been an increase in the number of level and quality of disclosure during COVID-19, 2) There is a change in the focus of disclosure of CSR before and during the COVID-19. H&M shifted the focus of CSR from environmental(300) to economic performance (201) and occupational health and safety (403).

A survey on ESG: investors, institutions and firms

PurposeOver the past two decades, the topics of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have attracted an increasing amount of interest, reflecting a growing sensitivity of investors and corporations towards environmental, social and governance issues.Design/methodology/approachThis survey offers an overview of the academic literature on ESG/CSR through the lens of investors, institutions and firms. We first discuss the definitions of ESG and CSR and their relationship to each other.FindingsWe next describe how ESG is measured and note problems with the measurement of and quality of ESG data and discrepancies between different measures of ESG. We then turn our attention to investors, examining what types of investors invest in ESG and the role of institutional investors in ESG. From the firm's perspective, we discuss why firms themselves conduct ESG. We also summarize the literature on the impact of ESG on firms: how ESG affects firms' financing, disclosure and reporting activities and firm performance. Finally, we describe other consequences of the focus of ESG and CSR on firms and investors.Originality/valueThis survey offers an overview of the academic literature on ESG/CSR through the lens of investors, institutions and firms.

DOES SIZE MATTER IN ORGANIZING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) IN ROMANIAN FIRMS?

The concept and practice of CSR have displayed chameleonic features through time and nowadays the level of involvement, planification, organization and evaluation of CSR incentives differ from region to region and between companies. There is still need to shed light and construct a unitary view on the subject both in theory and practice. Companies’ role in society has expanded with the shifts of power in the globalization process and their social impact can be seen more than ever. Business entities now need to explain how their actions affect the economy, the environment, and society overall due to the release of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reports and as well as the increase in academic interest in the topic, fact that puts them in the spotlight both regionally and internationally. Although the notion of CSR is still relatively new in Romania and was only introduced at the beginning of the 1990s, it has been a prominent topic in literature and practice during the past few decades. Nevertheless, Romanian CSR practice is not well supported by empirical evidence. Companies can have a significant impact on the progress of a developing country. Therefore, through this research we aim at determining the state-of-art of CSR incentives in Romanian companies, the level of involvement, organization, budgeting, strategies and evaluation in connection with firm size and capital ownership. This empirical study consists of research that is part of a broader quantitative analysis of CSR focusing on the Romanian context. In this study we provide insights regarding the involvement and organization of CSR incentives of companies with the purpose of testing the existence of a relationship in connection with firm size taking into consideration the number of employees, capital ownership and firm age.

A shift in corporate prioritization of CSR issues

PurposeThe purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) identify shifts in prioritization of corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues and (2) identify the CSR issues in which companies are currently involved, as indicated in their website communications. Corporate communications are also examined for possible variations of CSR focus between manufacturers, retailers and service firms.Design/methodology/approachIn order to identify the CSR issues in which companies are currently involved and detect any shifts, a content analysis was conducted of the 2021 Fortune 100 company websites, specifically cataloging CSR communications. This data was compared with CSR communications on Fortune 100 company websites in 2015. CSR issues are also examined within each industry categorization: manufacturing, retail and service.FindingsFindings indicate that companies have reduced the number of CSR issues prioritized in their website communications. In 2015, companies gave prominence to an average of seven CSR issues on their websites, today the average is three CSR issues. Today, the CSR issues prioritized most commonly are diversity and sustainability. However, these issues are prioritized by only half of the companies. Previously, the vast majority of Fortune 100 companies prioritized the same top issues. That is not the case today. This shift may suggest that companies are narrowing their focus to fewer CSR issues, perhaps those that align with company goals.Originality/valueThis study provides information to keep company executives and academicians abreast of prominent CSR issues and terminology found in the marketplace. As executives make choices about committing resources to social issues, knowledge of what the Fortune 100 is doing can help in that decision-making process.

THE ROLE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT: AN ANALYSIS WITH REFERENCE TO THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

In rural development, the role of corporate social responsibilities (CSR) has a broader application. A concerted attempt has been made in this study to gain a better understanding of the role of corporate social responsibility in rural development. A major focus of corporate social responsibility (CSR) investment is expected to be rural development, which entails the improvement of rural regions’ economic and social systems, among other things. The raw data used to prepare this article was obtained from the official CSR website; the derived information was compelled in order to meet the article’s objective. A sophisticated methodological analysis of the data has been conducted in order to have a better understanding of the subject. KEY WORDS: CSR, Karnataka, Initiatives, Rural Development

The significance of employee behaviours and soft management practices to avoid digital waste during a digital transformation

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the perceived effects between soft management practices, employee behaviours and the implementation of digital technologies in manufacturing plants, as well as how these relate to the emergence of digital waste.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses case-based research. Data was collected in two large manufacturing companies based in Norway and Sweden through semi-structured interviews with two management representatives and four shop-floor employees. The data was used to evaluate 29 variables describing lean- and total quality management (TQM)-associated employee behaviours and soft management practices, in light of digital transformation.FindingsThe results suggest that several variables were positively influenced by the digital transformation process. These were top management leadership, middle management involvement, employee education, corporate social responsibility focus, innovation, knowledge sharing, work-family balance, psychological capital, job satisfaction and career commitment. Training employees, creativity, discretionary effort, turnover intention and proactivity appear to be negatively influenced by digital transformation The findings also indicate that several soft management practices and employee behaviours were not only influenced by manufacturing digitalization but also themselves influenced the process. The potential for digital waste creation was also detected in several variables, including reward and recognition and training employees.Practical implicationsManagers, practitioners and academics may learn about the importance of certain managerial practices and employees’ behavioural needs during the digital transformation process. The findings may help in prioritizing TQM and soft lean management practices and certain employee behaviours during the digital transformation and in creating awareness of digital waste.Originality/valueThis study builds on several existing studies discussing the impact of digital transformation on soft management practices and employee behaviours. It provides insights from a lean and TQM angle and offers a means of prioritizing certain practices and behaviours during a digital transformation. This study also highlights the significance of digital waste.

Corporate social responsibility focusing on consumer surplus and endogenous competition structure: A case of managerial delegation

We suppose that firms care about corporate social responsibility (CSR) and revisit the endogenous choice between price and quantity. We consider that each owner can delegate the decision on market competition to their manager. We express the objective of each firm's owner as the weighted sum of their profit and consumer surplus. We find that the two types of symmetric competitions are observed in equilibrium regardless of the degree of importance of CSR within each firm. In contrast, which of their two competitions is chosen based on the risk domination strikingly depends on the degree of importance of CSR.

The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Brand Sales: An Accountability Perspective

Consumers are increasingly mindful of corporate social responsibility (CSR) when making purchase and consumption decisions, but evidence of the impact of CSR initiatives on actual purchase decisions is lacking. This article introduces a novel brand accountability–based framework of consumer response to CSR initiatives, which categorizes CSR efforts as “corrective,” “compensating,” or “cultivating goodwill.” Leveraging a database of CSR press releases by leading consumer packaged goods brands, the authors examine the effect of the different types of CSR announcements on brand sales. The findings suggest that CSR initiatives that genuinely aim to reduce a brand's negative externalities (“corrective” and “compensating”) lift sales, whereas CSR actions focused on philanthropy (“cultivating goodwill”) can hurt sales. The authors propose two moderators—CSR reputation and CSR focus on environmental or social causes—and a mechanism for these effects, which they examine under controlled experimental settings. The experimental results show that, conditional on CSR reputation, consumers perceive varying degrees of sincerity in the different CSR types and that sincerity mediates the effect of CSR type on purchase intentions. Overall, the results suggest that consumers are more inclined to reward firms that directly reduce the negative by-products of their own business practices than to be impressed by public goodwill gestures.

Interfaces of occupational health management and corporate social responsibility: a multi-centre qualitative study from Germany

BackgroundThe workplace has been identified as a priority setting for health promotion. There are potential advantages of systematically integrating Occupational Health Management (OHM) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). However, OHM and CSR are usually overseen by different management branches with different sets of values, and there is a lack of empirical research regarding interfaces between OHM and CSR. Germany offers a particularly useful setting due to legislation requiring health to be promoted in the workplace. This study aims to examine key stakeholders’ views and experiences regarding interfaces between OHM and CSR in German companies.MethodsIndividual semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of 77 German stakeholders from three different groups: experts in occupational health and corporate social responsibility from various companies (n = 35), business partners (n = 19), and various non-business partners (n = 23). Transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsParticipants identified several areas in which OHM and CSR are already interacting at strategic, structural and cultural levels, but also highlighted several barriers that undermine a more meaningful interaction. Participants reported difficulties in articulating the underlying ethical values relevant to both OHM and CSR at the strategic level. Several structural barriers were also highlighted, including a lack of resources (both financial and knowledge), and OHM and CSR departments not being fully developed or undertaken at entirely different operational levels. Finally, the missing practical implementation of corporate philosophy was identified as a critical cultural barrier to interfaces between OHM and CSR, with existing guidelines and companies’ philosophies that already connect OHM and CSR not being embraced by employees and managers.ConclusionsThere is already significant overlap in the focus of OHM and CSR, at the structural, strategic and cultural levels in many German companies. The potential is there, both in theory and practice, for the systematic combination of OHM and CSR. The insights from this study will be useful to ensure that closer integration between both management branches is set up in a socially sustainable and ethical manner.

Effects of Internal CSR Activities on Social Performance: The Employee Perspective

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) continues to receive greater attention in the current business world. Many studies on CSR focus on manufacturing or industrial companies by examining external CSR activities from external stakeholders’ perceptions. However, academic institutions such as higher education institutions (HEIs) remain highly unexplored in the context of internal corporate social responsibility (ICSR). Employees are the most valuable and vital assets for every business organization. Therefore, this study focuses on CSR’s internal dimensions to determine its impact on social performance in HEIs in Ghana. Recognizing the social exchange theory (SET), we specifically examined the effects of five internal CSR dimensions (i.e., health and safety, human rights, training and development, workplace diversity, and work-life balance) on social performance. We used a multi-case approach to assess internal CSR activities in private and public Ghanaian universities. We purposely selected three public universities and one private university because of their varying contexts and academic mandates. We used structured questionnaires to collect data from both teaching and non-teaching staff of the selected universities. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the data. We found that health and safety, workplace diversity, and training and development positively and significantly impact social performance. At the same time, human rights and work-life balance have an insignificant effect on social performance. Thus, ICSR practices have a substantial influence on both employees’ and organization’s performance, and hence this study gives important implications for both researchers and practitioners

The Effects of Top Management Team National Diversity and Institutional Uncertainty on Subsidiary CSR Focus

This research investigates how top management team national diversity (TMTND) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) institutional uncertainty affect strategic CSR focus in foreign-owned subsidiaries. The paper develops a theoretical framework based on institutional theory and upper echelon perspectives to test a sample of MNE subsidiaries. Survey data were collected from subsidiaries in Thailand and Taiwan. Non-symmetric analysis suggests that while TMTND plays an important role in establishing a CSR focus, it is not conducive in itself to high-performance outcomes. Performance is measured by market share, sales growth, and profitability for each subsidiary. The results also show that there are notable differences between the subsidiaries located in Thailand and Taiwan as to what extent CSR strategic focus and top management team national diversity are relevant for high-performance outcomes. The study demonstrates that the links between CSR, TMTND, and subsidiary performance are much more complex than previously assumed.

When subsidiaries follow their parents’ CSR focus: the influence of organizational characteristics on CSR towards target groups

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) of MNE subsidiaries in emerging markets has mainly been studied through aggregated CSR activities. Instead, this study disaggregates CSR engagement towards target groups into two foci – External and Internal CSR – depending on whether such engagement is outside or within the organization. We explored whether the odds of a wholly owned subsidiary matching its parent’s choice of target groups – for both External and Internal CSR – varied by which organizational cohort it belonged to, based on organizational characteristics. Results of logistic regressions indicate that age of a subsidiary, relative size of the subsidiary and region-of-origin of its parent influence the odds of the subsidiary following its parent’s External CSR focus; while age of a subsidiary, global presence of its parent, and industry type influence the odds of the subsidiary following its parent’s Internal CSR focus. Findings indicate that both through External and Internal CSR, MNE subsidiaries simultaneously pursue legitimacy and competitive advantage, through different primary stakeholder groups, to address both host country and global institutional contexts.