Business Case for Corporate Social Responsibility in Emerging Economies? An Exploratory Empirical Study of the South African Business Context

2014 ◽  
pp. 297-322
Author(s):  
David Coldwell ◽  
Tasneem Joosub
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
South African ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Business Case ◽  
The South ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Corporate Social

scholarly journals Assessing the potential impact of the Marikana incident on South African mining companies: An event method study

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 586-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Hill ◽  
Warren Maroun
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
The South ◽  
Statistical Research ◽  
Share Prices ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Corporate Social

This study examines the potential impact of industrial unrest and the outbreak of violence at Marikana on 16 August 2012 on the share prices of mining companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) using an event methodology. Contrary to expectations, the Marikana incident does not appear to have had a widespread and prolonged effect on the South African mining sector. This may be the result of the strike action already having been discounted into the price of mining shares, implying that the market was only reacting to the unusually violent (but short-lived) protest. Alternately, the results could be indicative of investor confidence in the corporate social responsibility initiatives of the South African mining industry as a whole. This paper is the first to examine the potential impact of the Marikana incident on the share prices of mining companies listed on the JSE. It should be of interest to both academics and practitioners wanting to understand how share prices react to exogenous events. It is also relevant for corporate-governance researchers concerned with the relevance of social and governance practices in a South African setting. This research is faced with the limitations associated with most statistical research: that causality cannot be ascribed to tested relationships. Notwithstanding these limitations, it is argued that these findings are important, given the significant coverage of the Marikana incident and the ongoing debate on the need for corporate social responsibility.

scholarly journals THE CURRENT STATE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PRACTICES OF FIRMS OPERATING IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabu Mokwena ◽  
Nokulunga Xolile Mashwama ◽  
Didi Thwala ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa ◽  
Mansur Hamma-Adama
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Construction Firms ◽  
Corporate Social

The overall aim of this study is to appraise the current practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on firms operating in the South African construction market. Primary and secondary sources of data were utilized. The primary data were collected via of questionnaire survey issued to 12 different firms operating within the South African construction sector and secondary data obtained from related and reliable scholarly literature such as journal articles, conference papers, reports, books etc. Out of 60 questionnaires issued, 50 were acquired back, and all surveys received were valid. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for the collected primary data. The study reveals that common CSR variables that are practiced by South African construction firms using certified product/material verified by the independent third party. These include supporting government initiatives on public welfare; Occupational health, business ethics and code of conduct; welfare and safety; Purchasing green material and the most important CSR variables are contractual obligations are met, and product and service providers are paid in a timely manner; Using certified product/material verified by the independent third party; Ensuring fair treatment of workers at work irrespective of race, gender, and disability; and consult employees about crucial business activities. The implementation of CSR activities offers a great solution for many problems that are being faced by the South African construction firms as well as the South African society.

scholarly journals Monitoring and evaluation of corporate social responsibility programmes in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-318
Author(s):  
Renitha Rampersad
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Fiduciary Duty ◽  
The South ◽  
Corporate Sector ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

The South African corporate sector invests millions to support community development and social programs. One of the more fundamental issues about sustainability in a business context is the fact that directors have a fiduciary duty to take into account interests of those stakeholders other than investors/shareholders. This therefore places major importance on sustainability reporting through reports on governance, economic, social and environmental performance and is increasingly being regarded as a key form of stakeholder engagement, and the most accepted formal way of communicating measured outcomes to all stakeholders. A number of methodologies may exist for the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies or “how-to guides” for community engagement and investment, however, it lacks development in the field of CSR Programme Evaluation. Integrated approaches to the measurement thereof are still in expanding stages of development and statistical data and/or empirical evidence is lacking at this point. Trust and relationships take time to build but are valuable assets, therefore a company must show it has listened and acted in response to stakeholder concerns, this means that ongoing communication and reporting back to stakeholders is a very important component in any engagement strategy. It is therefore important for the corporate sector to not only evaluate the effectiveness of their CSR Programmes, but also to measure the impact on both their beneficiary communities and their business and subsequently on the Return on Investment (ROI). This paper will highlight a case of the South African corporate sectors attempts to evaluate its effectiveness and impact on beneficiary communities and how they quantify the impact of the investment through successful CSR interventions

scholarly journals Corporate social responsibility: Applying sustainability principles in stakeholder engagement

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renitha Rampersad
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
The South ◽  
Corporate Sector ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Sustainability Principles

There is a strong ethical case to redress poverty and inequality in South Africa. The South African corporate sector has been called upon to take responsibility for the ways their operations impact societies. There has been considerable change in the way the corporate sector concerns themselves with applying sustainability principles to the ways in which they conduct their business specifically in their social interactions with stakeholders. This sees the South African corporate sector investing millions to support sustainable community development and social programs. The total corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure in South Africa was estimated to amount to R8.2 billion in 2013/2014 (Trialogue, 2014). Although major South African and multinational companies have had ample opportunity to express and communicate their views on the potential of CSR, the voices of communities continue to be thwarted and stifled when they should logically lie at the heart of effective change management interventions. Business has the obligation, and also the resources, to make a contribution to communities in which they operate. This article investigates the South African business sectors involvement in stakeholder engagement and describes two cases of major South African companies and their increased value for a stakeholder governance model.

scholarly journals Corporate social responsibility reporting by South African mining companies: Evidence of legitimacy theory

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dube ◽  
W. Maroun
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Legitimacy Theory ◽  
The South ◽  
Social Event ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Platinum Mining ◽  
Corporate Social

This paper offers evidence on the relevance of legitimacy theory for explaining changes in the frequency of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures by South African platinum mining companies following violent strike action during 2012 at Marikana. The results show that all of the South African platinum mining companies provide additional information dealing specifically with the strike taking place at Marikana. This is more pronounced for the company directly involved in the incident. The research also finds evidence of a reaction to the social event by other companies in the South African Platinum Industry which alter the nature and extent of general CSR disclosures to maintain legitimacy. In this way, the study offers evidence in support of the relevance of legitimacy theory for explaining changes in CSR reporting. The findings of this study complement existing research which has ignored the South African market. Although there has been some work on legitimacy theory in the context of environmental disclosure by South African companies, the study is the first to examine a significant social event using legitimacy theory as the frame of reference.

scholarly journals Corporate social responsibility of a multinational bank and its South African subsidiary

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Koffman-Xaba ◽  
Geoff A. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Parent Company ◽  
Csr Strategies ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Core Issues

Africa has become increasingly attractive to foreign investors, but the establishment of operations in emerging markets poses challenges for multinationals. One such challenge is implementing of corporate social responsibility (CSR) effectively across all subsidiaries. This study aims to determine whether there are differences in CSR expectations and praxis between a multinational bank and its subsidiary operating in South Africa. Through qualitative research methods, a case study research design approach was utilized to study CSR activities in the parent company and CSR activities in its South African subsidiary. Data collected from ten interviews are analyzed using open, axial and selective coding procedures. The study concludes that there are nuanced gaps in CSR expectations, and between the parent company and its South African subsidiary. Global CSR strategies may be applied consistently across subsidiaries, but they do not necessarily address core issues faced in emerging economies, placing doubts upon the practicality of these efforts

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document