Institutional Forces Affecting Corporate Social Responsibility Behavior of the Chinese Food Industry

2015 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 705-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zuo ◽  
Mark S. Schwartz ◽  
Yuju Wu

Food safety problems in China, such as deadly tainted milk, have attracted growing attention from a corporate social responsibility (CSR) perspective. To examine the forces that potentially drive CSR behavior within the Chinese food industry, our study is organized as follows. First, a review is conducted on the unique history of CSR in China as well as some of the major Chinese food scandals that have taken place. The primary drivers of CSR in China that have been suggested in the literature are then summarized. Next, new institutional theory perspectives are drawn upon to analyze three forces that potentially affect the behavior of Chinese firms: (a) coercive isomorphism, (b) mimetic processes, and (c) normative pressures. Based on a questionnaire survey of 164 Chinese managers and employees, the CSR behavior of firms operating in the Chinese food industry is found to only be significantly affected by the institutional factor of normative pressures. The study concludes with its limitations as well as the implications of the findings.

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-71
Author(s):  
Nicoleta-Daniela Milu

In Romania, large companies, most of which are multinationals, have made significant progress in integrating the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) into their activity. The concept of CSR in small and medium-sized companies is still in the early stages of reporting, but with great development prospects. Romanian companies have gradually begun to develop their own culture in terms of social responsibility. The main objective of this article is to analyze how Romanian authors approach CSR theories in their research. The CSR action is seen by the authors as an interdependent relationship between corporations and society. Social requirements are generally considered to be a way in which society interacts with the business environment and gives it a certain legitimacy and prestige. Given that the history of the concept of CSR is long and diverse, I must emphasize that this article focuses on the publications of Romanian authors who based their work on a theory of CSR, providing an original perspective and understanding of the concept of CSR. The research methodology approached involves analysis and synthesis appeal. The study shows that integrative theories are the most common, based on the papers of Romanian authors regarding the concept of CSR. Most articles are based on the idea that the business depends on society to continue its activity and to develop, there is an interdependent relationship between the company and society.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Ahmadian ◽  
Shahrzad Khosrowpour

Recently, scholars and managers have devoted greater attention to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its strategic implications. With more awareness surrounding the topic it would be expected for there to be a consensus on a definition, but as of yet none has been reached. The lack of a universally accepted definition has led some to define it as a term, a concept, a process, a theory, while others simply call it an activity or set of activities (Hazlett & Murray, 2007). CSR has been also captioned under many names. Terms such as corporate citizenship, global citizenship, corporate social responsiveness, strategic philanthropy, and even spiritual capitalism are sometimes used interchangeably, depending on the organization to use it. Often, these numerous monikers and interpretations lead to confusion amongst those intending to study or implement the practice into their business strategy. This uncertainty on how CSR should be defined has led some academics and practitioners to believe that the concept is void of any definition. Contrary to this belief, others find that there is an overabundance of definitions; many of which are “often biased toward specific interests and thus prevent the development and implementation of the concept” (Dahlsrud, 2008). Our study focuses on the importance of CSR and why it’s becoming so prevalent in any organizations. By studying the history of CSR, its many definitions, as well as its implementation methods, we attempt to suggest strategic alternatives for an effective corporate social responsibility.  


Author(s):  
Luise Görges ◽  
Ulf Kadritzke

Luise Görges, Ulf Kadritzke: Corporate Social Responsibility – from Reputation Managementto the Strategic Advance of Corporate Power. This history of CSR exemplifies theadvancement of corporate power in the process of capitalist globalization. Initially started inresponse to reports on the violation of human rights, the transnational corporations (TNCs)managed to design the CSR concept as a voluntary and highly selective commitment to bridgethe gap between the rhetoric and the reality of corporate conduct. With the worldwide rise ofthe neoliberal paradigm in economic and social policy, these CSR-concepts were combinedinto a capital-dominated CSR-complex. The article tries to reconstruct the scientific, politicaland ideological roots of the concept and the steps transforming the corporate CSR-movementinto a successful ‘industry’. But the company-driven CSR is consistently confronted withactors and actions of a new social movement (including NGOs as well as unions). Theseorganizations of civil society steadily uncover the social consequences of corporate globalstrategies. The so far asymmetric balance of power may nevertheless give NGOs and theirallies– backed by the new media – a chance to lay open corporate misconduct and demonstratethe main ‘performance’ of global corporate power: the deepening of class polarization andecological instability.


Author(s):  
Horen Goowalla

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) defined as “the ethical behavior of a company towards the society,” manifests itself in the form of such noble programs initiated by for-profit organizations. CSR has become increasingly prominent in the Indian corporate scenario because organizations have realized that besides growing their businesses, it is also vital to build trustworthy and sustainable relationships with the community at large. This is one of the key drivers of CSR programs. Though India is one of the fastest growing economies, socio-economic problems like poverty, illiteracy, lack of healthcare etc. are still ubiquitous and the government has limited resources to tackle these challenges. This scenario has opened up several areas for businesses to contribute towards social development. Companies have CSR teams that devise specific policies, strategies and goals for their CSR programs and set aside budgets to support them. Corporate Social Responsibility means the way in which  business firms integrate environmental, economic and social concerns into their culture, values, strategy, decision making and operations in an accountable and transparent manner and therefore, leading to better creation of wealth, an improved society and better  practices in the business organization. The research study has been undertaken by selecting three tea estates of Jorhat District of Assam, out of the total tea estates 135(Annual Report2013, Published tea Board of India). These tea estates are considered only Company based, tea estates for the study. This paper is about how Tea Industry performs their Social Responsibility towards their workers. Research is based on the three Tea Gardens industry i.e. how they fulfill their task towards the benefit of Society. In this paper,  an attempt has been made to highlights how the companies based tea industries have introduced many workers welfare activities, social development programmes, better working conditions,provide better medical and sanitation facilities, sports and cultural activities in order to improve  their standard of living of employees.


Author(s):  
Elena Candelo ◽  
Cecilia Casalegno ◽  
Chiara Civera

The chapter aims at investigating the effects that the Communication of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability exerts on consumers' perception considering the fast food industry in Italy. the McDonald's case study has been developed through managerial interviews and formal documents analysis in order to report on its strategies for CSR activities implementation and their communication in Italy. Moreover, through surveys conducted in Italy, the case study has been tested on a particular group of young consumers - Generation Z - less influenced by the past McDonald's activity in order to demonstrate how communications of sustainability are better believed and perceived, when a brand has a long tradition of misperceptions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 489-498
Author(s):  
Simona Fortunati ◽  
Donato Morea ◽  
Enrico Maria Mosconi

The persistent exploitation of natural resources and the consequent use of consumption are driving global food demand with the result that agricultural activity is becoming less and less environmentally friendly. The circular economy (CE) can become a valid alternative, inserting the economic-agricultural system into the harmonic process of material circulation. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) model is particularly interesting not only because of the ethical dimension of the company but also as a factor of strategic business improvement that combines the concepts of CSR and CE as possible solutions for developing sustainable business processes. The objective of the work is to highlight a detailed framework of how the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the Italian agri-food industry can provide an adequate level of communication, circular strategies and social responsibility practices. The research methodology is based on a qualitative multiple study conducted on a sample of nine companies in the Italian territory. The study highlights the attention of companies on the issues of the CE for the achievement of the set sustainable objectives and the attention to CSR and CE practices. The work has several implications. It provides a further understanding of CSR and CE policies as enabling factors for the development of sustainable organizational performance in agriculture. Moreover, it better investigates the relationship between CSR and the CE. Finally, it analyses the SMEs state of the art in the CE field and strengthens the concept of CE by analysing corporate practices consistent with sustainability reports.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 539-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen You-Hua ◽  
Nie Pu-Yan ◽  
Yang Yong-Cong

This paper develops the theory of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the food industry. The effects of CSR on the food industry are captured. First, we argue that CSR reduces the profits of a CSR firm under monopoly. Second, under complete information, regulation does not improve social welfare. We find that both active price regulation and active quality regulation reduce a monopolist’s profits, consumer surplus and social welfare. Finally, under incomplete information, the monopolist exaggerates quality as much as possible. With quality regulation, CSR reduces exaggerated quality in the food industry.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Iatridis ◽  
Andrei Kuznetsov ◽  
Philip B. Whyman

ABSTRACT:Existing research on certifiable management standards (CMS) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) tends to focus on large companies and is characterised by disagreement about the role of these standards as drivers of CSR. We contribute to the literature by shifting the analytical focus to the behaviour of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that subscribe to multiple CSR related standards. We argue that, in respect of motive and commitment, SMEs are not as different from large companies as the literature suggests, as they are guided by similar institutional and economic motives. Results, based on ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified SMEs in Greece, demonstrate that later adopters are more susceptible to coercive and mimetic motives and are less likely to commit fully to the CMS requirements, while earlier adopters react to normative motives and considerations of internal efficiency gains and tend to carry out CMS requirements with greater diligence.


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