Corporate Management Corporate Social Responsibility And Customers An Empirical Investigation

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of corporations is a trend today. However, the more companies are practicing it, the less it becomes a unique business strategy helping to differentiate from competitors. For that reason, this study examines whether an integration of customers in all decisions and/or the carrying out of different CSR activities leads to it being a more effective marketing strategy. In the conceptual part, a definition of CSR is given: Different approaches are presented reaching from a more detailed one dealing with economic, legal, ethical and discretionary responsibilities according to the pyramid of CSR, to a less specific one, which is taken as the basis of the paper. Key characteristics of CSR as well as different motivations exemplified in the normative and the business case are described and a critical evaluation of CSR is taken into consideration by means of the shareholder view of CSR and the stakeholder theory. Moreover, CSR in Germany is compared with CSR in America in order to give a global perspective of the CSR phenomenon. Furthermore, the most common CSR activities are introduced. From those, cause-related marketing, employee volunteering, and corporate philanthropy are detailed with real company examples and respective advantages and disadvantages because those are the activities used in the study. A review of appropriate literature is given and for customer-related outcomes, social identity theory, attribution theory, and behavioral decision theory are regarded. The concept of customer integration has been adopted from the product innovation process, called open innovation, to CSR by using the means-end theory and the empowerment strategy. Taken together, the hypotheses have been development stating that customer integration leads to a more positive CSR belief, a stronger identification with the respective company as well as a more positive company evaluation and a much higher intent to buy the corporation?s product. These hypotheses have been tested in an online experiment using a fictive company and data has been evaluated via the analysis of variance. The study clarifies that customer integration is neither necessary nor does it hurt. It combines both a marketing tool and at the same time does something good. So, when taking into consideration some aspects, it is a strategy worth doing, with or without customer taking part in it.

Volume Two of Business and Society 360 focuses on research drawn from work grounded in 'corporate social responsibility' and 'corporate citizenship.'

Profound and conceptual analysis of linkages between CSR and financial performance Overview of recent empirical studies in CSR Econometric analysis of relation between corporate social and firm performance

Finally, a book that crosses the great divide between academia and practice a rare feat, especially in edited volumes with scholarly contributions. . . there is much to like about what the book does cover. Wayne Visser, Ethical Performance Mallin brings together academics and business experts to share a wide range of accounts from across the globe. Readers will find insights and guidance on how countries and companies have tried to balance the perceived needs of often disparate groups. James McRitchie, CorpGov.net Chris Mallin has put together a fine volume providing detailed insights into the global spread of CSR. It wonderfully showcases the diversity and dynamics of CSR in different countries, regions and key industries. It is an essential read for everybody interested in the dialectics of global homogenization and local adaptation of CSR-related management practices. Dirk Matten, York University, Toronto, Canada Professor Mallin has edited a remarkable range of studies, illustrating how companies across the world regard and respond to their social responsibilities. Her book will prove an invaluable source of information for everyone interested in comparative corporate social responsibility, aided by the admirable learning points and questions following each case study. It will also be turned to for guidance by investors concerned to promote corporate social values internationally. Sir Adrian Cadbury, Aston University Business School, Birmingham, UK Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an area of increasing global interest with companies taking CSR issues more seriously, devoting more resources to such issues and acknowledging the benefits of CSR activities. This insightful book provides a comprehensive analysis of the development of CSR in a diverse range of countries including the UK, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the USA, the Middle East, Australia, Japan and Korea. Christine Mallin has brought together leading experts from both academia and the business world to provide fully up-to-date accounts of developments in CSR from a range of legal, cultural and economic perspectives. This timely resource will serve as an invaluable teaching and resource tool for advanced students and academics and will provide insights and guidance to the wider business community.

This unique volume expounds on the nature of white-collar crime and examines its relationship with corporate social responsibility, governance and corporate reputation. Based on empirical study and extensive literature review, this book presents different approaches for repairing damaged corporate reputations and also explains how internal governance and investigations can be conducted. Stages in corporate social responsibility are discussed and knowledge management is underscored as an imperative tool to combat white-collar crime and build corporate reputation. Contents:White-Collar CrimeCorporate ReputationReputation Damage and RepairInternal InvestigationsCorporate ComplianceCorporate GovernanceStages of Corporate ResponsibilityForensic AccountingKnowledge ManagementIntelligence Strategy Readership: Business course undergraduates, MBA students, students of governance, business ethics, corporate communications/public relations and corporate crime; management executives; auditing and corporate communications professionals. Keywords:Corporate Social Responsibility;Corporate Governance;Corporate Reputation;White-Collar Crime;Knowledge ManagementKey Features:Damage and repair of corporate reputation after white-collar scandalsStages of corporate social responsibilityKnowledge management for corporate social responsibilityReviews: “White-collar crime represents a serious threat to corporate reputation. Nevertheless, there are surprisingly many corporations that are involved in white-collar crime. A recent study found that 40 percent of the top-ranked corporations in the Swedish business world have been involved in white-collar crime in the last decade. These corporations had decisions against them, such as court decisions, administrative law, objection, or settlement. Petter Gottschalk's book covers important topics for crime prevention by linking white-collar crime to responsibility, governance and reputation in business enterprises.” Dr Stefan Holgersson Police Superintendent, Swedish Police Force & Assistant Professor, Linköping University, Sweden “White-collar crime can be difficult to detect, both by internal entities such as internal audit and control units, as well as by external entitites such as the stock exchange, the tax authorities and the police. Petter Gottschalk has written an important and interesting book that links white-collar crime prevention to corporate social responsibility, governance mechanisms, and corporate reputation damage and repair.” Dag Styrvold former Norwegian Police Superintendent and current instructor Norwegian Police University College for the education of officers to battle white-collar crime

While the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of small firms have been analysed to some extent, their engagement in international networks relating to CSR is less understood. Most of these networks primarily address the needs of multinational corporations. Surprisingly, however, the number of small firms participating in such institutions has substantially increased over recent years. But what is the reason for this new interest of SME in institutional forms of CSR? Based on a qualitative empirical study of German small firms’ participation in the most prominent CSR institution, the UN Global Compact, this book explores the drivers for small firm participation. The motivations are complex and do not follow the same hierarchical order associated with large business behaviour. Rather, reasons for institutional engagement suggest a heterarchical structure, where alignment is contingent upon factors such as individual CSR perception, self-conception or social environment. The book explains why small firms prefer to engage in sustainable development within institutionalised forms of CSR rather than act in isolation, and provides recommendations on how to support and thus increase SME participation in institutionalised forms of civic engagement.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Definition, Core Issues and Recent Developments offers a well-structured and thorough introduction to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Author Brent D. Beal introduces the basic concept of CSR, briefly discusses the challenges of defining it, and summarizes important conceptual models. CSR is examined in the context of the perfect competition market model, market failure, and social dilemmas. Three different types of CSR—systemic, strategic, and philanthropic—are highlighted. Finally, arguments both for and against CSR are outlined and several conceptual frames are proposed. Readers are encouraged to think about what businesses should be responsible for in society and how a society’s economic system should be structured, bounded, and ultimately, controlled. This text is appropriate for any business course in which the introduction of CSR would complement other course content.