Challenging the importance of size as determinant for CSR activities
(2009) In Management of Environmental Quality 20(3). p.255-270- Abstract
- Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to the development and understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by discussing two interrelated characteristics of current literature: a tendency in discourses to portray CSR as equal to the societal activities displayed by and demanded from large, multinational firms; and an increasing focus on and description of “small firm CSR” in research. These two characteristics instigate a limited approach to the meaning of CSR and an unjust dichotomization of CSR based on firm size are posited. A distinction that risks stimulating an un-nuanced CSR discourse.
Design/methodology/approach – From reviewing the field, it has been concluded that firm size should not be a feasible... (More) - Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to the development and understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by discussing two interrelated characteristics of current literature: a tendency in discourses to portray CSR as equal to the societal activities displayed by and demanded from large, multinational firms; and an increasing focus on and description of “small firm CSR” in research. These two characteristics instigate a limited approach to the meaning of CSR and an unjust dichotomization of CSR based on firm size are posited. A distinction that risks stimulating an un-nuanced CSR discourse.
Design/methodology/approach – From reviewing the field, it has been concluded that firm size should not be a feasible main criterion when trying to understand or predict CSR behavior. From examples of far-reaching CSR activities in the small business community and local initiatives by large firms, the distinctions suggested in the current discourse do not appear in practice are shown.
Findings – Additional firm features and contextual characteristics to explain the CSR approach in companies are proposed. Local embeddedness, corporate governance, and individual motivation are examples of issues that appear to explain a firm's CSR activities and characteristics, regardless of firm size.
Originality/value – The paper concludes by articulating a number of propositions. These are presented as a basis for research to further understand how CSR activities relate to various organizational and operational features. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2278227
- author
- Blombäck, Anna and Wigren, Caroline LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2009
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Management of Environmental Quality
- volume
- 20
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 255 - 270
- publisher
- Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:69349099966
- ISSN
- 1477-7835
- DOI
- 10.1108/14777830910950658
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- f8b2bf15-1c24-4d2f-9f22-b62f518c12bb (old id 2278227)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:23:37
- date last changed
- 2024-01-23 16:42:27
@article{f8b2bf15-1c24-4d2f-9f22-b62f518c12bb,
abstract = {{Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to the development and understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by discussing two interrelated characteristics of current literature: a tendency in discourses to portray CSR as equal to the societal activities displayed by and demanded from large, multinational firms; and an increasing focus on and description of “small firm CSR” in research. These two characteristics instigate a limited approach to the meaning of CSR and an unjust dichotomization of CSR based on firm size are posited. A distinction that risks stimulating an un-nuanced CSR discourse.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Design/methodology/approach – From reviewing the field, it has been concluded that firm size should not be a feasible main criterion when trying to understand or predict CSR behavior. From examples of far-reaching CSR activities in the small business community and local initiatives by large firms, the distinctions suggested in the current discourse do not appear in practice are shown.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Findings – Additional firm features and contextual characteristics to explain the CSR approach in companies are proposed. Local embeddedness, corporate governance, and individual motivation are examples of issues that appear to explain a firm's CSR activities and characteristics, regardless of firm size.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Originality/value – The paper concludes by articulating a number of propositions. These are presented as a basis for research to further understand how CSR activities relate to various organizational and operational features.}},
author = {{Blombäck, Anna and Wigren, Caroline}},
issn = {{1477-7835}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{255--270}},
publisher = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
series = {{Management of Environmental Quality}},
title = {{Challenging the importance of size as determinant for CSR activities}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777830910950658}},
doi = {{10.1108/14777830910950658}},
volume = {{20}},
year = {{2009}},
}