Let the Talk Count: Attributes of Stakeholder Engagement, Trust, Perceive Environmental Protection and CSR

Abstract

This article tests the links between attributes of stakeholder engagement (information sharing [quantity and quality of information sharing], procedural fairness [respectful treatment and providing voice], and empathy) and local communities' acceptance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives with the mediating roles of trust and perceived environmental protection. Using Ghana as a case, survey data were collected from 604 local inhabitants in mining communities for the study. In analyzing data with a structural equation modeling technique via IBM SPSS AMOS Version 22.0, the quality of information shared, respectful treatment, giving voice to and showing empathy to local inhabitants positively related with trust. Trust and perceived environmental protection partially mediated the relationships between attributes of stakeholder engagement and acceptance of CSR. The findings show different dimensions with different extent to which trust between mining firms and local communities can resolve conflicts on CSR initiatives as well as provide guidelines for healthy communication between stakeholders.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Business Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

“…Community pressure influences the firm's CSR policy and its implementation strategies (Skouloudis et al, 2015). The community provides firms social licenses to operate their business operations in societies (Boadi et al, 2019) by assuming that firms deliver numerous benefits through their social initiatives to offset the adverse effects of their business operations in the community (Mahmud et al, 2020). Thus, companies adopt CSR policies to acknowledge the impacts of business operations they have on the environment, community, and the world more broadly (Randle et al, 2019).…”

“…CSR is a strategic management tool that offers win-win prospects for the community and corporation (Boadi et al, 2019;Mahmud et al, 2020). An external stakeholder group of a firm "community" can be demarcated grounded on any amount of communal traits, such as history, religion, culture, geographic territory, and related beings to the firm's supply chains across the localities or the globe as a whole (Kapelus, 2002).…”

“…People's health, income, shelter, and other life goals are now challenged by many even more risks and uncertainties arisen from the COVID-19 attacks. Community trust is the crucial rope to tie the mutual interests of business and community, and empathy is an important cue for establishing trust (Boadi et al, 2019). Thus, in this critical period, companies' moral duty is to assist their best neighbors (communities) through their philanthropic actions (e.g., feeding the hungry, donating medical equipment, information sharing, cash donations, advice, all inkind contributions, and other corporate giving).…”

Corporate Social Responsibility Programs and Community Perceptions of Societal Progress in Bangladesh: A Multimethod Approach

“…Driven by the necessity to enhance their business reputation and goodwill in the community, companies in developing countries provide a wide range of CSR initiatives, such as community education, health care, and environmental protection (Muthuri et al, 2012). The prototype of CSR contribution to community environmental sustainability embodies the CSR initiatives of corporations as cover-ups and greenwashing strategy including adoption of energy-efficient and carbon footprint-reducing internal processes and investment policy in green business projects that can protect the environmental degradations and pollutions (Asante Boadi et al, 2019;Chapardar & Khanlari, 2011). Čadež and Czerny (2010) stated that the efficient usage of environmental resources and the adaptation of corporate carbon management strategies are preconditions for enhancing ecological sustainability.…”

The Importance of Genuineness in Public Engagement—An Exploratory Study of Pediatric Communication on Social Media in China

“…Likewise, the effectiveness of driving factors in Chinese SMIP’s communication on public engagement has not been sufficiently discussed. Public engagement is important because it reflects the public’s attitude and affects their trust and relationship with involved members [ 17 , 18 ]. When there is a high level of public engagement, the public’s panic, anxiety, and uncertainty will be minimized and the trust on the SMI will be improved [ 19 , 20 ].…”