Challenging corporate commitment to CSR
Fehre, Kerstin Weber, Florian
Fehre, Kerstin
Weber, Florian
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Publication Type
Journal article
Editor
Supervisor
Publication Year
2016-11-21
Journal
Management Research Review
Book
Publication Volume
39
Publication Issue
11
Publication Begin page
1410
Publication End page
1430
Publication Number of pages
Collections
Abstract
Purpose In times of crisis, the fundamental principles of companies erode, leading to strategy shifts. This paper aims to examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) is on management’s agenda in times of crisis, indicating CSR embeddedness into corporate strategy. The focus is on the four pillars of CSR: social, environment, economy and governance. Design/methodology/approach Starting points are competing hypotheses based on shareholder and stakeholder theory. Chief executive officer (CEO) letters to shareholders of German HDAX firms from 2003 to 2012 are analyzed by means of computer-aided text analysis. Findings The authors find that CEOs talk less about CSR in times of crisis, especially about social and governance issues, indicating that CSR is not fully embedded into corporate strategy, and that, in times of crisis, other aspects gain more importance on management’s agenda. Research limitations/implications CEO communication is an indicator for management’s attention. Less talk about CSR in times of crisis does not automatically indicate less real CSR activity. This study is a starting point for analyses of the discrepancy between both, if any exists. Practical implications Managers should regard CSR as a strategic and trust enhancing element and stick to CSR even when under pressure from market distortions. Social implications Environment issues – exposed to companies’ attention for a long time – are embedded into corporate strategy. More research and management attention is essential to get the other CSR aspects woven into company DNA as well. Originality/value The paper is the first to research CSR in times of crisis in depth: CSR as umbrella covers social, environment, economy and governance issues. The institutional level of analysis ensures that implications for the business-society link are central.
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Keywords
35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services, 50 Philosophy and Religious Studies, 5001 Applied Ethics, 3507 Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour