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Chapter 7: CSR in the Community

Links to Further Reading

Besser, T., Miller, N. & Perkins, R. 2006. For the greater good: business networks and business social responsibility to communities. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development18(4): 321-339.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08985620600715046

This article offers a complementary approach to those discussed in this chapter by looking at the influence of business networks on CSR in relation to communities. As we noted earlier in the chapter, the community as a stakeholder is of particular relevance to small and medium sized enterprises, and this paper draws on this perspective, in addition to asking whether smaller firms can act collectively to scale-up their activities. They find that business networking contributes positively to local economic prosperity. Terry Besser and Nancy Miller have published a range of articles on community involvement which it is well worth taking a look at, particularly if you are interested in the small business perspective.

Muthuri, J., Chapple, W.  & Moon, J.  2009. An integrated approach to implementing ‘Community Participation’ in Corporate Community Involvement: Lessons from Magadi Soda Company in Kenya. Journal of Business Ethics. 85(2): 431-444.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10551-008-9739-7?LI=true#page-1

This article is a fascinating case example of community involvement in practice in a developing country. Muthuri and colleagues focus on the practice of community participation, which they argue can help to alleviate common criticisms of corporate community involvement, such as corporate patronage and insensitivity to context and local priorities. The paper draws theory and practice together to offer an illustration of the key processes and principles of community participation.

Spence, L.J., Schmidpeter, R. & Habisch, A. 2003. Assessing Social Capital: Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Germany and the UK Journal of Business Ethics 47(1): 17-29.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1026284727037?LI=true#page-1

This article uses the conceptual lens of social capital to help us understand the role of relationships – particularly local community based ones such as customers, neighbours and employees – in the running of smaller firms. The cultural comparative perspective which includes interviews from Germany and the UK adds some indication of national and cultural differences in developing and sustaining community relationships, although the article notes that industrial sector differences are equally as important in explaining difference.

Links to Practice

CWS 7.1: See the Companion Website for links to information on corporate charitable giving globally

CWS 7.2: See the Companion Website for links to information on corporate volunteering, cause related marketing

CWS 7.3: See the Companion Website for a video of Dirk Matten talking about the quasi-governmental role of privately owned corporations