Corporate social responsibility in marketing: a review of the state-of-the-art literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 418-446
Author(s):  
Anirban Chakraborty ◽  
Ankur Jha
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
The State ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Marketing Literature ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of the study is to understand the evolution of the state-of-the-art of corporate social responsibility (CSR) research in the domain of marketing. Design/methodology/approach The top-ranked journals in the domain of marketing have been chosen for the purpose of this study, and the papers related to CSR concept published in those journals between 1930 and 2018 have been reviewed. A lucid framework has been used to structure the reviewing process. Findings The study finds that the CSR concept in marketing context has become more complex, its dimensions have evolved and increased in number, affecting diverse stakeholders leading to different outcomes. Research limitations/implications A simple model is proposed to understand the amalgamation of CSR concept in marketing literature. The study also highlights extant gaps in the literature and suggests the directions for future research. Practical implications The notion of CSR goes beyond the economic and regulatory obligation of the firm. Hence, for it to be duly implemented, practitioners must have a holistic understanding of this multi-faceted construct. This paper examines the changing role of CSR in the context of marketing over a period of almost a century. It thereby helps marketers to understand and visualize their changing responsibility toward the society at large and thereby co-create a sustainable relationship with all the stakeholders. The study provides both tactical and strategic pointers to practitioners. Social implications The study draws upon extant literature and documents the positive impact of CSR on marketing variables and thereby gives a compelling reason to the marketers to be socially responsible. Compilation of persuasive evidence would encourage the adoption of CSR concepts by the marketers. This would elicit a more socially responsible action which will have a positive impact on the society that the marketer serves. Originality/value This is an in-depth study depicting the journey of CSR construct in marketing literature and provides a holistic understanding of the construct in the context of marketing.

CSR governance and departmental organization: a typology of best practices

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Lock ◽  
Peter Seele
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
The State ◽  
Governance Structures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practice Approach ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose This paper aims to study the state of the art of corporate social responsibility (CSR) governance and operational structure within the most sustainable companies to arrive at a typology of CSR organization. Whether companies consider corporate social responsibility (CSR) a strategic management task is mirrored in the department and governance structure of CSR. Design/methodology/approach By conducting a web content analysis, the authors apply a “best practice” approach to examine the vertical and horizontal organization of CSR within the “most sustainable companies worldwide” (Robeco SAM, 2013). Findings The results show that most corporations have in place governance structures for CSR that organize it horizontally in stand-alone departments. Three types of CSR organization best practice emerged: the single-headed, two-headed and infused types. Practical implications The paper indicates three different ways that companies can organize CSR internally. The authors discuss the feasibility of such organization for large and small companies and their day-to-day business. Originality/value The paper addresses the under-researched area of vertical and horizontal CSR organization at the micro level. The authors analyze the state of the art of organizational and governance structures of CSR in the most sustainable companies and deduce three types of CSR governance and operational architecture.

Does corporate social responsibility affect dividend policy? Empirical evidence in the French context

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olfa Ben Salah ◽  
Anis Ben Amar
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Alternative Measure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on dividend policy in the French context. In addition, the authors seek to determine if the individual components of CSR influence dividend policy. Design/methodology/approach This study uses panel data methodology for a sample of French non-financial firms between 2008 and 2018. Generalized least squares method is used to estimate the models. Findings Using panel data methodology for a sample of 825 observations for the period 2008–2018, this study finds a positive impact of CSR practices on dividend policy. The authors also find that individual components of CSR positively influence dividend policy. To check the robustness of the results, this study further runs a sensitivity tests, including an alternative measure of dividend policy, all of which confirm the findings. Practical implications This study has examined the impact of CSR on dividend policy in France and may have implications for regulatory, investors, analysts and academics. First, the involvement in CSR best practices encourages companies to pay more dividends to investors. Therefore, investors are more motivated to invest in socially responsible firms than socially irresponsible firms. Second, given the association of CSR with the quality of accounting information and financial markets, regulators should step up recommendations relating to the different societal dimensions of CSR. Originality/value While little previous work has focused on the causal link between CSR and dividend policy, this research is the first, to the authors’ knowledge, to have looked at the impact of CSR on dividend policy in France.

Corporate social responsibility in the wake of COVID-19: multiple cases of social responsibility as an organizational value

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jashim Uddin Ahmed ◽  
Quazi Tafsirul Islam ◽  
Asma Ahmed ◽  
Anisur R. Faroque ◽  
Mohammad Jasim Uddin
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The Face ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Organizational Value

Purpose Although corporate social responsibility is a well-researched concept, very few studies have studied organizational social responsibility in the face of internal/external crises. Therefore, this paper aims to examine various firms' organizational social responses to COVID-19 as an external crisis, particularly in terms of the way organizations use their resources to address social problems and the real intention behind these, and the changing organizational drivers influencing such behaviors. Design/methodology/approach The authors explore the initiatives of seven organizations from three different industries in several countries and their actions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A case study approach was taken to collect data and reach a conclusion. A combination of interviews, online communication using semi-structured questionnaires and documentary information available in the public domain was used to collect data and analyze and triangulate the events. Findings Similar internal resources and capacities of the seven organizations resulted in similar responses as they launched proactive initiatives to prepare sanitizers. This research indicates that these organizations pursued other goals besides economic one. When society needed help, these organizations responded quickly, using and reorganizing their resources to assist communities in need. Different organizations from different sectors all behaved in a similar manner, making genuine contributions to the pandemic as each was uniquely capable of doing. These organizations also used their unique capabilities to offer their resources to local communities and governments. Originality/value During the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts by corporate entities to facilitate social reform and recovery have been seen around the globe. The findings could help in understanding the responses of organizations engaging in socially responsible behaviors to overcome external crises. This paper also identifies changing organizational values and their possible impact on society and overall industry philanthropy practices in the future.

scholarly journals Corporate Social Responsibility in Nepalese Commercial Bank with reference to Bank of Kathmandu Limited

NCC Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-99
Author(s):  
Laxman Raj Kandel
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Commercial Bank ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Positive Relation ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
The People ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Needs Planning

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is all about companies managing their business process to produce the overall positive impact on the society. The interest for CSR has grown rapidly the recent years and people started to demand corporate social responsibility from the company. CSR is connected with corporate behaving ethically, morally and socially responsible towards the society. This research focuses on investigating why companies engage in CSR, how they apply CSR and how CSR can affect financial performance. It was found that the employees and the people in general do get motivated by their organization. All the respondents were very positive and energized about being part of the CSR activities provided with the opportunities. BOK Ltd has focused their CSR activities related with the health, education and environment with the name as BOK health, BOK education and BOK environment initiation. BOK has tried to cover the different aspect of essential factors in anyone’s life. Majority of the respondents’ views that CSR activities has the positive relation and can contribute on the financial performance of the company as it increases the good image and goodwill of the organization. CSR needs planning and proper implementation so that the society could actually have positive impact from CSR activities.In Nepalese context the organization do not emphasize in CSR activities rather they give priorities to earn more profit and flourish their business.NCC JournalVol. 3, No. 1, 2018, page: 90-99

To B or not to B: Etsy’s decision whether to re-incorporate as a public benefit corporation and maintain its B Lab certification

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 510-527
Author(s):  
Gabriele Lingenfelter ◽  
Ronnie Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Business Law ◽  
Publicly Traded ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Benefit Corporation ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Corporate Social

Theoretical basis As the regulatory system begins to recognize the role of social responsibility reporting, reliable disclosure measures will be required. Issues of transparency, reliability and assurance are likely to arise as securities regulators consider whether and how to require disclosure of non-financial information. Various reporting models are presented in the case to illustrate different ways that these issues can be addressed by privately held and publicly traded corporations. Research methodology The case uses the company, Etsy, Inc., which has established itself as a publicly traded, socially responsible corporation. Etsy must decide whether it will re-incorporate as a benefit corporation in order to maintain its B Lab certification. This decision introduces students to the various measures of corporate social responsibility, the interests of the stakeholders of a corporation and the regulatory environment in which socially responsible, publicly traded corporations operate. The case uses only publicly available information. Case overview/synopsis This teaching case addresses the decision faced by Etsy, Inc. when it became a publicly traded corporation. In order to maintain its certification as a socially responsible corporation by B Lab, it would have to re-incorporate as a Delaware Benefit Corporation. In making this decision, the company had to consider various measures used for corporate social responsibility reporting and transparency and how these might affect Etsy’s stakeholders. Complexity academic level Undergraduate or masters level case that could be used in a business law, commercial law, legal environment or auditing course.

CEO inside debt and corporate social responsibility

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-546
Author(s):  
Shahbaz Sheikh
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Employee Relations ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Inside Debt ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relation between incentives from CEO inside debt (deferred compensation and pension benefits) and corporate social responsibility (CSR).Design/methodology/approachInstrumental variable (IV-GMM) regressions are used to estimate the relation between CEO inside debt and CSR.FindingsThe results of this paper indicate that CEOs with large inside debt tend to invest more in CSR. Analysis of CSR strengths and concerns supports this finding and shows that CEO inside debt is significantly positively (negatively) associated with CSR strengths (concerns). Further tests indicate that CEO inside debt exerts a positive and significant effect on all five dimensions of social performance (diversity, community, product, employee relations and environment).Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study are based on US corporations. Future research should investigate if these results hold for firms in other countries in order to better our understanding of the relation between CEO inside debt and CSR.Practical implicationsCEOs use CSR as a risk management strategy to reduce corporate risk in order to protect the value of their inside debt.Social implicationsThe results in this paper provide a practical tool to boards of corporations to increase investment in CSR. The results suggest that boards can encourage CEOs to invest in CSR by increasing incentives from inside debt.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature that examines the relation between inside debt and CSR by showing that CEO inside debt exerts a positive impact on CSR.

Corporate social responsibility, product innovation, and product line

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-190
Author(s):  
Heng Xu
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Responsible Innovation ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Basic Product ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose This paper aims to investigate a firm’s incentive to innovate its basic product to be socially responsible and its decision on the product line. By constructing a competition model, the paper examines the factors that affect the firm’s choice on its product line with the socially responsible innovation in the presence of altruistic consumers. Such factors include the proportion of the altruistic consumers, the firm’s coordination cost with the basic and innovative products, as well as the consumer’s transportation cost. Design/methodology/approach In a model of differentiated products with the competition, the author assumes that a portion of consumers has a strong preference for the socially responsible product (e.g. altruistic consumers). A firm is able to attract altruistic consumers with a socially responsible innovation but it may incur a coordination cost when both the basic and the innovated products are manufactured and sold. In a framework of a sequential game, the firms make a decision on the prices, innovation inputs, as well as the choice on its product line to achieve the expected profit maximization. Findings The firm has the incentive to engage in socially responsible innovation to better compete with its rivals. More importantly, the results of the paper explain why some firms wish to manufacture and sell the basic product even though the innovation is successful. The main factors that affect such a firm’s decision include the proportion of the altruistic consumers, the aggregate benefit to all the consumers who purchase the innovative product, the firm’s potential coordination cost and the consumer’s transportation cost. Originality/value The paper sheds light on a firm’s corporate social responsibility innovation and its product line determination. The results of this paper can be widely applied in the firm’s strategy of engaging in corporate social responsibility with eco-friendly elements that can attract altruistic consumers in the market. In addition, the findings of the paper can also contribute to policy formulation in terms of innovation. Such a result enables the policymakers to understand the factors that affect the firm’s motivation on innovation and helps them to better guide the firms efficiently participate in the research and development activities.

Under pressure: exploring pressures for corporate social responsibility in mutual funds

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caddie Putnam Rankin
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Mutual Funds ◽  
Mutual Fund ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Responsible Investment ◽  
Industry Standards ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Depth Interviews

PurposeThis empirical study seeks to understand how mutual fund firms interpret conflicting pressures to conform or differentiate in the context of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Research suggests that organizations engage in practices that conform to industry standards in order to be seen as legitimate members of their industry. Other studies suggest that organizations differentiate themselves in order to compete and outperform their rivals. Pressures for organizational conformity and differentiation are explored in two types of organizations in the mutual fund industry: socially responsible investment (SRI) and non-SRI firms.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on qualitative in-depth interviews with twenty-six mutual funds.FindingsThe analysis revealed that pressures for conformity and differentiation were salient among mutual fund executives but emphasized differently for the two types of mutual funds.Originality/valueThe study concluded by suggesting SRI firms use both strategies of conformity and differentiation to amplify the message that they adhere to the values of CSR.

The third-person effects in the investment decision making: a case of corporate social responsibility

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 456-468
Author(s):  
Alexander V. Laskin
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Investor Relations ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Third ◽  
Third Person ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Responsible Behaviors ◽  
The Third Person

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to apply a third-person effects theory to the study of corporate social responsibility communications. Previous studies have asked what importance investors assign to the socially responsible activities of corporations. However, in the context of publicly-traded companies, it becomes important not only to calculate the effects of available information on an individual investor, but also to estimate the effects of every piece of information on the investor’s perception of the investment community at large. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a survey methodology in order to evaluate what value respondents assign to socially responsible behaviors as well as to identify a presence of third-person effects in the corporate social responsibility evaluations. Using an online survey, the respondents were asked to read a modified news article and the respond to a series of questions. In total, 96 completed surveys were collected and analyzed. Findings The research finds the presence of third-person effects incorporate socially responsibility message processing. The results of the study show that, while individually people are supportive of the socially responsible behaviors of corporations, they perceive others to be less supportive of such behaviors; they also see others as less likely to encourage such behaviors through action. As a result, people are less likely to act on their own views of corporate socially responsibility as they perceive themselves to be outliers. These findings lead to important consequences for investor communications, which are discussed in light of the efficient market hypothesis. Research limitations/implications From an academic standpoint, the study proposed that in investor and financial communication, third-person effects could play a significant role. Yet, third-person effects research in investor relations literature simply does not exists. Thus, the study’s main contribution is expanding third-person effects theory into the field of the investor relations research. Practical implications From practical standpoint, expectations and perception of corporate social responsibility have a significant effect on corporate reputation and, thus, communication about corporate social responsibility become important as they shape these perceptions and expectations. Yet, such corporate social responsibility issues may include a variety of matters, such as governance, responsibility, and the quality of social and economic choices, sometimes even contradictory to each other. It becomes a job of investor relations managers to study, analyze, and respond to these competing demands. Social implications From societal standpoint, the study advances the debate on the role of corporations in the society. With such concepts as social license to operate and creating shared value, and the growing expectations about corporate behavior, understanding the stakeholders perceptions of socially responsible behavior of corporations as a function of their perceptions of other stakeholders’ viewpoints, creates a better understanding of the complexities involved in the issue of corporate social responsibility reporting. Originality/value Since investors and other financial publics are not homogenous and may have different perspectives, opinions, values, etc., they may react to the same information differently. Furthermore, they may expect others to behave differently and such perceptions, whether accurate or not, may, in fact, influence their own behavior, as third-person effects theory would suggest. Investor relations, then, becomes a function of managing these expectations. The presence of the third-person effects in investor communications can have a strong effect on market behavior and, thus, must become an important part of the investor relations professionals’ job – how the messages are crafted, communications, and measured. Yet, third-person effects is non-existent in the investor relations literature. Thus, the study provides an original contribution by applying a third-person effects theory in the investor relations research.

scholarly journals Authenticity, Power, and Pluralism: A Framework for Understanding Stakeholder Evaluations of Corporate Social Responsibility Activities

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul F. Skilton ◽  
Jill M. Purdy
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
The State ◽  
The Other ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Responsible Behavior ◽  
State Of Power ◽  
Distribution Of Power ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Systematic Explanation

ABSTRACT:We explore the essential contestedness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by framing the interplay between CSR activities and stakeholder evaluations as a contest for jurisdiction over what it means to be socially responsible. This contest arises because firms and stakeholders are often guided by incompatible sensemaking systems. To show why context matters we show how stakeholders evaluate the authenticity of CSR activities on the basis of schemas for responsible behavior on one hand and their perceptions of firm identity on the other. This process can generate complex evaluations whose meaning depends on the distribution of power in fields and the extent to which pluralistic sensemaking systems are compatible. By positioning authenticity evaluations within a framework that describes the state of power and pluralism within which they are produced, we are able to present a systematic explanation of how and why stakeholder responses to CSR vary over a range of settings.

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