Elite status talks, but how loudly and why? Exploring elite CSR micro-politics

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Heath ◽  
Damion Waymer
Keyword(s):  
Role Models ◽  
Strategic Change ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Elite Status ◽  
Network Organizations ◽  
Social Productivity ◽  
Performance Challenges ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the proactive role elite organizations play within-network corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance by determining whether organizations can be identified that serve as aspirational CSR role models. The assumption is that elite CSR performance inspires and challenges other in-network actors to raise their standards in order to be legitimate, and resource rewardable. Design/methodology/approach Three cases are discussed to exemplify elite CSR: historical: recognizing the value of embracing a trend in improved standards of meatpacking, Armour Meatpacking campaigned for sanitary meatpacking and implemented strategic change; global energy: Chevron Corporation conducts “business in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, respecting the law and universal human rights to benefit the communities where we work”; and non-profit: “Elite” universities’ CSR standards attract bright faculty and students and build beneficial relationships with industry, government and peers. Findings Elite institutions raise CSR standards by using issue trends to guide strategic change that can performatively demonstrate the societal value of proactive leadership that elevates standards and increases the reward value to communities and organizations that is achieved by adopting higher standards. Research limitations/implications Through micro-politics that increase CSR social productivity, elite CSR standards earn rewards for exemplary organizations and subsequently raise standards for in-network organizations to, in turn, achieve the license to operate. Practical implications Discussions of CSR should consider the influences that establish CSR standards. To that end, this paper offers the explanatory power of a micro-political, societal productivity approach to CSR based on the pragmatic/moral resource dependency paradigm. Social implications The paper reasons that higher CSR standards result when NGO stakeholder critics and/or government agencies exert micro-political pressure. In response to such pressure, elite organizations, those that are or can meet those higher CSR standards, proactively demonstrate how higher CSR standards can accrue resources that benefit them and society. Elite CSR performance challenges other in-network actors to raise standards in order to be legitimate, that is resource rewardable. Originality/value Because elite organizations understand the reward advantage of higher levels of CSR, they proactively elevate the discuss of standards and advantages for achieving them, and penalties for falling short.

Consumer adoption of smartphone fitness apps: an extended UTAUT2 perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeraj Dhiman ◽  
Neelika Arora ◽  
Nikita Dogra ◽  
Anil Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Behavioural Intention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Innovativeness ◽  
Effort Expectancy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of user adoption of smartphone fitness apps in context of an emerging economy. Design/methodology/approach The present study uses the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) as the base model along with two additional constructs, i.e. self-efficacy and personal innovativeness. The data collection was done through an online survey, wherein a total of 324 valid responses were obtained for the statistical analysis. All the hypothesized relationships were tested through partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using an open source programming language and software environment, i.e. R Software along with plspm-package. Findings Significant predictors of smartphone fitness app adoption intention include effort expectancy, social influence, perceived value, habit and personal innovativeness. Further, this study confirms significant relationship between personal innovativeness and habit, self-efficacy and effort expectancy and effort expectancy and performance expectation. This study reveals that personal innovativeness is the strongest predictor of behavioural intention. Contrary to the expectations, factors like performance expectancy, facilitating conditions and hedonic motivation did not influence behavioural intention. Practical implications This study gives significant clues to app developers that can drastically influence the adoption of fitness apps. The findings suggest that marketers should focus on users with high personal innovativeness that can further act as role models and significantly influence their social circle. Interestingly, the findings suggest that fitness apps, as compared to other apps, should not emphasize much on the hedonic value of their offerings. Originality/value This study is one of the few studies to examine the adoption of smartphone fitness apps in an emerging economy context by using extended version of UTAUT2 model. Further, this study shows how new endogenous and exogenous variables (i.e. self-efficacy and personal innovativeness) contribute to better explanatory power of the UTAUT2 framework.

Orientation, attitude, and competency as predictors of manager’s role of CSR-implementing companies in Malaysia

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 415-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maimunah Ismail ◽  
Muhammad Ibnu Kassim ◽  
Mohd Rozi Mohd Amit ◽  
Roziah Mohd Rasdi
Keyword(s):  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Corporate Image ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Qualities ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose – This exploratory study aims to investigate how the role of the CSR manager is influenced by his orientation to corporate social responsibility (CSR) responsibilities, his attitude and competency. Design/methodology/approach – The study involved 112 managers of CSR-implementing companies in the Klang Valley, a highly industrialized region in Malaysia. They were chosen based on a systematic random sampling technique. Findings – The study found that the level of role, orientation and competency of CSR managers was high, whereas that for attitude was moderate. Further, regression analysis results showed that the managers’ orientation to economic and ethical responsibilities as well as competency significantly influenced their role in CSR with an explanatory power of 20.1 per cent. Research limitations/implications – The study was cross-sectional in nature. Nevertheless, it involved a sample of company managers from a selected location in the country. The predictor variables were limited to orientation to economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic responsibilities; attitude; and competency. Practical implications – The study highlights the importance of personal qualities of the manager and also the manager’s role in promoting community development CSR. These findings should be capitalized on by managers and other practitioners in CSR. Originality/value – The study findings contribute to research on CSR that is viewed from the perspective of corporate image being projected by the role of CSR managers, as influenced by their CSR orientation, attitude and competency. Recommendations for CSR and human resource development practice and future research on the predictors of the role of CSR managers are proposed.

A fresh approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR): partnerships between businesses and non-profit sectors

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niveen Labib Eid ◽  
Anton Robert Sabella
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ethical Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to offer a new conceptualisation on partnership emergence and dynamism between the business sector and the non-governmental organization (NGO) sector from a corporate social responsibility perspective. More specifically, the paper intends to examine partnering behaviour and management from a socio-political standpoint. Design/methodology/approach – The case study approach used in the study utilised data from eight in-depth, semi-structured interviews, with managers from the business and NGO sectors engaged in a large-scale partnership between a Palestinian Cellular Corporation and an NGO. Interview transcripts were analysed using content and narrative analyses. Findings to be presented include reciprocity, corporate constitutionalism and utilitarianism. Findings – The results found in this paper show that partnership has social, political, and ethical dimensions in support of the theoretical framework developed for this paper. More specifically, the results show that the studied partnership is an emergent process, fundamentally concerned with self-efficacy over community welfare, as well as being driven by individual organisational goals. Originality/value – This paper sheds light on certain aspects of partnership that are often overlooked in mainstream research. It does not only highlight the multifaceted dimensions of partnering but also discusses how partnership can be envisioned and practised as inter-organisational relationships. It stimulates a pragmatic understanding of partnership nature and management showing that partnership emergence, direction and sustainability are conditioned by the stakeholders’ socio-political and ethical practices.

Environmental worldview beliefs and CSR advertising

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Magee
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Core Beliefs ◽  
Persuasion Knowledge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Worldview ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose This paper aims to show how environment-related worldview beliefs, in addition to specific persuasion knowledge, can influence how a consumer responds to ads about corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. Design/methodology/approach Two experiments manipulated ad copy and consumers’ persuasion knowledge to examine the effects of consumers’ environmental worldview beliefs on their judgments of a firm’s CSR reforestation project. Findings When an ad presented ambiguous information, both consumers’ persuasion knowledge and their environmental worldview influenced the attribution of the firm’s motives. When an ad presented environment-specific information, however, consumers’ worldview did not influence their attribution of motives. Attributions, in turn, predicted attitudes toward the ad and attitudes toward the brand and were associated with intentions for information-seeking and referral behavior. Research limitations/implications A consumer’s core beliefs can play an important role in understanding the application of persuasion knowledge, and the reinforcement-of-meaning principle expands the persuasion knowledge model’s explanatory power. Practical implications Marketing communications that involve social responsibility projects must take into account how core beliefs can influence the way consumers respond to projects. Social implications This research demonstrates the importance of worldview beliefs in communication that takes place in the public sphere. Originality/value The experiments’ results contribute to a more robust understanding of the persuasion knowledge model, particularly as it applies to CSR messages and introduces the reinforcement-of-meaning principle.

Brand identification, cause-brand alliances and perceived cause controversy

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 880-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasamin Vahdati ◽  
Kevin E. Voss
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Condition ◽  
Consumer Learning ◽  
Brand Identification ◽  
Brand Alliances ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Brand Alliance ◽  
Decision Calculus ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Customer Attitudes

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which a cause-brand alliance (CBA) leads to improved attitude toward cause-brand alliance, which in turn leads to improved brand identification. Design/methodology/approach The approach uses a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects experimental design to examine the interaction effect of the brand ally, the non-profit ally, and the perception of cause controversy on a customer’s attitude toward the CBA, which in turn affects identification with the brand ally. Findings On average, customers’ perception of cause controversy influences attitude toward the CBA and subsequently the level of identification with the brand ally. When a non-profit organization is connected to a controversial issue, managerial options for building a successful CBA are more limited than when the non-profit is noncontroversial. Research limitations/implications We contribute to consumer learning theory in the context of CBA research by identifying an important boundary condition – perceived cause controversy. Perceived cause controversy impedes the customer’s learning about partners in CBA. Moreover, fit and cue consistency are separate constructs. Practical implications CBAs help build customer brand identification. Brand managers must include the customer’s perceived cause controversy, the ally’s unique information, and the customer’s attitude toward the nonprofit in the decision calculus. Brands have an opportunity to demonstrate corporate social responsibility and build identification by helping a less well-established nonprofit to build positive customer attitudes. If the non-profit is linked to controversy, this opportunity is constrained. Originality/value A boundary condition-perceived cause controversy influences how the partners in a CBA differentially influence the customer’s attitude toward the CBA and, ultimately, brand identification.

Coffee shop corporate social responsibility (CSR) and reuse intention using triple bottom line theory

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Min Shim ◽  
Won Seok Lee ◽  
Joonho Moon ◽  
Myungkeun Song
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Triple Bottom Line ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Price Fairness ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Line Theory ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the attributes that statistically affect reason intention. The triple bottom line, a theoretical framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR) consisting of economic, social and environmental subdimensions, is used as the theoretical foundation.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, price fairness, quarantine and hygiene, and eco-friendliness represent economic, social and environmental CSR, respectively. Amazon Mechanical Turk is used for data collection. The valid number of observations is 474. Structural equation modeling is implemented to test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that price fairness, quarantine and hygiene positively affect the reuse intention of coffee shops. However, eco-friendliness appears to be an attribute that does not significantly affect reuse intention.Originality/valueThis study theoretically contributes to the literature by demonstrating the explanatory power of triple bottom line theory for café customer intention.

Non-profit institutions: professionalism, accountability and civic-engagement

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Civitillo
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
International Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Probable Path ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Ideal

Purpose Non-profit sector management represent a research topic particularly discussed. This work tries to introduce a potential reaction to the need of managerial techniques and instruments to enhance the comprehension of the phenomenon and to accomplish a more powerful management of Non-profit institutions (NPIs). Design/methodology/approach The complexity of non-profit sector can be useful for identifying the ideal trajectories of a theoretical model of reference for the management of NPIs. Findings The main purpose is to outline a probable path for the evolution of the non-profit sector management (at the macroeconomic level) and of NPIs that are part of it (at the microeconomic level) and whose main dimensions are: professionalization, civic-engagement and accountability/corporate social responsibility. Originality/value This research tries to fill the gap existing in the international literature and the relative absence of systemic approaches to the management of NPIs, often focused only on some specific aspects of an extremely complex and multifaceted phenomenon.

Corporate social responsibility and earnings management in the EU: a panel data analysis approach

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis E. Dimitropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Eu

Purpose Over the past decades, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been considered as a significant corporate strategy and also has been documented as a main information dissemination mechanism of corporations to shareholders, creditors and other external stakeholders. This fact makes the CSR activities and CSR performance interconnected with the quality of firms’ financial reporting. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of CSR performance on the earnings management (EM) behaviour using a sample from 24 European Union (EU) countries summing up to 121,154 firm-year observations over the period 2003–2018. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a multi-country data set with various dimensions of CSR performance including indexes regarding workforce, community relations, product responsibility and human rights protection. The empirical analysis is conducted with panel data regressions. Findings Evidence supports the negative association between CSR and EM indicating that high CSR performing firms are associated with less income smoothing and discretionary accruals, thus with higher financial reporting quality. Practical implications Regulatory agencies in the EU could use the findings of the study for the improvement of the accounting framework via enhancing the use and publications of social and environmental responsibility information and reports. Social implications Also, the current paper could be of interest not only to academic researchers but also to potential and existing investors in European corporations. The negative association between CSR performance and EM could be used by investors in assessing the risk of firms and the quality and reliability of their financial information. Originality/value This is the first study within the EU, which considers the multi-facet characteristics of CSR on the quality of accounting earnings and offers useful policy implications for regulators and investors.

Consequences of corporate social responsibility on employees

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 231-249
Author(s):  
Evans Asante Boadi ◽  
Zheng He ◽  
Eric Kofi Boadi ◽  
Josephine Bosompem ◽  
Philip Avornyo
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Work Motivation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Time Lagged ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to draw on affect social exchange theory and related literature to develop and test a research model linking employees’ perception of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to their outcomes [performance and organisational pride (ORP)] with moderating variables: perceived work motivation patterns (autonomous and controlled motivation) to sustain firm’s operations through their employees. Design/methodology/approach The authors used Ghana as a case for this study due to recent turbulences in the banking sector of Ghana. A sample data of 244 subordinate/supervisor dyads from rural and community banks was collected with a time-lagged technique and analysed through a structural equation modelling for this study. Findings These employee’s perceptions of CSR positively related to their performance and ORP. Autonomous motivated employees had a stronger positive moderated impact on perceived CSR-Performance link whereas controlled motivated employees recorded a stronger impact on perceived CSR-ORP link. Practical implications Based on these results, managers and human resource (HR) professionals can aim at acquiring favourable employees’ perception of their firms’ CSR initiatives. In that, it can help firms to remain in business particularly in difficult times. Also, autonomous and controlled motivators may seem inversely related, however, they are not contradictory to each other. Both can coexist within a firm and it is crucial that HR professionals and managers endeavour to balance them discreetly to attain organisational goals. Originality/value Despite the growing interest in CSR across continents, CSR outcomes on employees among small and medium scale firms especially in Africa has fairly been toned-down by respective management of firms, governments and researchers.

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