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Publication
Corporate social responsibility: Mapping its social meaning
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the social meaning of corporate social responsibility
(CSR) and improve understanding of this concept.
Design/methodology/approach – A free association task was completed by a sample of
275 individuals, mostly employees from different industries, who were given “socially responsible
corporation” as the stimulus.
Findings – The results elicit three distinct views of a socially responsible corporation. Some
individuals consider a socially responsible corporation to be one that undertakes its business
operations in an efficient and ethical manner. Others see it as an organisation that takes an active role
in contributing to the well being of society and behaves in an ecologically friendly way and acts in the
field of social solidarity. For yet another set of participants a socially responsible corporation is one
that adopts human resources practices that demonstrate respect and concern for the well being of
employees and their families.
Research limitations/implications – The social meaning of CSR includes ideas that to some extent
mirror the conceptualisation introduced by previous theoretical models. However, this paper suggests
that the translation of the theoretical models into instruments addressing stakeholders’ perceptions of
CSR requires closer scrutiny and validation through contextual (e.g. national) adaptations.
Originality/value – The paper contributes by providing additional knowledge on the social meaning
of CSR in a European country, Portugal, and not only on Anglo-Saxon countries, therefore, introducing
specific situational challenges.
Description
Keywords
Corporate social responsibility Stakeholder analysis Perception Portugal
Citation
Management Research: The Journal of the Iberoamerican Academy of Management, 8 (2), 101-122