IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i13p7944-d851618.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Communicating the Resilience and Corporate Social Responsibility of SMEs during Lockdown in Spain: A Visual and Exploratory Study of Communication Mechanisms and Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • María-Dolores García-Santiago

    (Department of Information and Communication Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain)

Abstract

The health crisis caused by COVID-19 has led to changes in the behaviour of businesses during lockdown, especially Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study aims to identify the capacity for reaction, resilience, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) from direct sources and from strategic communication categories. Firstly, to discover the communication mechanisms and strategies of innovative SMEs during lockdown in Spain for overcoming difficulties. And secondly, to confirm “Food and Drink”—sector SME resilience capacities through their communications, and the CSR capacity of the SMEs that supports the sustainability to the tourism sector. For this purpose, a qualitative analysis of the 2.0 messages communicated by the companies was carried out and a map generated from social network analysis to identify the most resilient SMEs based on strategic communication elements used. The results show an uneven business reaction that reflects the change of paradigm in communication with customers that is occurring heterogeneously. This study is original because few on this theme apply to SMEs in the Spanish context. We highlight they are all from the “Food and drink” sector and included in the list of enterprises with high growth rate through entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, allowing us to make certain comparisons and understand certain differences and respective resilience, including supply chains and CSR.

Suggested Citation

  • María-Dolores García-Santiago, 2022. "Communicating the Resilience and Corporate Social Responsibility of SMEs during Lockdown in Spain: A Visual and Exploratory Study of Communication Mechanisms and Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-26, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7944-:d:851618
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7944/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7944/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xueming Luo & Shuili Du, 2015. "Exploring the relationship between corporate social responsibility and firm innovation," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 703-714, December.
    2. Jan Lepoutre & Aimé Heene, 2006. "Investigating the Impact of Firm Size on Small Business Social Responsibility: A Critical Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 67(3), pages 257-273, September.
    3. Van de Ven, Andrew R., 1986. "Central Problems in the Management of Innovation," Agricultural Research Policy Seminar 139708, University of Minnesota Extension.
    4. Andrew H. Van de Ven, 1986. "Central Problems in the Management of Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(5), pages 590-607, May.
    5. Alexander Dahlsrud, 2008. "How corporate social responsibility is defined: an analysis of 37 definitions," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, January.
    6. Heledd Jenkins, 2006. "Small Business Champions for Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 67(3), pages 241-256, September.
    7. Marco Bettiol & Mauro Capestro & Eleonora Maria & Stefano Micelli, 2021. "Reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic through digital connectivity with customers: the Italian experience," Italian Journal of Marketing, Springer, vol. 2021(4), pages 305-330, December.
    8. Volk, Sophia Charlotte & Berger, Karen & Zerfaß, Ansgar & Bisswanger, Luisa & Fetzer, Marcus & Köhler, Karolin, 2017. "How to play the game. Strategic tools for managing corporate communications and creating value for your organization," Communication Insights 3, Academic Society for Management & Communication – An initiative of the Günter Thiele Foundation, Leipzig.
    9. Alin OPREANA & Simona VINEREAN, 2015. "A New Development in Online Marketing: Introducing Digital Inbound Marketing," Expert Journal of Marketing, Sprint Investify, vol. 3(1), pages 29-34.
    10. Ștefan Cristian Gherghina & Mihai Alexandru Botezatu & Alexandra Hosszu & Liliana Nicoleta Simionescu, 2020. "Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): The Engine of Economic Growth through Investments and Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, January.
    11. André Spithoven & Wim Vanhaverbeke & Nadine Roijakkers, 2013. "Open innovation practices in SMEs and large enterprises," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 537-562, October.
    12. Wen-Dong Lv & Dan Tian & Yuan Wei & Rui-Xue Xi, 2018. "Innovation Resilience: A New Approach for Managing Uncertainties Concerned with Sustainable Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-25, October.
    13. Perrine Ferauge, 2012. "A Conceptual Framework Of Corporate Social Responsibility And Innovation," Global Journal of Business Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 6(5), pages 85-96.
    14. Chowdhury, Md Maruf H. & Quaddus, Mohammed, 2017. "Supply chain resilience: Conceptualization and scale development using dynamic capability theory," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 185-204.
    15. Chkir, Imed & El Haj Hassan, Boushra & Rjiba, Hatem & Saadi, Samir, 2021. "Does corporate social responsibility influence corporate innovation? International evidence," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    16. Ester Guijarro & Cristina Santadreu-Mascarell & Beatriz Blasco-Gallego & Lourdes Canós-Darós & Eugenia Babiloni, 2021. "On the Identification of the Key Factors for a Successful Use of Twitter as a Medium from a Social Marketing Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-15, June.
    17. Jill Juergensen & José Guimón & Rajneesh Narula, 2020. "European SMEs amidst the COVID-19 crisis: assessing impact and policy responses," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 47(3), pages 499-510, September.
    18. Gillian Bristow & Adrian Healy, 2018. "Innovation and regional economic resilience: an exploratory analysis," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 60(2), pages 265-284, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ma Asunción Esteso-Blasco & María Gil-Marqués & Juan Sapena, 2021. "Leadership in Economy of Communion Companies. Contribution to the Common Good through Innovation," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 77-101, April.
    2. Adrienn Reisinger & Roland Z. Szabó, 2024. "The event‐driven social responsibility in small and medium‐sized enterprises," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3927-3939, September.
    3. Leon Guillén & Afcha Sergio & Chu Manuel, 2022. "Research on social responsibility of small and medium enterprises: a bibliometric analysis," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(3), pages 857-909, September.
    4. Claudia Patricia Maldonado-Erazo & José Álvarez-García & María de la Cruz del Río-Rama & Ronny Correa-Quezada, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Performance in SMEs: Scientific Coverage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-26, March.
    5. Jeremy Galbreath & David Charles & Eddie Oczkowski, 2016. "The Drivers of Climate Change Innovations: Evidence from the Australian Wine Industry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(2), pages 217-231, May.
    6. Pasricha, Palvi & Nivedhitha, K.S. & Raghuvanshi, Juhi, 2023. "The perceived CSR-innovative behavior conundrum: Towards unlocking the socio-emotional black box," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Simona Gentile-Lüdecke & Rui Torres de Oliveira & Justin Paul, 2020. "Does organizational structure facilitate inbound and outbound open innovation in SMEs?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 1091-1112, December.
    8. Ashish Varma & Kaushal Bhalotia & Karan Gambhir, 2020. "Innovating for competitive advantage: managerial risk-taking ability counterbalances management controls," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(2), pages 389-409, June.
    9. Liu, Zhiqiang & Yan, Miao & Fan, Youqing & Chen, Liling, 2021. "Ascribed or achieved? The role of birth order on innovative behaviour in the workplace," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 480-492.
    10. Cécile Fonrouge & Cécile Ayerbe, 2005. "Les transitions entre innovations : études de cas et proposition d'une grille d'interprétation," Post-Print halshs-00696111, HAL.
    11. Jean-Philippe Denis & Frank Tannery, 2002. "L'architecture des systèmes de contrôle de la stratégie dans les groupes," Revue Finance Contrôle Stratégie, revues.org, vol. 5(3), pages 69-114, September.
    12. Anil K. Gupta & Paul E. Tesluk & M. Susan Taylor, 2007. "Innovation At and Across Multiple Levels of Analysis," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(6), pages 885-897, December.
    13. Brigitte Charles-Pauvers & Nathalie Schieb-Bienfait & Caroline Urbain, 2004. "La compétence du créateur d’entreprise innovante : quelles interrogations?," Post-Print hal-01416605, HAL.
    14. Simona Alfiero & Laura Broccardo & Massimo Cane & Alfredo Esposito, 2018. "High Performance Through Innovation Process Management in SMEs. Evidence from the Italian wine sector," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(3), pages 87-110.
    15. Luger, Michaela & Hofer, Katharina Maria & Floh, Arne, 2022. "Support for corporate social responsibility among generation Y consumers in advanced versus emerging markets," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2).
    16. Yoshida, Masayuki & James, Jeffrey D. & Cronin, J. Joseph, 2013. "Sport event innovativeness: Conceptualization, measurement, and its impact on consumer behavior," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 68-84.
    17. Cécile Ayerbe & Cécile Fonrouge, 2005. "Les transitions entre innovations:études de cas et proposition d’une grille d’interprétation," Revue Finance Contrôle Stratégie, revues.org, vol. 8(2), pages 39-64, June.
    18. Tanja Lepistö & Tiina Mäkitalo-Keinonen & Tiina Valjakka, 0. "Opportunity recognition in a hub-governed network – insights from garage services," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-24.
    19. Sylvain Lenfle, 2004. "Innovation in services : the contribution of design theory," Post-Print hal-00263365, HAL.
    20. Panourgias, Nikiforos S. & Nandhakumar, Joe & Scarbrough, Harry, 2014. "Entanglements of creative agency and digital technology: A sociomaterial study of computer game development," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 111-126.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7944-:d:851618. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.