Social impact of a corporate social responsibility initiative

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Riggin ◽  
Karen Danylchuk ◽  
Dawn Gill ◽  
Robert Petrella
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the social impact of an initiative (Hockey FIT) aimed at improving the health and well-being of sport fans and their community.Design/methodology/approachFans (n=80) participated in 12 weekly health promotion sessions hosted in local hockey club facilities. Objective health measurements, diet and physical activity levels of fans were measured at baseline, 12 weeks and 12 months, to determine the intermediate, long-term, individual and community impact. Furthermore, one-on-one interviews with 28 program participants were conducted to further understand the program’s social impact.FindingsThe intermediate impact was noticed as improvements in weight loss, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (BP), steps per day, healthful eating, self-reported overall health and fatty food scores at 12 weeks. The long-term individual impact of Hockey FIT was realized as participants maintained or continued to improve their weight loss, waist circumference, healthful eating, systolic BP and diastolic BP 12 months after the program had been offered. The program was also reported to increase family bonding time and improved the diet, daily physical activity, and general awareness of health promotion programs and components for friends, family members and coworkers.Originality/valueThe positive health-related results from this study contradict prior research that has suggested there is minimal evidence of any substantial contributions from social programs in sport. Through a collective approach to corporate social responsibility, this research demonstrates the ability for sport organizations to contribute to meaningful social change and the positive role that they play within the community.

The impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) priming on consumers’ consumption and lifestyle choices with intertemporal tradeoffs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajar Fatemi ◽  
Laurette Dube
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to study the unexplored possibility that priming firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity in consumers’ minds may impact consumers’ preference for non-firm related consumption and lifestyle choice options with intertemporal trade-offs. Design/methodology/approach Across four experimental studies, the authors looked at the impact of CSR priming on the preference of participants for later larger versus sooner smaller money (Study 1), saving versus spending (Study 2) and healthy versus unhealthy food choices (Studies 3 and 4). These choice options were not related to the focal firm that practiced CSR. The authors measured the changes in participants’ consideration of future consequences (CFC) as a potential mediator for the results. Findings The participants in the CSR condition showed a higher CFC and a higher preference for the options with long-term benefits and immediate costs over the ones with long-term costs and immediate benefits, i.e. later larger over sooner smaller money, saving over spending and healthy over unhealthy food. The authors documented a mediation role for CFC. Research limitations/implications All the participants in the studies were from the USA. Looking at the cultural differences can enrich the understanding of the impact of CSR on preference for the options with intertemporal trade-offs. Furthermore, this paper builds its theoretical justification based on the assumption of individuals’ acceptance of CSR activities. Nevertheless, consumers may have skepticism about these activities. Future studies may investigate the effect of CSR skepticism of individuals on the proposed effects. Additionally, investigating the moderating roles of individuals’ characteristics like their prosocial concern or their knowledge about choice options might be an avenue for future research. Practical implications The findings highlight the benefits of CSR priming on consumers’ welfare and normative behavior. Firms may use the findings to understand and manage the impact of other firms’ CSR communications on the evaluation of their own products. Originality/value This research is the first to highlight the impact of CSR priming on consumers’ non-firm-related consumption and lifestyle choices with intertemporal trade-offs. The results showed the positive effect of priming firms’ CSR activities on consumers’ CFC and the mediating role of CFC.

From surface to deep corporate social responsibility

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Richards ◽  
Irina Safitri Zen
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Learning ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and explore the policy concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a focus for sustainable development. To this end, it develops and explores the implications of a distinction between CSR as a marketing strategy and a more sustainable long-term commitment to changes in organizational culture and also society. Design/methodology/approach This a conceptual paper which develops a policy research framework for examining the CSR rationale as well as general concept as applied to the “plastic bags” public awareness campaign in the Malaysian case study. On this basis, its central inquiry approach is to develop and explore the distinction between surface and deep modes of CSR policy implementation as also related modes of social learning. Findings The findings from the conceptual inquiry recognize that corporations which fail to apply a deep rather than a surface commitment to their own CSR polices will sooner or later be judged on that basis by their customers as well as external stakeholders. Although CSR policies will always involve a corporate marketing focus, this is sustainable only if framed by a long-term organizational commitment to accountable change. Originality/value The paper makes, develops and further explores a basic accountability distinction between surface and deep modes of CSR as a management commitment, corporate policy implementation and related processes of corporate cultural change. This links to the paper’s associated innovation of linking CSR as both internal organizational learning and a larger sustainable development process of social learning.

Corporate social responsibility, stock salience, and the asymmetric market impact of consumer sentiment news on Spanish firms

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-115
Author(s):  
Barry Oliver ◽  
Blanca Pérez-Gladish ◽  
Paz Méndez-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Stock Market ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Consumer Sentiment ◽  
Global Compact ◽  
Un Global Compact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negativity Effect ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify whether the Spanish stock market experiences a negativity effect on the announcement of Spanish consumer sentiment information and if firms that are signatory to the UN Global Compact on corporate social responsibility are relatively more salient in the minds of investors. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use consumer sentiment announcements to show how the negativity effects on the Spanish stock market are significantly influenced by how salient the stock is in the minds of investors. If a firm’s stock exhibits negativity effects on the release of consumer sentiment information then this stock is salient to investors. If firms who are signatory to the UN Global Compact exhibit significant negativity effects, it could be concluded that these stocks are salient, particularly if firms that are not signatory to the Global Compact do not exhibit a similar negativity effect. Findings – The IBEX35 index experiences significant negativity effects upon the release of Spanish consumer sentiment announcements. This is similar to that reported in other countries, notably Australia and the USA. Using the constituent firms in the IBEX35 index, the authors find that those firms that are signatory to the UN Global Compact are significantly more likely to experience negativity effects upon the release of Spanish consumer sentiment information than if they are not signatory to the Global Compact. This indicates that firms that are part of the UN Global Compact are more salient to investors. Research limitations/implications – Available published Spanish data on consumer sentiment. Practical implications – Little is understood of the impact that consumer sentiment announcements have on stock prices. Studies in USA and Australia have identified significant negativity effects in stock markets when consumer sentiment information is released. This research has found that a psychological negativity bias occurs in firms that are salient to investors. Salience has been found to be important in asset pricing. Originality/value – This paper tries to find out which companies are more likely to sign the UN Global Compact. These companies are more sensitive to consumer sentiment, because they depend on the everyday decisions of the consumers. The more the companies depend on consumers, the more they care about them. And, when the consumer sentiment goes down, they are more affected by this sentiment. These firms are also more worried about the long term. They are not only thinking about the profits in the short term but also about maintaining the generation of profits in the long term.

scholarly journals Drivers of corporate community involvement and challenges in measuring its impact

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denni I. Arli ◽  
Jack Cadeaux
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Community Involvement ◽  
The Social ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Corporate Community

Purpose – The aim of this study is to explore drivers of corporate community involvement (CCI) initiatives and the challenges faced by companies in measuring the social impact of their initiatives in Australia. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with various corporate social responsibility (CSR) or CCI managers from Australian companies and their not-for-profit (NFP) partners. The final sample consists of 27 managers from a mix of industries. Findings – The study shows that stakeholder's salience may have an impact on CCI activities, especially in the area of measurements and reporting activities. Moreover, while some companies have attempted to measure the social impact of their initiatives, a large number of companies have not. This is all the more surprising given the recent focus in marketing on accountability and measurement. The results show three challenges: lack of interest, lack of resources and lack of consensus. Subsequently, the authors offer some research propositions to underline these challenges. Originality/value – This study focuses on CCI which is one of the most visible parts of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It draws on interviews with various managers in charge of companies' CSR or CCI.

Corporate Social Responsibility

2019 ◽  
pp. 1135-1154
Author(s):  
Maria do Céu Gaspar Alves ◽  
Margarida Maria Mendes Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Control System ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Management Control System ◽  
Corporate Social

The mining industry has a huge environmental and social impact in the country/region where is located, consequently its contribution for sustainable development has been widely discussed. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) represents a challenge for this industry, namely, its inclusion as a common management practice integrated in the company´s management control system. For such, it´s imperative that there is a balance between the economic, environmental and social company's concerns. The aim of this article is to study that challenge in a Portuguese subsidiary belonging to a Japanese economic group. The data were collected through interviews and document analysis. The results suggest that CSR practices are not integrated in the management control system, are not part of a long-term environment strategy, and only reflect compliance with Portuguese legislation. It is expected, with this study, to contribute for the literature enrichment about CSR in multinationals companies operating in the extractive industry.

Corporate social responsibility: a pathway to sustainable competitive advantage?

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Shujaat Ali Shah ◽  
Zia Khan
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Banking Industry ◽  
Sustainable Competitive Advantage ◽  
Continuance Commitment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Moderation Effect ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of customers’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on affective and continuance commitment. It analyses the moderation effect of relationship age on the CSR-commitment relationships in the banking industry of an emerging economy. Design/methodology/approach Partial least squares based structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed hypotheses in a sample of 360 respondents collected from the retail banking sector of Pakistan. Findings Customers’ CSR perceptions directly and positively influence affective and continuance commitment. The findings also confirm that relationship age is a positive moderator of the CSR-continuance commitment relationship, but does not influence the CSR-affective commitment relationship. Practical implications Marketers should use CSR activities to enhance customers’ commitment. Given the moderating role of relationship age, marketers should devise different strategies for new and long-term customers. The results clearly show that relationship age affects the CSR-continuance commitment relationship. Long-term banking customers will more likely be in a binding relationship when their banks do CSR activities and disseminate those activities to long-term customers. The study explicitly indicates that maintaining long-term customers’ base through CSR activities helps the marketers in achieving sustainable competitive advantage. Originality/value First, it is the pioneering study to empirically investigate the understudied relationship between CSR and continuance commitment. Second, it examines the moderation effect of relationship age on CSR-commitment relationships in the banking industry of an emerging economy.

scholarly journals Corporate social responsibility, financial performance and risk in Indonesian natural resources industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devie Devie ◽  
Lovina Pristya Liman ◽  
Josua Tarigan ◽  
Ferry Jie
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
True Nature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose With an attempt to give a deeper explanation regarding the manifestation of socially and environmentally responsible cultures among Indonesian natural resources industry, this paper aims to highlight the empirical confirmation on the correlation of corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate financial performance (CFP) and risk. Likewise, corporate risk’s role as a mediating variable in the indirect effect of CSR on CFP is also examined. Design/methodology/approach Kinder, Lydenberg and Domini’s (KLD) measurement approach is used as a basis to assess social responsibility activities as it gives more social rating transparency. CFP captures both accounting- and market-based measurements, whereas volatility of stock return is adopted as a proxy of firm risk. Partial least squares analysis is conducted on 40 Indonesian listed firms in natural resources sector, with observation years from 2008 to 2016. Findings It is revealed that CSR positively affects CFP, although the correlation is stronger in the long run. Significant negative influence to risk is also discovered. However, risk has a significant adverse correlation with CFP when two years’ lagged value is used. Hence, CSR affects CFP through risk in the long-term, both directly and indirectly. Practical implications The empirical result suggests that CSR serves as a tool in managing the risk of enterprises and performance, especially in the long-term. Accordingly, firms should incorporate CSR as a strategic investment and manage a strong relationship with stakeholders. Originality/value This report expands further prior works and contributes to CSR and financial management literature by discovering the true nature of CSR effects as an investment in the future. This is the first study which tests and proves that CSR in Indonesian natural resources industry plays a significant role as a strategic risk management instrument that leads to a sustainable and long-lasting financial performance.

Marketing spending, firm visibility, and asymmetric stock returns of corporate social responsibility strengths and concerns

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 838-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Oh ◽  
John Bae ◽  
Imran S. Currim ◽  
Jooseop Lim ◽  
Yu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Stock Returns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Marketing Spending ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Business To Business ◽  
Finance Officers

Purpose This paper aims to focus on the unique goal of understanding how marketing spending, a proxy for firm visibility, moderates the effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) strengths and concerns on stock returns in the short and long terms. In contrast to the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, the visibility theory, based on stakeholder awareness and expectations, offers asymmetric predictions on the moderation effects of marketing spending. Design/methodology/approach The predictions are tested based on data from KLD, Compustat and Center for Research in Security Prices from 2001-2010 and panel data based regression models. Findings Two results support the predictions of the visibility theory over those of the RBV. First, strengths are associated with higher stock returns, for low marketing spending firms, and only in the long term. Second, concerns are associated with lower stock returns, for high marketing spending firms, also only in the long term. A profiling analysis indicates that high marketing spending firms have high R&D spending and are more likely to operate in business-to-customer than business-to-business industries. Practical implications The two findings highlight the importance of coordination among chief marketing, sustainability and finance officers investing in CSR and marketing for stock returns, contingent on the firm’s marketing and R&D spending and industry characteristics. Originality/value This paper identifies conditions under which CSR is and is not related to stock returns, by uniquely considering three variables omitted in most past studies: marketing spending, CSR strengths and concerns and short- and long-term stock returns, all in the same study.

Do institutional investors have homogeneous influence on corporate social responsibility? Evidence from investor investment horizon

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Meng ◽  
Xiaoqiong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Institutional Investors ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Investment Horizon ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Institutional Shareholders

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relation between the investment horizon of institutional investors and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Design/methodology/approach Utilizing unique datasets on CSR and the investor horizon measures (Gaspar et al., 2005), the authors categorize institutional investors into long-term and short-term investors. This method captures the heterogeneity of investors. Findings The authors show that long-term institutional investors promote CSR engagement, while short-term investors discourage it. The authors further document that shareholders’ ownership horizon has implications on corporate decisions in the CSR framework. The presence of long (short)-term institutional investors is positively (negatively) associated with dividend payout, discourages (encourages) managerial misbehaviors and enhances (reduces) firm valuation, only for firms with high CSR performance. Research limitations/implications Different from previous studies that treat institutional investors homogeneously, this paper provides empirical support that investors are indeed different in influencing CSR. Originality/value Few prior studies address the question of whether active engagement by institutional shareholders on CSR issues differs by the types of institutional ownership. The study attempts to fill this gap by examining the effects of institutions’ investment horizon, one of the major ways to classify institutional shareholders, on the CSR performance of firms.

Leadership Consciousness to CSR

2013 ◽  
pp. 76-90
Author(s):  
Suhail Sultan ◽  
Imad Rjoub
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Trading Company ◽  
The Social ◽  
Corporate Social

The purpose of this case study is to discuss the leadership role in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and thus on the company’s competitiveness, performance, and reputation. The case highlights the adoption of CSR as a long-term strategy in a manufacturing family business located within a highly volatile country in the Arab world where awareness of CSR is not prevailing. By interviewing the owners and senior managers of Royal Industrial Trading Company, one is able to understand how they view their social responsibilities and how they insert CSR into the company’s strategy. Royal has a number of corporate social responsibility policy aims but its current disclosures do not provide a sufficient level of detail to adequately assess the social impact of their activities or link their activities to the achievement of specific stated social aims. The company is enjoying the rewards of improved competitive position, the benefit to their shareholders, and the benefit to the society at large.

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