Exploring consumer support for CSR from the perspective of moral legitimacy

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sham Abdulrazak ◽  
Azlan Amran
Keyword(s):  
Business Strategy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Strategic Alignment ◽  
Moral Legitimacy ◽  
Consumer Market ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The primary purpose of this paper is to explore and interpret the perceptions of Malaysian consumers regarding the factors that facilitate their market support for corporate social responsibility (CSR) through the lens of moral legitimacy. Design/methodology/approach This paper interprets qualitative data gathered from in-depth interviews with Malaysian consumers. The findings are then mapped to four forms of evaluations for moral legitimacy identified in the literature, towards establishing a conceptual model of consumer support for CSR. Findings Overall, six factors were identified as facilitating consumer market support for CSR. Of these, consumers were found to perceive strategic alignment between a firm’s business and its CSR as the most fundamental. In the absence of which, all other considerations are rendered irrelevant. Upon the requirement for alignment being met, the consumers then place emphasis on the manner by which a CSR activity is executed, for deciding whether to support or otherwise. Practical implications In contrast to previous reports in the literature concerning Malaysian consumers and CSR, the findings suggest that Malaysian consumers now have increased levels of awareness and maturity with regard to CSR, not unlike that of consumers in the West. Therefore, Malaysian firms will have to stop treating their CSR activities as an add-on, as has been reported previously, and they should endeavour to integrate their CSR into their overall business strategy. Originality value This paper offers an important insight about the consumers’ market support for CSR in the context of a developing nation.

scholarly journals Digital organisational readiness: experiences from manufacturing companies

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 167-182
Author(s):  
Carla Gonçalves Machado ◽  
Mats Winroth ◽  
Peter Almström ◽  
Anna Ericson Öberg ◽  
Martin Kurdve ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Initial Phase ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Strategic Alignment ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis research aims to identify and organise the conditions of organisational readiness for digital transformation.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative study comprises three case studies within manufacturing companies from different sizes and industries located in Sweden. Plant visits and in-depth interviews bring to light companies' experiences with initial steps towards digital transformation. A set of conditions for digital organisational readiness was translated into a questionnaire and tested with one of the studied companies.FindingsThis paper organises and tests digital organisational readiness conditions to support companies' initial steps on digital transformation. The results are put in perspective of established change management theory and previous studies about digital transformation. The findings will conclude in a questionnaire to support dialogue and digital organisational readiness assessments.Research limitations/implicationsAdditional conditions for the initial phase of digital transformation could possibly be found if more cases had been included in the study.Practical implicationsThe article identifies a set of conditions translated into a questionnaire that should be used as a dialogue tool to create strategic alignment and support companies in their initial discussions. If this process can be faster and more efficient, the company can achieve a competitive advantage against competitors.Originality/valueThis research's relevance relies on the fact that companies are advancing in adopting digital technologies without being ready from an organisational perspective. This gap creates barriers for companies' digital maturing processes, stopping them from having full access to digital technologies' benefits.

Co-creating sustainable corporate brands: a consumer framing approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-461
Author(s):  
Sonja Lahtinen ◽  
Elina Närvänen
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Multiple Stakeholders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Corporate Brands ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to explore how consumers co-create sustainable corporate brands (SCBs) by framing brands with a newly adopted sustainability orientation.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative data were generated from four focus groups consisting of altogether 25 Finnish millennial consumers. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, and the resulting themes were classified as different framings.FindingsThe findings indicate three ways of framing SCBs: as signs of corporate hypocrite, as threats that increase societal fragmentation and as signs of corporate enlightenment. These framings are based on two components: the perceived attributes and activities of the corporate brand.Practical implicationsThe role of corporate brands is expanding from the business sphere towards actively influencing society. Yet, sustainability activities can be risky if consumers, as primary stakeholders, deem them unacceptable, unethical or untrustworthy. This research supports brand managers to succeed in co-creating SCBs as contributors to societal and environmental well-being, at a time when multiple stakeholders consider this a worthwhile endeavour.Originality/valueThe theoretical contribution is twofold: firstly, the paper extends the sustainable corporate branding literature by demonstrating how SCBs are co-created through an interactive framing process between the corporation and primary stakeholders, and, secondly, it contributes to the constitutive approach to corporate social responsibility communication (CSRC) research by showing how millennial consumers frame corporate brands that communicate corporations' newly adopted sustainability orientation.

Pedagogical strategies and challenges of multigrade schoolteachers in Albay, Philippines

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-315
Author(s):  
Judy Vargas Bongala ◽  
Vanessa Baraero Bobis ◽  
John Paul Ramos Castillo ◽  
Arlyne Canales Marasigan
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Pedagogical Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Design ◽  
Grassroots Level ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the pedagogical strategies and challenges of selected multigrade (MG) schoolteachers in Albay, Philippines.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized a case study design using a validated semi-structured instrument with in-depth interviews to ten MG teachers, observation and document analysis. Qualitative data analyses such as content and thematic analyses were used in analyzing the data.FindingsThe results show that MG teachers use a variety of overlapping and supplementary instructional strategies such as (1) teaching one topic to all grades and at varying levels of difficulty using differentiated activity, (2) “jump-jump strategy”/teaching one grade while others work independently and (3) peer teaching or tutoring. However, there are several pedagogical challenges that MG teachers are faced with: (1) conflict between the medium of instructions and grade grouping, (2) problems with lesson planning, (3) unfocused instruction, (4) insufficient learners' materials, (5) absence of training prior to MG teaching and (6) the negative perception of the effectiveness of MG instructions.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited within the context of the participants and focuses on the pedagogical strategies and challenges in the implementation of MG teaching.Practical implicationsThe results of this study can serve as a reference on how to support and strengthen MG instruction.Originality/valueThis study provides a research-based overview of MG schools from the grassroots level and adds to the limited studies of MG education in the Philippines.

Strategy as nonsense: strategies for hunting the snark

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven John Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Small Game ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Philosophical Background ◽  
Truth Claims ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to argue that there is a degree of nonsense in the idea that that an organisation has a strategy, since firms have no mind, heart or soul they cannot have a sense of purpose about themselves and their futures. The lecture considers the ways that those working in organisations, and those responsible for strategy, deflect their thoughts from this idea and the nonsense that results from it. Design/methodology/approach The paper recasts Whittington’s Schools of Strategy as deflection strategies, arguing that they are coherent means of displacing attention from the absurdities that result from attributing strategies to organisations rather than people. The key points are illustrated by quotes from Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark, as the leader of the heroic band faces and overcomes most of the key strategizing problem experience in business strategy. Findings Important issues such rationality, benchmarking, learning, leadership, followership and corporate social responsibility crumble into nonsense when it is recalled that these are all human, rather than organisational qualities. Practical implications Most strategies do not succeed and most management of change seldom achieves the changes desired. The paper argues that this is chiefly because pragmatic stratagems are frequently idealised into truth claims and prescriptions of doubtful provenance. Scholars of management must bear some responsibility for the resulting nonsense. Social implications The paper argues that it is not possible to do strategy and change without invoking nonsense. Yet, this is a remarkable achievement, nonetheless, for a creature that evolved to chase small game across a savannah. Originality/value The paper raises important ontological and epidemiological issues of strategy and change in ways that neither create impenetrable language barriers nor require a philosophical background to grasp.

Mandated CSR and mode of implementation: the Indian context

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varun Elembilassery ◽  
L. Gurunathan
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Indian Context ◽  
Pertinent Question ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

PurposeAn exploration of the global corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature unveils the inadequate focus on two aspects. First, CSR in the context of non-Anglo–Saxon countries and second the pertinent question of “How CSR”. The purpose of this study is to theoretically explore the available CSR literature and empirically assess the CSR implementation in India.Design/methodology/approachThis study offers insights into the mode of CSR implementation in India deriving from an analysis of qualitative data, obtained through in-depth interviews using semi-structured questionnaire with functional leaders of nine Indian Firms.FindingsObservations are made on the different mode of implementation and role of professionals in each mode. The various factors determining the objective of each implementation mode are identified and the rationale behind adopting different mode of CSR implementation is explored.Research limitations/implicationsThis study makes five propositions on the rationale and the characteristics of the two predominant CSR implementation modes. Suggestions are also made for further research on corporate (CSR) foundations in India.Practical implicationsBusiness firms can decide on a suitable mode of CSR implementation based on the preeminence they attach to various factors discussed in the study. The need and importance of focusing on CSR competence in teams is highlighted.Originality/valueThis study attempts to fill the gap in literature pertaining to mode of CSR implementation. This study also contributes to the understanding of the Indian context of CSR.

Consumer value creation through WhatsApp use

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-471
Author(s):  
Jorge Cruz-Cárdenas ◽  
Jorge Guadalupe-Lanas ◽  
Ekaterina Zabelina ◽  
Andrés Palacio-Fierro ◽  
Margarita Velín-Fárez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Role Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Value ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand in-depth how consumers create value in their lives using WhatsApp, the leading mobile instant messaging (MIM) application. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts the perspective of customer-dominant logic (CDL) and uses a qualitative multimethod design involving 3 focus groups and 25 subsequent in-depth interviews. The research setting was Ecuador, a Latin American country. Findings Analysis and interpretation of the participants’ stories made it possible to identify and understand the creation of four types of value: maintaining and strengthening relationships; improving role performance; emotional support; and entertainment and fun. In addition, the present study proposes a conceptual model of consumer value creation as it applies to MIM. Practical implications Understanding the way consumers create value in their lives using MIM is important not only for organizations that offer MIM applications, but also for those companies that develop other applications for mobile phones or for those who wish to use MIM as an electronic word-of-mouth vehicle. Originality/value The current study is one of the first to address the topic of consumer behavior in the use of technologies from the perspective of CDL; this perspective enables an integrated qualitative vision of value creation in which the consumer is the protagonist.

Intertwining CSR with strategy – the way ahead

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shital Jhunjhunwala
Keyword(s):  
Business Strategy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance and means of making corporate social responsibility (CSR) an integral part of corporate strategy with the help of case studies. Design/methodology/approach – The article explores the transformation of business from being egocentric to socially responsible. With the use of examples it demonstrates how integrating CSR into strategy can create sustainable business models. Findings – Firms need to develop a framework for integrating CSR into their business strategy for long term successful survival. Social implications – Corporates and society are intertwined and mutually dependent. Business cannot survive without society's acquiescence nor succeed without its active support. Originality/value – The article explains the benefits of CSR and how to make it an integral part of business strategy to gain a competitive advantage.

Conformity or differentiation? A U-shaped relationship between peers’ CSR and focal firms’ CSR

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-327
Author(s):  
Xianyi Long ◽  
Ting Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Environmental Uncertainty ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Generalized Least Squares Method ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of peers’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) on focal firms’ CSR from an integrated perspective. The current study aims to explore whether as peers’ CSR increases focal firms’ CSR would first decrease and then increase. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a sample consisting of Chinese listed manufacturing firms from 2010 to 2016. Hypotheses are tested by generalized least squares method to minimum heterogeneity and autocorrelation concern. Findings The results show that focal firms’ CSR would first decrease and then increase with the increase in peers’ CSR. Furthermore, this paper found that corporate visibility would stress more value on CSR differentiation strategy and environmental uncertainty would stress more value on CSR conformity strategy, such that the U-shaped relationship would be more pronounced in high corporate visibility or low environmental uncertainty situation. Practical implications The findings may be of interest to the academic researchers and managers. For researchers, it is important to understand how focal firms would practice CSR in response to peers’ CSR, especially through an integrated perspective. For managers, the results show that the best way to invest in CSR activities in response to peers’ CSR follows a U-shaped curve, and corporate visibility and environmental uncertainty are important factors to be considered to make CSR decisions. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by proposing and examining a U-shaped relationship between peers’ CSR and focal firms’ CSR, which stresses the conformity and differentiation value of CSR simultaneously. Besides, to fully map the effects of peers’ CSR and focal firms’ CSR, this paper considers the moderating roles of internal and external contingencies on this non-linear relationship between the peers’ CSR and focal firms’ CSR.

Corporate social responsibility practices developed by Mexican family and non-family businesses

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Luis Esparza Aguilar
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Family Businesses ◽  
University Education ◽  
Quintana Roo ◽  
Southern State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mexican Family ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the CSR practices developed by Mexican family and non-family MSMEs. The study also aims to compare the CSR practices carried out by family and non-family businesses in a country with an emergent economy. Design/methodology/approach The paper opted for an exploratory study using a sample of 384 businesses was selected in the southern state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, distributed in 245 family and 139 non-family businesses and a questionnaire was applied directly to the managers/owners. Findings The results show that family MSMEs develop CSR practices to a higher extent than non-family ones, mainly on environment and societal dimensions. In addition, CSR practices in family-owned enterprises develop to a higher extent when the manager/owner has more years of experience in the business, has a higher university education and the size of the business is larger. Research limitations/implications The study was developed exclusively with a MSMEs sample with a scope only on the southern part of Quintana Roo, Mexico; the shortage of business databases and the stratification of businesses based exclusively on the number of employees. This work presents information that contributes to the state of the art, broadening the existing literature related to CSR in businesses of a country with an emergent economy and an environment where the tourism and commercial sectors predominate. Practical implications This paper provides information to government institutions for the establishment of public policies targeted for an increase of CSR activities by businesses in the area. Manager and/or owners can understand the importance of implementing CSR activities within the business as a competitive strategy. It is also important for universities, professors/researchers and for all interested parties. Originality/value This paper provides theoretical and empirical evidence about CSR practices carried out among family and non-family MSMEs in an emergent economy.

Towards greater understanding of a supply chain strategy

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 6-8
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Strategy Use ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Strategy ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Greater understanding of a business unit’s actual rather than desired supply chain strategy can help identify where changes are needed and ensure it remain closely linked to the wider business strategy. Use of a relevant framework enables the tacit knowledge surrounding the supply chain function to become conceptualized and thus make the supply chain strategy more explicit. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

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