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Corporate Social Responsibility That “Pays”: A Strategic Approach to CSR for SMEs

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  • Carmen Stoian
  • Mark Gilman

Abstract

This study adopts a strategic approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR), puts forward a model of CSR activities that enhance small and medium enterprises (SMEs) growth, and argues that by aligning CSR activities with the competitive strategy of the firm, SMEs enhance firm growth. We test this model using multinomial logistic analysis and data from a survey with 211 U.K.‐based SMEs. We find that CSR activities related to the community enhance firm growth for all SMEs, but especially for firms adopting a cost leadership strategy, and that CSR activities related to the workforce are crucial to avoid sales decline, especially for SMEs adopting a differentiation or a quality‐driven strategy. We also find that environment‐related CSR activities are not beneficial for SMEs' growth and that human rights–related CSR activities slow growth for firms adopting a differentiation or a quality‐driven strategy. Finally, we put forward managerial and policy recommendations.

Suggested Citation

  • Carmen Stoian & Mark Gilman, 2017. "Corporate Social Responsibility That “Pays”: A Strategic Approach to CSR for SMEs ," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(1), pages 5-31, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ujbmxx:v:55:y:2017:i:1:p:5-31
    DOI: 10.1111/jsbm.12224
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Johan Lindeque & Olga Samuel & Corin Kraft, 2022. "Small Businesses’ Social Responsibility and Political Activity Survey Studies: A Review, Synthesis, and Research Agenda," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.
    2. Ali Uyar & Mehmet Ali Koseoglu & Cemil Kuzey & Abdullah S Karaman, 2023. "Does firm strategy influence corporate social responsibility and firm performance? Evidence from the tourism industry," Tourism Economics, , vol. 29(5), pages 1272-1301, August.
    3. Giacomo Boesso & Barbara Fryzel & Marco Ghitti, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and comparative capitalism frameworks: Evidence from the United States, Poland, and Italy," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 531-547, March.
    4. Lorenzo Leto & Diletta Vito, 2023. "Il contributo dei sistemi di RM e PM alla sostenibilit? integrata: il caso B&C Speakers," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(3), pages 113-139.
    5. Muhammad Jawad Iqbal & Hafiz Muhammad Usman Khizar, 2022. "The Epistemology of Entrepreneurial Responsible Orientation (ERO): Theory, Conceptualization, and Future Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.
    6. Leonidou, Leonidas C. & Eteokleous, Pantelitsa P. & Christodoulides, Paul & Strømfeldt Eduardsen, Jonas, 2023. "A dynamic capabilities perspective to socially responsible family business: Implications on social-based advantage and market performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PA).
    7. Laura Pütz & Sabrina Schell & Arndt Werner, 2023. "Openness to knowledge: does corporate social responsibility mediate the relationship between familiness and absorptive capacity?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1449-1482, April.
    8. Lan Gao & Feng Yang, 2023. "Do resource slack and green organizational climate moderate the relationships between institutional pressures and corporate environmental responsibility practices of SMEs in China?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 13495-13520, November.

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