Perspectives of corporate social responsibility: a comparative analysis of organisational corporate social responsibility in South Africa and the UK

Bvepfepfe, Benjamin Silas (2015) Perspectives of corporate social responsibility: a comparative analysis of organisational corporate social responsibility in South Africa and the UK. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham City University.

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Abstract

CSR definitions and models originated from North America and Western Europe, (Hoppit, 2011; Crane et al., 2008), however, important CSR initiatives are emerging in the management practices across the globe, (Hamann, 2003; 2004). Given differential institutional contexts and conflicting stakeholder expectations, the key question is how organisations identify and prioritise CSR material issues (Sethi, 1979). A comparative case study approach was used to analyse organisations practising CSR in the United Kingdom (UK) and South Africa (SA) in order to provide deeper insights into the key factors that are most likely to influence organisational decisions towards social responsiveness. Based on institutional and stakeholder theories, this research study investigates the key factors that influence organisational CSR initiatives in the UK and SA. Employing a case study approach, semi-structured questionnaires and content analysis of annual reports were used to analyse and explain the institutional and stakeholder influences on organisational CSR practices in the UK and SA.
Whilst CSR appears to be an umbrella term for social responsiveness, the findings here reveal that terms such as ‘corporate sustainability’ and ‘corporate social investment’ are preferred by the sample organisations in these two countries. CSR perspectives for organisations in the two countries are dominated by cohesive and mimetic isomorphism pressures within the institutional settings and stakeholder perceptions are important to organisations’ choices in prioritising CSR initiatives. Essentially, the thesis shows similarities of explicit and implicit CSR perspectives in both countries, suggesting convergence of CSR perspectives. However divergences in CSR decisions have been revealed in stakeholder groups and specific CSR issues for sample organisations in different industries within the two countries. This doctoral research study has therefore made a significant contribution to the specialist body of knowledge by providing insights into CSR practices in the two countries from an institutional and stakeholder perspectives. The thesis has also developed a conceptual framework for analysing and understanding CSR perspectives in different national contexts. The framework has practical application in CSR strategy development within organisations with cross-national operations. By starting with institutional environmental analysis, organisations can develop appropriate CSR responses to the prevailing pressures within different business and regional contexts.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:
DateEvent
31 July 2015Completed
Uncontrolled Keywords: Social responsiveness, CSR perspectives, organisational context, stakeholders, institutional analysis, United Kingdom, South Africa.
Subjects: CAH15 - social sciences > CAH15-01 - sociology, social policy and anthropology > CAH15-01-03 - social policy
CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-02 - business studies
CAH19 - language and area studies > CAH19-04 - languages and area studies > CAH19-04-07 - African and modern Middle Eastern studies
Divisions: Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection
Depositing User: Kip Darling
Date Deposited: 23 Jan 2019 16:23
Last Modified: 12 Jan 2022 16:41
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/6906

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