Do the millennials in the USA care about the fast food industry’s involvement in corporate social responsibility?

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 358-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahasan Harun ◽  
Gayle Prybutok ◽  
Victor Prybutok

Purpose This purpose of this paper is to develop and examine a theoretical framework for evaluating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in influencing millennial fast food consumers’ purchasing behavior. It also aims to help business strategists to leverage marketing strategies to achieve a competitive gain. Design/methodology/approach To examine the proposed framework through the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), the authors collected data through survey. They also evaluated the proposed framework through the multi-group analysis and the importance-performance map analysis (IPMA). Findings Findings suggest that CSR alone is unable to influence millennial fast food consumers’ purchase intention. Therefore, fast food business strategists should communicate CSR activities by simultaneously focusing on affective identification and satisfaction to achieve the objective. IPMA analysis shows that, among all the CSR indicators, fast food restaurants’ responsible behavior and their concern with respect to the environment create the most impact on millennial fast food consumers’ mindset. Practical implications For fast food business strategists, the findings of this research provide a strategic blueprint in terms of using CSR as a way to foster relationships with the millennial fast food consumers, thus creating a competitive advantage in the market. Originality/value Anchoring in the theoretical framework, this research contributes to the extant literature by providing a critical evaluation of how to influence millennial fast food consumers’ purchase intention from a more systematic perspective. This research also offers fast food marketing managers a strategy by leveraging their initiatives for a particular customer segment through the IPMA at both the construct and indicator levels.

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salmi Mohd Isa ◽  
Phaik Nie Chin ◽  
Irene Liew

Purpose Few studies exist which delve into the possible factors that prevent ethically minded consumers from translating their ethical perceptions into ethical purchase intention (EPI). Thus, this study aims to explore how consumers assess corporate social responsibility (CSR) based on several influencing factors toward EPI, with CSR skepticism (SKP) as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional study is conducted through a self-administered questionnaire and uses a positive research approach with a quantitative basis of enquiry. The partial least squares–structural equation modeling- model is used to examine the causal relationship between seven independent variables of CSR assessment (i.e. CSR awareness, knowledge of CSR position of company, cause importance, price consciousness, CSR image of company, credibility of CSR efforts and peer influence) with EPI. In addition, this study also examines the moderating effect of SKP in the relationship. Findings The findings show that CSR assessment factors are important to convert mere purchase criteria into EPI and SKP does play a significant role in weakening the relationship. Originality/value This study examines the moderating effect of CSR skepticism, the exploration of which still remains very limited in current literature.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4548
Author(s):  
Qingyu Zhang ◽  
Sohail Ahmad

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in management domains is a well-known concept that links corporate interests and environmental/community values. CSR is considered a strategic policy that offers environmental and social competitive advantages. Organizations consider that CSR-based goodwill provides a tactical competitive edge and sustainable growth. The goal of this paper is to show how CSR programs affect consumers’ purchasing intention in the context of Pakistan. In addition, the effect of customer awareness has been studied as a moderator between CSR and purchasing intention. To this end, the study has conducted a survey and gathered Pakistani customers’ responses, and structural equation modeling has been used to evaluate the results. The study concludes that CSR activities favorably affect customer purchasing intentions directly as well as indirectly through improving brand image and trust, and customer awareness of CSR activities plays a moderating role. The implications and future research directions are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahnoor Zahid ◽  
Hina Naeem ◽  
Iqra Aftab ◽  
Sajawal Ali Mughal

Purpose The purpose of this study is to scrutinize the effect of corporate social responsibility activities (CSRA) of the firm on its financial performance (FP) and analyze the mediating role of innovation and competitive advantage (CA) in the relationship between CSRA and FP in the manufacturing sector of an emerging country, i.e. Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Data has been collected through an electronic structured questionnaire from 300 middle-level and top-level managers by surveying different manufacturing firms of Gujranwala, Pakistan. The study’s hypotheses have been checked by analyzing the reliability and validity of data and applying confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling through statistical package for the social sciences and analysis of moment structures. Findings Outcomes of this study supported the hypothesized model. It has been found that the CSRA plays a significant positive role in determining the FP of the firm. Furthermore, the CA and innovation have been proved as significant mediators between CSRA and FP. Originality/value The first time examining the intermediation of innovation and CA in the relationship between CSRA and FP is the primary input of this study to the literature. Practically, this study’s findings will help strategy makers of manufacturing firms in emerging countries develop better strategies for implementing CSRA, enhancing innovation, seeking CA and improving FP.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 580-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuan Luu ◽  
Le Viet ◽  
Eryadi Masli ◽  
Diana Rajendran

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to delve into the interactive effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ambidextrous leadership on customer-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (customer-oriented OCB) and service recovery performance among tourism industry workers. Design/methodology/approach The authors collected data from participants working in tour companies based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The associations among the constructs in the research model were tested through multilevel structural equation modeling. Findings Data analysis supported the positive links between CSR and customer-oriented OCB and service recovery performance. Customer-oriented job-crafting emerged as a mediator for such relationships. Ambidextrous leadership played a moderating role to attenuate the positive impacts of CSR on customer-oriented job crafting, customer-oriented OCB and service recovery performance. Originality/value The study extends the tourism management literature by linking CSR to customer-oriented OCB and service recovery performance among tourism employees via customer-oriented job crafting as a mediator and ambidextrous leadership as a moderator.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawit Bahta ◽  
Jiang Yun ◽  
Md Rashidul Islam ◽  
Muhammad Ashfaq

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its effect on small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) innovation capability and financial performance from the perspective of a developing country. It also aims to explore the role of innovation capability as a mediating factor in the linkage between CSR and SMEs’ financial performance. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was distributed among managers/owners of the sampled companies. Using a data set of 402 Eritrean firms and partial least squares structural equation modeling, direct and mediating effects were tested. Findings The result reveals that CSR has a positive and significant effect on the financial performance and innovation capability of SEMs. Besides, innovation capability has a positive and significant effect on the business performance of SMEs. The result also supports a partial mediation effect of innovation capability on the association between CSR and firm performance. Practical implications The findings from this research could enhance the awareness of the entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers on CSR-SMEs’ relationship and help understand the importance of CSR as a crucial driver mechanism for companies to become more innovative and competitive. Originality/value By empirically examining the relationship between CSR, innovation capability and performance in SMEs, this study contributes to the ongoing scholarly discussion on the linkage between CSR and financial performance. Also, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other study investigated the mediating role of innovation capability on the link between CSR activities and firms’ financial performance in SMEs from a developing country perspective, making substantial contributions to research in terms of theory, practice and policy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bei Zhang ◽  
Jiabao Lin ◽  
Renhuai Liu

Purpose This study aims to examine the factors shaping food firms’ intentions to control quality safety in the context of government regulation in China. Design/methodology/approach Based on 180 usable data samples collected via a survey, structural equation modeling and moderated multiple regression analysis were used to examine the research model. Findings It was found that quality safety capability, corporate social responsibility, collaboration between parties along supply chains and information-sharing among supply chain members have had different impacts on the intentions of food firms to control quality safety. It was also found that government regulation has a positive moderating effect on corporate social responsibility and on collaboration between organizations in a supply chain. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to a particular sample: i.e. the managers of food firms from Guangdong Province in China. Thus, the results need to be generalized to encompass wider samples. Originality/value Previous studies have not explained well the mechanisms by which quality safety control has been established among China’s food firms. This study builds a theoretical framework for the factors affecting intentions to control quality safety by examining issues from the perspectives of food firms and by taking into account the characteristics of food supply chains. This approach addresses the gaps in current understanding and provides practical support to promote quality safety among food firms in China.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niki Glaveli

Purpose This study aims to uncover the underlying multiple intervening mechanisms between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and customer loyalty. Social identity and social exchange theories offer the ground for prediction that the primary outcomes of CSR initiatives are customer–company (C–C) identification and customer trust, which in turn affect customer loyalty. Also, the differential effect of CSR behaviors toward specific stakeholder groups on customer attitudes and behaviors are examined. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 333 customers of telecommunication companies in Greece. Structural equation modeling was used to test the postulated relationships. Findings The findings demonstrate that both C–C identification and customer trust intervene in the relationship between customer perceptions of CSR and customer loyalty; however, the identification mechanism is stronger than the trust mechanism in building customer loyalty while C–C identification seems to drive customer trust. Moreover, out of the three CSR components (customers, employees, and society/environment) that were considered as relevant to customers and were investigated, customer-centric activities were found to be the stronger predictor of both C–C identification and customer trust. Also, CSR toward society/environment was found to positively influence C–C identification. Practical implications The findings of this research can assist practitioners in effectively conceptualizing CSR image from a customers’ point of view and designing their company’s CSR and communication strategies to boost positive customer responses and strong long-term relationships. Originality/value The current study provides further insights into the complex relationship between CSR and customer responses and the impact that different CSR activities may have on customers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-439
Author(s):  
Dana E. Harrison ◽  
O.C. Ferrell ◽  
Linda Ferrell ◽  
Joe F. Hair, Jr

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to theoretically develop and empirically validate separate scales that represent a consumer’s expectations of business ethics (BE) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Design/methodology/approach A literature review and qualitative research were conducted to generate items for the scales. Initial item reduction was performed qualitatively based on a panel of experts. A follow-up quantitative assessment using an exploratory factor analysis further reduced the items. The scales were then validated using confirmatory composite analysis with partial least squares-structural equation modeling. Findings Separate scales representing consumers’ expectations of BE and CSR behaviors were developed. The scales exhibited reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity and external validity. Practical implications The separation of these scales into two components will facilitate more precise examination of consumer perceptions of these two components of product and brand images, and how they may impact brand attitudes and brand trust. Originality/value This is the first effort to develop separate scales for consumer expectations of ethics and CSR, and assess their impact on brand outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Abdul Rehman Khan ◽  
Zhang Yu ◽  
Muhammad Umar

PurposeThe study explores the linkage between environmental awareness, green practices, firm reputation and performance. Undeniably, very few studies have been conducted on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its effect on firms' performance.Design/methodology/approachIn the current study, the data are collected from 404 firms located in Pakistan, and structural equation modeling (SEM) is employed to validate hypotheses.FindingsThe results show that green practices are statistically significant to build a positive image of firms; also, these practices enhance firm performance. Furthermore, the results also confirmed that CSR practice “indirect support to the community” has an insignificant relationship with firm reputation due to mismanagement and corruption involvement on governmental levels.Research limitations/implicationsThis study suggests that the firms' management should spend money on CSR activities and concentrate on proper monitoring of CSR activities to utilize funds efficiently. The research is conducted in Pakistan's context, while future studies need to be conducted in other emerging economies to investigate the linkage between CSR, firm reputation and performance.Originality/valueAccording to the researcher's best knowledge, very few studies have been conducted regarding the relationship between environmental awareness, green practices, firm reputation and performance in emerging economies like Pakistan.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meier Zhuang ◽  
Wenzhong Zhu ◽  
Lihui Huang ◽  
Wen-Tsao Pan

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to explore the influence mechanism of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for smart cities on consumers' purchase intention. The authors aim to identify the key components of CSR for smart cities based on the perspective of consumers, namely responsibility toward consumers, environment and community and validate their relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe authors exploit data collected by questionnaire surveys to estimate the effects of CSR for smart cities on consumers' purchase intentions and to investigate the statistical causality between them. The multilinear regression model is used to figure out the different impact levels of the three dimensions of CSR for smart cities on consumers' purchase intention.FindingsThe results illustrate that CSR for smart cities and its three dimensions all have significant positive impacts on consumers' purchase intentions. Besides, consumer–corporate identity (CCI) exerts a partial mediation effect on this influence mechanism.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is based on a rather small sample size. Besides, due to the time limitation and other factors, some other control variables are neglected in the regression model. Therefore, the impact level could be distorted.Practical implicationsThe authors put forward management implications according to research conclusions. Corporates should actively fulfill the CSR in the field of consumer responsibility to boost consumers' purchase intention. Corporate should strengthen the interaction with consumers to improve their corporate identity.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this paper is to provide convincing evidence of the impacts of CSR for smart cities on consumer purchase intention (CPI), thus proposing effective measures for corporates to win more consumers by taking on social responsibility for smart cities. This paper takes CCI as mediating variable to deepen the understanding of the impacts of CSR for smart cities on CPI, which is innovative and beneficial to enriching literature in related fields.


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