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The role of innovation for performance improvement through corporate social responsibility practices among small and medium‐sized suppliers in China

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  • Qinghua Zhu
  • Fei Zou
  • Pan Zhang

Abstract

Small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in emergent countries have been motivated to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, whereas innovation is needed or even necessary to gain performance. This paper develops a conceptual model to explore if three types of innovation (technology, management, and marketing) have moderation and mediation effects on relationships between CSR practices and performance. Using 494 samples collected from Chinese SMEs, hierarchical regression analysis results show that technology innovation can improve environmental performance together with employee efforts, and it can also improve social image together with environmental practices and community involvement. Management innovation is necessary to improve stakeholders' satisfaction, and it can also help bring environmental performance through employees' efforts and improve social image through organizational governance. Marketing innovation is necessary to gain economic performance. Meanwhile, marketing innovation can improve stakeholders' satisfaction together with organizational governance, and it can help to improve environmental performance through community involvement.

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  • Qinghua Zhu & Fei Zou & Pan Zhang, 2019. "The role of innovation for performance improvement through corporate social responsibility practices among small and medium‐sized suppliers in China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 341-350, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:341-350
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.1686
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    7. Ana León-Gómez & José Manuel Santos-Jaén & Daniel Ruiz-Palomo & Mercedes Palacios-Manzano, 2022. "Disentangling the impact of ICT adoption on SMEs performance: the mediating roles of corporate social responsibility and innovation," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(3), pages 831-866, September.
    8. Geng, Duanyang & Lai, Kee-hung & Zhu, Qinghua, 2021. "Eco-innovation and its role for performance improvement among Chinese small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    9. Mansour Naser Alraja & Rabia Imran & Basel M. Khashab & Mahmood Shah, 2022. "Technological Innovation, Sustainable Green Practices and SMEs Sustainable Performance in Times of Crisis (COVID-19 pandemic)," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1081-1105, August.
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    13. Mark Anthony Camilleri & Ciro Troise & Serena Strazzullo & Stefano Bresciani, 2023. "Creating shared value through open innovation approaches: Opportunities and challenges for corporate sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4485-4502, November.
    14. Natalia Wagner & Bogusz Wiśnicki, 2022. "The Importance of Emerging Technologies to the Increasing of Corporate Sustainability in Shipping Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, September.
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    17. Huynh Thi Thuy Giang & Luu Tien Dung, 2022. "The effect of internal corporate social responsibility practices on firm performance: the mediating role of employee intrapreneurial behaviour," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 1035-1061, May.
    18. Zhiwen Li & Oswin Aganda Anaba & Zhiqiang Ma & Mingxing Li, 2021. "Ghanaian SMEs Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating the Influence of Entrepreneurial Orientation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-27, January.
    19. Shou, Yongyi & Shao, Jinan & Wang, Weijiao & Lai, Kee-hung, 2020. "The impact of corporate social responsibility on trade credit: Evidence from Chinese small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    20. Vecchio, Yari & Di Pasquale, Jorgelina & Del Giudice, Teresa & Pauselli, Gregorio & Masi, Margherita & Adinolfi, Felice, 2022. "Precision farming: what do Italian farmers really think? An application of the Q methodology," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    21. Víctor Meseguer-Sánchez & Francisco Jesús Gálvez-Sánchez & Gabriel López-Martínez & Valentín Molina-Moreno, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. A Bibliometric Analysis of Their Interrelations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.

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