scholarly journals Making an Impact: An Initial Review of U.S. Sport League Corporate Social Responsibility Responses During COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-343
Author(s):  
Danielle K. Smith ◽  
Jonathan Casper
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
National Football League ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Sport League ◽  
Major League ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Negative Sentiment ◽  
Media Sentiment

COVID-19 has brought about an unprecedented time where a majority of major American sporting organizations have ceased competition. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions, historically an avenue for sport organizations to positively impact society, provide a compelling avenue of study during this time. While researchers have observed the role of CSR and crisis communication when the crisis arises from within the organization, there is a need to understand CSR shifts and responses when the crisis is on a societal level. This commentary examines efforts of major U.S. sport league CSR programs (National Basketball Association/Women's National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and National Hockey League), starting in mid-March when the majority of organizations ceased competition. Data were gathered using a mixed-methods approach of qualitative interviews, secondary research, and social media sentiment analysis. Key findings included the emergence of two different approaches to CSR communication strategies among U.S. sport leagues as well as three clear themes of COVID-19-related communication: educate, assist, and inspire. In addition, this commentary provides an initial glance at consumer response to CSR programs, showing both positive and negative sentiment trends.

The role and relevance of corporate social responsibility in sport: A view from the top

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 528-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Babiak
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
North American ◽  
Professional Sport ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
Sport League ◽  
Beneficial Impact ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

AbstractCorporate social responsibility (CSR) represents behaviors that have increasingly strategic importance to many companies. CSR has been defined as a company's commitment to minimizing or eliminating any harmful effects on society and maximizing its long-term beneficial impact (Mohr, Webb, & Harris, 2001). The purpose of this paper is (a) to improve our understanding of how North American professional sport league executives view CSR and (b) to consider how CSR activities contribute to these leagues. Interviews with four senior league executives provide perspective as to the role and relevance of social responsibility in North American professional sport. The paper discusses the impact of leadership on CSR and relates the topics covered from institutional, strategic, and stakeholder perspectives.

The role and relevance of corporate social responsibility in sport: A view from the top

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 528-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Babiak
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
North American ◽  
Professional Sport ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
Sport League ◽  
Beneficial Impact ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

AbstractCorporate social responsibility (CSR) represents behaviors that have increasingly strategic importance to many companies. CSR has been defined as a company's commitment to minimizing or eliminating any harmful effects on society and maximizing its long-term beneficial impact (Mohr, Webb, & Harris, 2001). The purpose of this paper is (a) to improve our understanding of how North American professional sport league executives view CSR and (b) to consider how CSR activities contribute to these leagues. Interviews with four senior league executives provide perspective as to the role and relevance of social responsibility in North American professional sport. The paper discusses the impact of leadership on CSR and relates the topics covered from institutional, strategic, and stakeholder perspectives.

scholarly journals Bank employees’ engagement in corporate social responsibility initiatives at a South African retail bank

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent C. Penn ◽  
Peta H. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
South African ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Managerial Implication ◽  
Brand Reputation ◽  
Tangible Assets ◽  
Value Add ◽  
Corporate Social

Orientation: Many firms encourage employees to undertake corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. With any project, it is important that firm resources are committed to create valued outcomes for stakeholders.Research purpose: The study purpose was to gain insight into criteria that can practically help define the success of employee run CSR projects.Motivation for the study: CSR activities are reported in literature as creating valuable intangible and tangible assets for firms when planned as strategies to improve brand reputation, customer loyalty and future profit. This research reviews a South African retail bank that promotes CSR undertakings to employees exploring the bank’s support for employees engaged in CSR.Research design, approach and method: Two of the bank’s completed community CSR projects were identified by the bank’s senior CSR managers for this review. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with employees, bank CSR managers and project recipients. Participant interviews were transcribed into text then analysed to identify where stakeholder value diminished on these projects.Main findings: The study found that this bank’s CSR processes do not fully support the employees, detrimentally affecting the ability of the employees to optimise project outcomes.Practical or managerial implication: Because employee CSR efforts are often aligned with a firm’s value creation strategies, optimising the project management of employee CSR activities can improve the value of the outcomes achieved.Contribution or value add: Determining specific conditions that influence successful project management of employee CSR projects can help to improve the potential of CSR projects in co-creating optimised value for stakeholders.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sporting Events

2014 ◽  
pp. 88-102
Author(s):  
Samuel M. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
National Football League ◽  
Major League Baseball ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Responsible Behavior ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
English Premier League

All businesses are expected to behave in socially responsible ways. These responsibilities include ethical treatment of employees and all stakeholders, addressing environmental issues in a sustainable manor, and contributing to the community. Corporate social responsibility is not just a concern for the manufacturers of products, but extends to all business organizations including professional teams and sporting organizations. The chapter discusses the importance of corporate socially responsible behavior and then focuses on the importance of such behavior by sporting teams and organizations. A specific discussion is presented about the responsible social behavior undertaken by the National Football League, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, Formula I racing, FIFA, the English Premier League, and the Olympic Games.

The African American Community and Professional Baseball: Examining Major League Baseball’s Corporate Social-Responsibility Efforts as a Relationship-Management Strategy

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun M. Anderson ◽  
Matthew M. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Urban Youth ◽  
Relationship Management ◽  
Program Managers ◽  
Inner Cities ◽  
Relationship Management Theory ◽  
Major League ◽  
Corporate Social

In 1989, former Major League Baseball (MLB) player John Young created the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program as a way to increase the number of African Americans becoming involved with the game of baseball. Along with this program, MLB created the Urban Youth Academy (UYA) in 2006 as a way to not only teach the game but also provide life skills to youth and adults. However, MLB continues to struggle in developing relationships and increasing involvement of African Americans. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand why African Americans are not interested or involved in MLB. Corporate social responsibility and relationship management theory were used as the frameworks for this study. Eleven RBI and UYA program managers were interviewed to determine the challenges they face in getting African Americans involved in the game. Results from this study indicated four themes regarding MLB program managers’ challenges: inconsistency in measuring success, lack of parental involvement, and lack of trust. A discussion, implications, and future directions are addressed.

Corporate social responsibility and its prospect for community development in Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 376-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruk Degie ◽  
Wassie Kebede
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Corporate Social

This study uncovers the experiences of LG’s community development project in Ethiopia. A total of 24 community members participated in the study. Qualitative interviews were conducted to collect data on the experiences, satisfaction and complaints of community members on the community development project of LG. Findings indicate LG’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) project is tuned to the needs of the communities, reflecting a deviation from the mainstream CSR agenda. The study shows CSR becomes an important interface between government and local communities. The study concludes that the project can be exemplary in that it demonstrates business corporations have the capacity to address the pressing needs of communities.

scholarly journals Corporate Social Responsibility in Multinational Companies Based in Lebanon: Exploring the Role of Managers’ Individual and Situational Factors in Institutionalizing CSR

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Marguerite Eid
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Power ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Multinational Companies ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Meso Level ◽  
Corporate Social

In a world that is becoming more unstable the implementation of CSR activities is changing. CSR started at the corporate level in a context that firm behaviour should move away from a concentration on profit seeking. Multinational companies (MNCs) must take responsibility for contributing (or not) to the progress of society, environment, and economy in developing countries as some large MNCs can have more economic and social power than governments (Garriga & Mele, 2004). Understanding how MNCs execute corporate social responsibility (CSR) in diverse and developing countries worldwide is still at an early stage, (Hah & Freeman, 2014). Microfoundational studies are vital because the understanding of how communication, cognition, and behaviour at micro-levels influence and are influenced by higher-level structures then permits researchers to develop a better understanding of diversity in institutional results. This study explores the practice of CSR through exploratory qualitative interviews using Lebanon as a case study. A major contribution is that the levels of CSR engagement are impacted by institutional theory. The microfoundations are thus institutional work, becoming institutional entrepreneurship at the meso level using that as a way to legitimize their operations in Lebanon. Macro and meso level aspects are developed from these CSR microdynamics. It also discusses how people who work in Lebanon make sense of CSR using an identified centrifugal approach and tailoring processes to suit the religious and social context.

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