Social Performance Improvement Research Articles

Social performance and impact assessment of an autonomous system in the meat processing sector

Abstract Purpose The automation of pork processing through robotics raises important societal concerns regarding working conditions of slaughterhouse workers and impacts on local communities. This article aims to evaluate the social performance and impacts of implementing an Autonomous Robotic System (ARS) for meat processing, comparing pre- and post-implementation scenarios. Methods The methodology of Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) was applied to the European pork processing sector, focusing on stakeholder categories Workers and Local Community. These were assessed with nine social subcategories in total and 22 corresponding indicators, which were scored to assess the technology in question against a reference scale where each score level has clearly established criteria. The data collection strategy combined a survey, individual interviews, and focus group interviews as well as secondary data collected from desktop research and database data. Results and discussion The results suggest a considerable improvement in social performance and impacts when moving from the conventional meat processing scenario to the ARS. All subcategories from both stakeholder categories scored higher in the post-ARS scenario. The most improved social subcategories were Health and safety and Access to immaterial resources. A considerable improvement was identified in social subcategories Working hours, Freedom of association and collective bargaining, and Fair salary. A modest improvement was identified in social subcategories Equal opportunities and discrimination, Employment relationship, and Migration and delocalisation. The ARS is anticipated to mitigate injury risks that workers are exposed to in a conventional meat factory and to reduce sick leave but will also necessitate training and close collaboration between unions and management teams. Conclusions Using a reference scale approach, we identified an improvement of the social performance in the pork processing industry post-ARS implementation, both for Workers and Local community. It is important to pay attention to social impacts and performances when introducing new technology such as automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence to ensure that these do not have unintended social impacts and/or poor social performance. Graphical Abstract

The impact of B Corporations’ certification timing on a firm’s economic and social value creation

PurposeCertified B Corporations (B Corps) represent a prominent manifestation of applying stakeholder principles in practice by emphasizing social and environmental performance and striving to create value for all stakeholders. This paper aims to investigate an important question that has been unexplored so far in a vast body of literature on stakeholder management and fast-growing research on B Corps: does the timing of a B Corp’s certification impact the firm’s economic and social performance?Design/methodology/approachThe research on the timing of obtaining B Corp certification is built around three intriguing puzzles: the impact of certification timing on a firm’s economic performance, social performance overall and social performance per stakeholder. In particular, the study examines the relationship between B Corp’s certification date and firms’ financial and social performance between 2017 and 2020.FindingsBased on the data from 168 privately owned B Corps in the USA, the results of our study suggest that while there is no financial benefit associated with earlier certification, there are significant improvements in social performance. Yet, a firm’s social performance improvement is not uniform among its stakeholders.Research limitations/implicationsThis study explored the impact of B Corp certification’s timing on the firm’s economic performance within only three years, from 2017 to 2019. This limitation comes from the specifics of the PrivCo database. Measuring a firm economic performance over a longer period may benefit the research on B Corp certification’s timing and which can be a promising path for future research.Practical implicationsWhen it comes to practical implications, it is important that firms deciding to pursue a B Corp certification understand that certification may not result in an immediate financial impact. This practical implication, though, may need to be calibrated depending on the extent to which participating organizations publicize their certification.Social implicationsDespite the growing popularity of B Corps in the USA and worldwide, it has been a black box when it comes to understanding when exactly firms should start to pursue B Corp certification to enhance their social value creation. Thus, this study is well timed to contribute to unpacking this black box by showing that the earlier a firm obtains B Corp certification, the more social value it would create. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only study to date that explored the social performance implications of timing to certify as a B Corp.Originality/valueWhen it comes to practical implications, it is important that firms deciding to pursue a B Corp certification understand that certification may not result in an immediate financial impact. This practical implication, though, may need to be calibrated depending on the extent to which participating organizations publicize their certification.

ESG performance and green innovation: An investigation based on quantile regression

AbstractUsing panel data from 37 countries from 1990 to 2019 and applying a quantile regression approach with panel fixed effects, we investigate the impact of national Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance on green innovation and how this impact varies across different green innovation capacity distributions. The research conclusions are as follows. (1) National ESG performance improvement significantly promotes green innovation. (2) The improvement of environmental performance and governance performance significantly promotes green innovation, but in countries with weak green innovation capabilities, the improvement of social performance reduces the output of green innovation. (3) The role of national ESG performance in promoting green innovation is stronger in countries with weak green innovation capabilities. (4) In non‐high‐income countries, the stronger the green innovation capability is, the more obvious is the promotion of ESG performance to green innovation. The findings of this paper provide empirical evidence and a policy basis for governments to focus on improving ESG performance and to commit to promoting green innovation activities more effectively.

Building knowledge by mapping model uncertainty in six studies of social and financial performance

AbstractResearch SummaryMany scholars bemoan the difficulty of learning from individual research reports. Replication is often prescribed as a salve, but few replications are conducted, and even fewer allow the formation of a coherent understanding. In this article, we propose a complement to replication that emphasizes the mapping of epistemic uncertainties. We demonstrate our approach by exploring the results of six related studies on the link between social and financial performance. We show that our method allows the synthesis of seemingly conflicting findings, and we propose that it should be used proactively, prior to replication, to speed the growth of knowledge.Managerial SummaryAny single empirical study provides a weak basis for inference. As a result, scholars advocate repeated analysis of important issues, but evidence from replications can be hard to integrate into a coherent understanding. For example, six important studies of the link between corporate social and financial performance have been published in this journal, but their conflicting results have defied integration. We show that a new approach to empirical research allows their reconciliation: all six suggest that across firms, social and financial performance are correlated but that improvements in social performance seldom precede increased financial performance.

Does Mandatory CSR Reporting Regulation Lead to Improved Corporate Social Performance?

This paper analyses whether mandatory CSR reporting regulation leads to an improvement in corporate social performance. Using a quasi- natural experiment where the Stock Exchange Board of India mandated all companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange to disclose their CSR activities and practices, this paper finds that companies significantly improved in all aspects of Environment, Social, and Governance performances. However, governance and social performance improvements were significantly greater than environment performance, which is attributed to the stakeholder salience typology. Potential harm from definitive, dominant and dangerous stakeholders was given greater consideration by management, which improved governance and social performances accordingly.

The Mechanism of Corporate Governance, Financial Performance, and Social Performance in Baitul Maal Wat Tamwil (BMT)

This study aimed to empirically prove the influence of the number and education level of managers, supervisory boards, Sharia Supervisory Board (SSB) and the attendance of Baitul Maal wat Tamwil (BMT) members (owners) in annual member meeting towards on profitability (ROA and ROE), and social performance (zakat performance). The research sample was BMT in Semarang Regency selected by purposive sampling method with an observation period from 2013 to 2017. Data analysis used the Structure Equation Model with the WarpPLS tool. The results showed that the number and education level of managers did not influence financial performance. The education level of the supervisory board had a significant influence on financial and social performance. The number and the education level of SSB changed financial performance, but the education level of SSB did not affect social performance. The Attendance of BMT members at the annual member meeting did not have a significant influence on BMT's financial and social performance improvement. These results indicated the minimal role of members in evaluating BMT performance, both profitability and social performance.

Buyer-Driven Knowledge Transfer Activities to Enhance Organizational Sustainability of Suppliers

Despite the significant contribution of buyer-driven knowledge transfer activities (BDKTAs) to innovation and operational performance, studies that analyze social sustainability in manufacturing (suppliers) firms are still scarce. This paper examines the mediation relationship of knowledge acquisition and investment in environmental management between BDKTAs and social performance improvements (SPIs). The paper contributes to the understanding of buyer knowledge transfer activities, with a focus on the knowledge acquisition capabilities and investments in environmental management, and the effect on SPIs. The hypotheses were examined with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with data collected from 239 firms. Buyer knowledge transfer activities are likely to increase the willingness of suppliers to make specific environmental investments into operations in waste reduction procedures, the recycling of materials, and pollution prevention training of employees. We proposed that buyer knowledge transfer activities are necessary to survive and grow and thus there is a need to acquire knowledge resources to achieve organizational sustainability. Buyer knowledge transfer activities are necessary to make investment decisions in environmental management programs. Firms that focus on buyer knowledge transfer activities and internal investments into environmental management can attain sustainability objectives.

Corporate Governance and Social Impact of Non‐Profits: Evidence from a Randomized Program in Healthcare in the Democratic Republic of Congo

How can non-profit organizations improve their governance to increase their social impact? This study examines the effectiveness of a bundle of governance mechanisms (consisting of pro-social incentives and auditing) in the context of a randomized governance program conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo's healthcare sector. Within the program, a set of health centers were randomly assigned to a governance treatment while others were not. We find that the governance treatment leads to i) higher operating efficiency and ii) improvements in social performance (measured by a reduction in the occurrence of stillbirths and neonatal deaths). Furthermore, we find that funding is not a substitute for governance—health centers that only receive funding increase their scale, but do not show improvements in operating efficiency nor social performance. Overall, our results suggest that corporate governance plays an important role in achieving the non-profits' objectives and increasing the social impact of the funds invested.

Classwide peer tutoring in a martial arts alternative education program: Enhancing social and psychomotor skills

Alternative Education Settings (AES) aim to provide active and inspiring instructional strategies that would reengage students at-risk in learning and improve their academic achievements. Classwide Peer Tutoring (CWPT) is an evidence-based instructional method that when combined with behaviorally oriented procedures yields positive effects on academic performance. The purpose of this study was to examine whether CWPT could advance the social and motor performance of four third-grade students in an innovative martial arts program in an urban charter school. An ABAB single subject design was used to examine the effects of CWPT on social skills (i.e., providing and receiving feedback) and correct motor performance. Results suggested improvement in social performance for three participants and mixed results for motor performance. Implications for practice in AES programs are provided.

Effects of buyer-supplier relationship on social performance improvement and innovation performance improvement

Social performance improvement and innovation performance improvement is rapidly developing an area of research. Little empirical research has been conducted on the social performance outcomes in Pakistan and other developing countries. This research contributes to understanding how relational governance relates to social and innovation performance improvement in exporter and importer relationships. The analysis is based on cross-sectional base survey questionnaires on a sample of 239 senior managers from four export manufacturer industries using square structural equation modelling approach. The findings of this study show that relational governance has a key role in ensuring the continuation of relationship as a means to support suppliers, resulting in improvements in social performance and innovation performance. Social performance improvement in supply chain relationship requires the commitment of significant resources to implement it. It is proposed that a cultural intelligence is improving information exchange among buyers and suppliers, and is the more appropriate context for social performance improvement. Further research is also required to develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between an element of commitment and innovation performance improvement. Theoretical contributions, managerial implications and future research directions are also presented.

Effects of buyer-supplier relationship on social performance improvement and innovation performance improvement

Effects of buyer-supplier relationship on social performance improvement and innovation performance improvement

The impact of relational governance on performance improvement in export manufacturing firms

Purpose: This paper seeks to identify the factors affecting social performance improvemens in the Pakistan export manufacturing firms and investigae inter-relationships existing among them.Design/methodology/approach: This study used a cross-sectional survey; data were collected using self-administered survey questionnaire. Using data collected from 239 small- and medium-sized direct exporters manufacturing firms in Pakistan. We used structural equation modelling (SEM) approach to test structural model, and mediation analysis was conducted with regression analysis.Findings: The results support that meta-cognitive dimensions of cultural intelligence effect on social performance improvements, while the social performance improvement significant associated with innovation performance improvements. We suggest that cultural intelligence is a key to maintaining a relationship through development better cultural understanding and creating harmony among suppliers and buyers through minimizing the differences and disputes, requires developing social cohesion. Our results reveal that exporting firms need to adapt, reconfigure cultural knowledge and integrate resources into the operations to build learning capability, in turn, they can improve social performance and achieve superior innovation performance.Practical implications: Through the application of cultural intelligence capabilty, a firm could increase its ability to sense cultural differences, seize and adapt globally scattered cultural practices on social issues and allows for the development of unique knowledge resources and capabilities, impact on firm social performance and innovation performance improvements.Originality/value: The study conducted in Pakistan cultural context, which can be extended to other Asian countries. We argue that in a globalising world it is pertinent for exporting firms to have a better understanding of the various facets of cultural when dealing with inter-organisational relationships.

When Is There a Sustainability Case for CSR? Pathways to Environmental and Social Performance Improvements

Little is known about when corporate social responsibility (CSR) leads to a sustainability case (i.e., to improvements in environmental and social performance). Building on various forms of decoupling, we develop a theoretical framework for examining pathways from institutional pressures through CSR management to sustainability performance. To empirically identify such pathways, we apply fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to an extensive dataset from 19 large companies. We discover that different pathways are associated with environmental and social performance (non)improvements, and that pathways to success and failure are for the most part not symmetrical. We identify two pathways to improved environmental performance: an exogenous and an endogenous one. We find two pathways to improved social performance that both involve integrating social responsibility into the core business. Pathways to nonimprovements are multiple, suggesting that failure can occur in a number of ways, while there are only a few pathways to sustainability performance improvements.

Does Mandatory CSR Reporting Regulation Lead to Improved Corporate Social Performance? Evidence from India

This paper analyses whether mandatory CSR reporting regulation leads to an improvement in corporate social performance. Using a quasi-natural experiment where the Stock Exchange Board of India mandated all companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange to disclose their CSR activities and practices, this paper finds that companies significantly improved in all aspects of Environment, Social, and Governance performances. However, governance and social performance improvements were significantly greater than environment performance, which is attributed to the stakeholder salience typology. Potential harm from definitive, dominant and dangerous stakeholders was given greater consideration by management, which improved governance and social performances accordingly.

Sustainability performance: It’s impact on risk and value of the firm

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the sustainability performances (corporate social performance, good corporate governance, and financial performance) and the risk as well as the value of the company. Employing the data from publicly listed mining firms in Indonesia and structural equation modeling to examine the hypotheses, we find that the corporate social performance improvement can be served to increase the corporate financial performance. Implementation of good corporate governance may contribute to improve financial performance and reduce the risk of the company. In short term, investors will appreciate the social and environmental responsibility undertaken by the company only if its implementation can contribute to the improvement of the company’s financial performance. In long term, social and environmental performance improvements made by the company will be able to increase the value of the company directly. Investors consider companies that apply the principles of good corporate governance not just as regulatory compliance, so that it can provide benefits for improving corporate performance and value of the company, in the short term and long term.

Corporate social responsibility practices and performance improvement among Chinese national state-owned enterprises

Based on the stakeholder theory, this study develops “7+2” dimensions for CSR practices measurement among Chinese national state-owned enterprises (CNSOEs), and examines if their CSR practices bring financial and social performance improvements. By analyzing the 2011 CSR reports that cover 100 CNSOEs, we identify that these CNSOEs highlight CSR practices related to the environment, labor practices, political responsibility, and human rights in their reports. However, three CSR practices related to managing the supply chains, fair operating practices and community development need more of their attention. We evaluate the social performance of CNSOEs by using the two performance ranking systems developed by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Regression results obtained through Structural Equation Model (SEM) using the partial least square (PLS) method indicate that CSR practices pertinent to organizational governance, human rights, and the environment are beneficial for their social performance. With secondary data inputs from the annual operating performance evaluation conducted by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration, we identify that four CSR practices can bring financial performance, but two of the four concerning communities and managing the supply chains are implemented at the lowest level among the others. Our “7+2” CSR practices dimensions together with their underlying measurement items extend the use of stakeholder theory for studying CSR practices, which can also serve as a checklist for evaluating how well CSR practices are implemented at CNSOEs. Our study results identify the need for CNSOEs to highlight community-related CSR practices in their operations and expand CSR efforts to the management of their supply chains.

Sustainability development and competitiveness of Rome as a tourist destination

Objectives – The aim of the paper is to study the sustainability level of the city of Rome (Italy) as a tourist destination. The paper’s basic assumption is based on the fact that, compared to other international tourist destinations, Rome is high on the list as far as the number of international visitors is concerned, yet it is not the city at the top of the list. Design/Methodology/Approach – The methodology used is that of case study research (Yin, 2003). The results will be evaluated by applying the Weaver model (2000, 2011). According to Weaver, the competitiveness of a tourist destination depends on the level of sustainability of tourism development. Originality/Value – Sustainability implies that tourist destinations are governed and managed in such a way as to satisfy the expectations of the visitor in accordance with the socio-economic and natural environment in which such destinations operate. Thus the management of the sustainability of the destination is an essential ingredient in the development of the entire surrounding area. As a tourist destination, the city has made great efforts to diversify its offer to visitors, including new infrastructural, cultural and sport facilities in order to enhance its attraction as a tourist site, and as a result, to encourage new businesses and provide employment. Practical Implications – The relationship between sustainability and competitiveness is based on the belief that businesses that pursue environmental and economic and social performance improvements may benefit from these activities.

Mining and community relations: Mapping the internal dimensions of practice

Imperatives for examining resource industry approaches to social performance continue to intensify. Mining companies claim to have embraced the key tenets of sustainable development (SD) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) and that social aspects are now ‘core to business’. Evidence from the field suggests that despite these proclamations, the industry's mode of engagement and benefit distribution is not always defensible, or ‘sustainable’. In this article, we use core-periphery thinking (CPT) as a foundation for mapping mineral resource relationships and internal decision making processes. The internal dimensions of social performance provide a productive platform for influencing and ultimately improving company-community relations in mining. The approach articulates four key dimensions by using a broader core-periphery construction as conceptual anchor points. These dimensions offer coordinates for understanding community relations practice within the organisational sphere. The purpose of building ‘practice maps’ is to offer scholars, practitioners and decision-makers a conceptual framework for social performance improvement that it is not bound by rigid notions of core and non-core aspects of mineral resource development.

Life Cycle-Based Generic Business Strategies for Sustainable Business Models

The need to transition to a more sustainable economy is one of the most significant challenges society has ever faced. Despite the evidence that adopting a more sustainable business model is linked to more stable profits, many conventional manufacturers do not know where to begin. This study aims to identify generic business strategies that conventional manufacturers can use to improve their business models and thus be more sustainable and/or develop new sustainable business models. In order to identify such strategies, data were gathered from 105 Korean business cases involving a wide range of products and services via online searches and interviews. Business cases were chosen based on whether they relied on a new business paradigm and directly or indirectly generated economic, social, and environmental benefits. Through analyses of the data, generic business strategies were extracted for each life cycle stage. The results showed that the success of a sustainable business model depends on a mixture of pertinent generic business strategies from the life cycle perspective. A conventional business model that focused on a particular life cycle stage and strategy was not very successful. However, a new business model using generic business strategies (such as eco-design as well as product-service system (PSS)-oriented strategies geared at the relevant life cycle stage) produced significant environmental, economic, and social performance improvements. Not only an appropriate mixture of generic business strategies but also systematic support such as infrastructural support is required if manufacturers are to achieve the potential sustainability of a new company-specific business model.

Improvement of family therapy on the efficacy and social performance of adolescent depression

Objective To investigate the efficacy of family therapy in the treatment of adolescent depression and improvement of social performance. Methods 86 adolescent depressive patients were divided into drug therapy group(group A, n=43) and drug combined with family therapy group(group B, n=43) according to the order of inclusion.They were all treated for 12 weeks.Before and after the treatment, they were all evaluated with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD-24), Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP) and Youth Self-Report scale(YSR). The changes of scores were compared with each other. Results The average scores of HAMD, PSP and YSR in group B before and after treatment was (27.30±4.60) (81.47±1.87)(73.28±1.30) and (15.36±3.60)(12.61±2.10)(9.46±2.80)(6.30±2.20), (82.76±1.09)(84.51±1.32)(86.51±1.32)(92.05±1.72), (71.42±1.45)(69.09±1.33)(67.47±1.47)(64.23±1.90) respectively. The average scores of HAMD, PSP and YSR in group A before and after treatment was (26.90±5.10) (81.45±1.85)(73.26±1.28)and (19.42±2.90)(16.43±2.60)(13.50±3.80)(7.60±2.80), (82.00±1.14)(83.67±1.23)(85.88±1.27)(87.98±1.35), (72.84±1.29)(70.07±1.26)(68.84±1.54)(66.02±1.55) respectively.The difference of the scores after two-week treatment was significant statistically (P<0.05). The difference of the deduction rate of the scores after four-week treatment was significant statistically (P<0.05). Conclusion Family therapy has better and faster efficacy in the treatment of adolescent depression, and it can significantly improve their social performance. Key words: Family therapy; Adolescent depression; Efficacy; Social performance