What Prompts Small and Medium Enterprises to Implement CSR? A Qualitative Insight from an Emerging Economy

Abstract

The topic of corporate social responsibility (henceforth referred to as CSR) has been a central topic during the last decade, but the majority of the existing literature discusses CSR relationship with large organizations. Whereas, its contribution in small and medium enterprises (henceforth referred to as SME) sector has received little attention. There have been some studies that focused on CSR activities in SME sector quantitatively in the context of developing economies like Pakistan, but the fact is, to date, SME sector of Pakistan is not participating actively in CSR-related activities due to some constraints. The present study is a pioneer attempt, to explore CSR barriers that restrict SME sector of Pakistan from practicing CSR initiatives. For this reason, the present study explores these barriers qualitatively in order to gain in-depth knowledge of different CSR barriers. In doing so, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews from 9 SMEs in Lahore city of Pakistan. We performed thematic analysis, which produced five relevant themes of CSR barriers, including: Lack of resources, lack of regulations, lack of top management commitment, lack of CSR knowledge, and passive customer behavior. Our analysis further showed that lack of resources is the most related barrier that hinder SMEs to be engaged in CSR activities. This paper contributes to CSR literature in emerging economies’ context. Through an increased awareness of barriers, policy makers and practitioners may take necessary steps to improve CSR practices in SMEs.

The Impact of CSR on Sustainable Innovation Ambidexterity: The Mediating Role of Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Second-Order Social Capital

“…Currently, there are some actual mediations carried out by the PEPA to structure ecological regulations for businesses to diminish their ecological risks. In this context, the government and companies still need to engage in various practices in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Pakistan [34].…”

“…However, recently, most of the manufacturing industries in Pakistan have focused on volunteering activities. In this context, the government and companies still need to engage in various practices to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Pakistan [34]. Consequently, this investigation can aid companies by effectively delivering their finances in CSR initiatives.…”

An Examination to Explain the Mechanism of Employees’ Environment-Specific Behavior through CSR and Work Engagement from the Perspective of Stewardship Theory

“…In this context, industrial pollution is one of the major reasons that significantly contribute to environmental damage in some emerging countries [24]. Surprisingly, scholars have largely addressed this issue of climate vulnerability in the context of large enterprises, while the SME sector was neglected in this respect [25]. We argue, here, that the SME sector as a whole produces a significant amount of pollution that should not be ignored.…”

Strategies for Adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Sustainable Building Projects—A Case of Malaysia

“…Efficient energy forecasts in sustainable buildings [32] Prompting construction industry standards [33] More research on BIM toward sustainable buildings [34] Improvements in BIM application standards in sustainable buildings [35] Economic and additional financial BIM adoption rewards [36] Enhance social networking (e.g., print media, internet, and radio and television programs) [37] Strengthened sustainable development [38] Workshops, lectures, and conference events are used to enhance public awareness [39] Overall support from the senior management [40] Acknowledging and supporting BIM experts [41] Better information on the costs and benefits of sustainable materials [42] Compel strict environmental controls and assessments [43] System of green or environmentally friendly labeling [44] BIM and Sustainability BIM has changed the way sustainable building projects are undertaken [45]. Constructions can be evaluated using BIM to determine their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their opportunities, while accounting for other factors, such as financial, technical, and environmental aspects [46].…”