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For the greater good: business networks and business social responsibility to communities

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  • Terry L. Besser
  • Nancy Miller
  • Robert K. Perkins

Abstract

Business networks (co-operative arrangements between independent business organizations) may be the signature organizational form of the contemporary global economy. Many policy-makers and local leaders advocate business network membership as an alternative development strategy for regional economic vitality. The extant literature on business networks has focused on their association with business success. However, little is known about their impact on other aspects of community life. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the role of network membership on one non-economic dimension of the business community interface. We examined the relationship between business network membership and business social responsibility to communities, defined as the provision of leadership and support for community betterment projects. Data were gathered from telephone interviews with a random sample of 460 non-metro small business operators in the USA. Independent t -tests and ordinary least squares regression analyses controlling for theoretically important variables were conducted. Findings show that networked businesses provide more leadership and support for their communities than non-networked businesses. However, networked businesses were no more likely than non-networked businesses to use local suppliers of goods and services.

Suggested Citation

  • Terry L. Besser & Nancy Miller & Robert K. Perkins, 2006. "For the greater good: business networks and business social responsibility to communities," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 321-339, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:18:y:2006:i:4:p:321-339
    DOI: 10.1080/08985620600715046
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    Cited by:

    1. Whitney O. Peake & Danielle Cooper & Margaret A. Fitzgerald & Glenn Muske, 2017. "Family Business Participation in Community Social Responsibility: The Moderating Effect of Gender," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(2), pages 325-343, May.
    2. 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.
    3. Audretsch, David Bruce & Belitski, Maksim & Guerrero, Maribel, 2023. "Sustainable orientation management and institutional quality: Looking into European entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    4. Rodney C. Runyan & Jeffrey G. Covin, 2019. "Small Business Orientation: A Construct Proposal," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(3), pages 529-552, May.
    5. Claudia Eger & Graham Miller & Caroline Scarles, 2019. "Corporate Philanthropy Through the Lens of Ethical Subjectivity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(1), pages 141-153, April.
    6. Merja Lähdesmäki & Timo Suutari, 2012. "Keeping at Arm’s Length or Searching for Social Proximity? Corporate Social Responsibility as a Reciprocal Process Between Small Businesses and the Local Community," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 108(4), pages 481-493, July.
    7. Suzanne Campin & Jo Barraket & Belinda Luke, 2013. "micro-Business Community Responsibility in Australia: Approaches, Motivations and Barriers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(3), pages 489-513, July.

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