Corporate social responsibility, innovation capability and firm performance: evidence from SME

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.

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shafat Maqbool ◽  
Nasir Zamir

PurposeThe research on the role of corporate social responsibility in investors' decision process has proliferated over the past few decades. This paper aims to explore the mediating role of financial performance in the relationship between corporate social responsibility and institutional investors.Design/methodology/approachPanel regression was performed on a sample of 29 commercial banks nine years from 2009 to 2017.FindingsThe initial findings of the study show that that corporate social responsibility has a positive and significant impact on institutional investors. However, when the interaction term (financial performance) was incorporated, the relationship between CSR and institutional turns out to be neutral. The study concludes that financial performance plays a pivotal role in the selection of investment avenues.Originality/valueIn Indian context, there is a dearth of research work which studies the impact of sustainable practices on investors' decision process. This topic has received wider attention but lacks insights from developing countries, like India. This article presents a new approach to verify the relationship through the mediating variable (financial performance).


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed W.A. Saleh ◽  
Mohammad A.A. Zaid ◽  
Rabee Shurafa ◽  
Zaharaddeen Salisu Maigoshi ◽  
Marwan Mansour ◽  
...  

Purpose This study aims to examine how the salient board gender diversity among board directors affects firm performance both directly and indirectly, through the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in listed firms on the Palestine Stock Exchange over the period 2010–2017. Design/methodology/approach Based on panel data of 384 observations from all firms listed on the Palestine Security Exchange during the period from 2010 to 2017, this study uses panel data regression to examine the effect of the predictors on firm performance. In addition, to mitigate the endogeneity issue, the analysis was repeated by using one-step generalized method of moments. Findings The results show that board gender diversity has a positive and insignificant influence on firm performance. However, under the moderating effect of CSR, the finding turns from positive insignificant to positive significant. Originality/value The study is timely given that gender diversity plays pivotal roles in determining the performance in terms of monitoring and controlling and further willing to engage in social responsibility. The prior research in Palestine has never investigated the effect of board gender diversity. As such, Palestine has not established a legal quota of minimum female representation on boards, and because of it, the country has weak women’s representation among firms. It, therefore, becomes a necessity to examine the influence of board gender diversity on the financial performance of listed firms in Palestine. Besides, the mixed result in previous literature on the board gender diversity and firm performance indicates that there is an indirect effect that needs alternative explanations.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Yongho Hyun ◽  
Lisa Gao ◽  
Seoki Lee

Purpose This study aims to develop a theoretical framework that specifies how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethical climate (ETHIC) affect pride in membership (PRIDE), and in turn, attitudinal responses (i.e. job satisfaction and turnover intention) among employees, solely focusing on dealers in the casino industry. In addition, the moderating role of customer orientation is examined for internally motivated enjoyment (ENJOY) and externally motivated needs (NEED). Design/methodology/approach This study uses a non-probability convenience-sampling method by distributing 400 individual questionnaires to respondents. A total of 358 responses are used for data analysis using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Furthermore, this study tests the proposed hypotheses using structural equation modeling. Findings This study finds the effect of CSR on ETHIC and the effect of ETHIC on PRIDE along with the subsequent effect on attitudinal responses. Findings also reveal a significant moderating role of ENJOY (NEED) on the relationship between ETHIC (CSR) and PRIDE (PRIDE). Research limitations/implications This study provides meaningful contributions to extant casino CSR literature, as well as opportunities for future research. The topic may be further explored from cross-cultural perspectives and adapt a methodology to enhance the generalizability and applicability of the findings. Originality/value This study attempts to explore the CSR effectiveness on casino dealers, in whom past empirical examination has found little interest. Moreover, according to the multi-experience model, this study investigates the relationships among CSR, ethical climate and pride in membership that have been rarely verified in the past literature. Finally, this study reveals a significant moderating role of ENJOY and NEED that has not been explored, particularly among casino dealers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 1383-1406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunghee Lee ◽  
Heungjun Jung

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on financial performance in firms in the Korean manufacturing industry. In addition, the authors examine the moderating role of differentiation and outside investment in the same relationship. Design/methodology/approach – The mixed methods are used in this study. The authors first take an analytical modeling approach, in which the authors assume that CSR has a positive effect on consumer perceptions, which in turn can improve firm performance. Subsequently, the authors verify the propositions with data from the Korean manufacturing industry. Additionally, the authors explore the moderating roles of various factors in the CSR-financial performance relationship. Findings – The results of the analysis demonstrate that the positive relationship between CSR and financial performance depends on the levels of product differentiation and outside investment. Specifically, these contingent variables magnify the effects of CSR on financial performance. Practical implications – This study is particularly useful to supply chain managers. According to the results, CSR may provide benefits for both manufacturers and retailers. As brand reputations can be source for competitive advantage, the analytical model suggests that products made by socially responsible firms are attractive to consumers. Originality/value – To the authors’ knowledge, there are few studies that examine the multiple moderating effects of differentiation and outside investment on the relationship between CSR and financial performance (return on assets). The authors thus provide a clearer understanding of the effects of CSR activity on firm profitability using these business strategies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Jeffrey ◽  
Stuart Rosenberg ◽  
Brianna McCabe

Purpose This paper aims to study how corporate social responsibility (CSR) behaviors can lead to corporate membership on Fortune Magazine’s Most Admired Companies list. Design/methodology/approach Regression analysis using environmental, social and governance (ESG) statistics published by MSCI-KLD as independent variables to predict the behaviors that lead to most admired status. Findings Not surprisingly, corporate financial performance (CFP) is the largest contributor to membership on the list. However, after controlling for CFP, the analysis finds that specific social responsibility behaviors contribute to membership on the Fortune list. Practical implications This paper finds that CSR behaviors are important to a firm’s reputation as measured by Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list. Therefore, companies should continue with social responsibility activities to improve their reputation with investors. Originality/value Many articles test the effect of ESG on financial performance and the role of financial performance on stock price. This paper is unique in that it measures the impact of CSR on corporate reputation using an important financial market benchmark – the Fortune Most Admired Companies list.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 745-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina El-Bassiouny ◽  
Peter Letmathe

Purpose This paper aims to examine the impact of political uncertainty and instability caused by the 2011 Egyptian revolution on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of Egyptian firms. The study provides empirical evidence to support the link between political instability, financial performance, stock market uncertainty and CSR in the post-revolution context of Egypt. Design/methodology/approach Data on CSR practices in Egypt were collected through a survey of Egyptian firms and content analysis of annual reports from publicly traded firms. The final survey sample consisted of 99 listed Egyptian companies. Structural equation modeling was performed to examine the relationship between the variables of this study. Findings The results of the study show that political instability is perceived to have a significant positive effect on the CSR practices of Egyptian firms. The results also reveal that the financial performance of firms is perceived not to be affected by the political instability after the 2011 Revolution as opposed to stock market uncertainty, which is perceived to be significantly affected. However, financial performance and stock market uncertainty have a significant positive influence on the CSR practices of Egyptian firms. Originality/value This paper capitalizes institutional theory to capture the complex interactions between organizations and their external institutional environments. Previous studies tackling CSR in unstable political environments in the African context focused on countries with prolonged periods of violent conflict and on more localized forms of conflicts. Yet, little is known about CSR during the occurrence of different types of political instabilities in other African countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-297
Author(s):  
Shabir Ahmad ◽  
Kamran Ahmed Siddiqui ◽  
Hoda Mahmoud AboAlsamh

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of owner family involvement in business on sustainable survival of family small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and to empirically validate the intervening role of corporate social responsibility (CSR).Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze data from 489 owner and nonowner executives of 150 family SMEs using PLS-SEM (Partial Least Square–Structural Equation Modeling).FindingsThe authors found evidence that family involvement in business positively impacts the sustainable survival of family SMEs while corporate social responsibility partially mediates this relationship. Apart from effective family involvement in business, active involvement in social causes enhances a firm's ability to survive longer.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was conducted in a geographic context and data were collected from family-managed and controlled firms. Further research is needed to generalize the findings to all types of family firms in the global context. In an Islamic society, family firms need to invest in social causes, human development, and environmental sustainability through zakat, sadaqat, and donations.Practical implicationsThe findings imply that family firms require stakeholder-centric competitive strategies and socially responsible behavior along with effective family control, commitment, enrichment, and successful succession since the path to sustainable survival goes through CSR.Originality/valueSurvival is the biggest challenge facing family SMEs forcing them to achieve the ability to sustain longer. Rooted in transaction cost economics (TCE) theory of the family firm and stakeholder theory, this paper validates an integrative model for family SMEs' sustainable survival.


2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 478-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Gaudencio ◽  
Arnaldo Coelho ◽  
Neuza Ribeiro

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to show how organizational corporate social responsibility (CSR) can influence workers’ attitudes and behaviors, especially in terms of affective commitment (AC), job satisfaction (JS), and turnover intention (TI). A second aim is to explore the social exchange process that may underlie this relationship, by examining the mediating role of organizational trust (OT). Design/methodology/approach The authors employ structural equation modeling based on survey data obtained from 315 Portuguese individuals. Findings The findings show that perceptions of CSR predict workers’ attitudes and behaviors directly through the mediating role of OT. They suggest that managers should implement CSR practices because these can contribute toward fostering OT, improving workers’ AC and JS, and reducing TI. Originality/value This study enriches the existing knowledge about social exchange relationships in organizational contexts, and responds to the need to understand underlying mechanisms linking CSR with workers’ organizational outcomes, by analyzing CSR practices in a holistic stakeholder perspective.


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