María Paula Lechuga Sancho, Manuel Larrán Jorge and Jesus Herrera Madueño
The purpose of this study is to provide an initial, valid and reliable measure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in small companies from the theoretical perspective of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide an initial, valid and reliable measure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in small companies from the theoretical perspective of the stakeholders.
Design/methodology/approach
To design the multi-item scale or measure a factorial analysis was used. This helped the authors develop the CSR assessment tool, measurement instrument and formalize the model connecting observable phenomena to theoretical attributes.
Findings
The results of the analysis provided a four-dimensional structure of CSR, including, employees, customers, the environment and society. Specifically, the authors concluded with an original scale of 24 validated indicators that measures CSR in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The observed results confirmed the validity of the measure proposed to evaluate the commitment of SMEs to CSR through the level of practices developed with their stakeholders.
Originality/value
The scale developed to assess the level of CSR practices in SMEs stands not only as a valid and reliable measure for future research studies but also as a perfect guide for SMEs managers that want to develop CSR practices in their firms.
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Jane Whitney Gibson, Richard M. Hodgetts and Jorge M. Herrera
This paper discusses the lives and contributions of five key members of the Management History Division: Arthur G. Bedeian; Alfred A. Bolton; James C. Worthy (now deceased);…
Abstract
This paper discusses the lives and contributions of five key members of the Management History Division: Arthur G. Bedeian; Alfred A. Bolton; James C. Worthy (now deceased); Charles D. Wrege; and Daniel A. Wren. Each has proved himself a teacher and intellectual leader in matters of fundamental concern to management history.
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Róberson de Oliveira, João Leitão and Helena Alves
Corporate governance (CG), initially associated with private organizations, has been adopted by higher education institutions (HEIs). These are being managed more as firms in this…
Abstract
Corporate governance (CG), initially associated with private organizations, has been adopted by higher education institutions (HEIs). These are being managed more as firms in this post-standardization phase, in which the commercialization of higher education, competition and selective choice, finite resources and sustainable development (SD) have become major requirements for accountability and action. Principles of CG can collaborate and guide the process of making universities sustainable. The chapter analyses the effects of CG on the creation of a culture of sustainability in universities. In doing so, it analyzes the websites of public HEIs in EU-15 countries for a set of social responsibility indicators and investigates the impact and practices of two young Portuguese universities regarding United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. The results point out that CG and SD principles tend to guide the strategy of most public HEIs in the EU-15, confirming that they have made a commitment to good governance and sustainability.
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Abstract
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Ana Zorio-Grima, Laura Sierra-García and Maria A. Garcia-Benau
The purpose of this research is to identify the combinations of factors leading to experience in sustainability reporting by Spanish public universities.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to identify the combinations of factors leading to experience in sustainability reporting by Spanish public universities.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 49 public universities in Spain, this paper identifies the combinations of factors on innovation profile, political and internal factors that explain the different degree of corporate social reporting experience with fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis.
Findings
The study’s findings are a contribution to existing literature as the results obtained point out three different configurations leading to this expertise, with a combination of different conditions based on innovation profile, political and internal factors. Also, the results reveal new characteristics of sustainable development strategies by universities, such as devoting a specific sustainability reporting section in the university website, creating a sustainability body in the university structure or submitting the sustainability report to external assurance.
Research limitations/implications
This study refers only to Spanish public universities. In the future, new studies can enlarge the sample and analyse country effects and impact of public versus private status of universities on sustainability reporting strategies.
Practical implications
The study’s findings are important for university community, regulators and other stakeholders to start considering the need to somehow promote further sustainability reporting and assurance practices by universities, especially in a context of budget restrictions.
Originality/value
This paper opens up a new line of research on sustainability experience using an innovative methodology (fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis) useful with small sample sizes, and provides a complete picture of sustainability reporting by Spanish public universities.
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Yung-Fu Huang and Manh-Hoang Do
This paper aims to systematically review the university social responsibility (USR) implementation from the empirical studies, which published during the period from 2004 to 2020.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to systematically review the university social responsibility (USR) implementation from the empirical studies, which published during the period from 2004 to 2020.
Design/methodology/approach
The bibliometric method has been employed to review prior empirical research on higher education social responsibility topics.
Findings
These synthesis results confirmed that USR initiatives as an excellent tool to attain sustainability and enhance university performance worldwide. Universities in developed nations underline paying more attention to the core values in the long-term; meanwhile, their counterparts in transitional countries to pay more attention to short-term activities by focusing on stakeholders.
Research limitations/implications
The notable limitation is that in terms of the number of empirical papers employed as the data to analyze in this manuscript.
Practical implications
This paper's findings have described the USR implementations and how well to define USR adoption from the empirical studies globally. Thus, it has theoretical implications in enriching the USR knowledge and providing useful guidance for universities, then recommend new research directions in the future for other scholars.
Originality/value
This research is an initial attempt to systematize studies on USR implementation in universities between developed countries and developing nations.
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Muhammad Ikram, Robert Sroufe, Muhammad Mohsin, Yasir Ahmed Solangi, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah and Farrukh Shahzad
This study aims to examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities influence firm performance based on a longitudinal survey for small and medium-sized…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities influence firm performance based on a longitudinal survey for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. Empirical studies suggest that the SME sector plays an essential role in the economic development of Pakistan and can be considered the backbone of the economy.
Design/methodology/approach
The data for this study were collected from SMEs located in the cities of Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad in Pakistan. A well-designed questionnaire was administrated over 240 entrepreneurs to analyze and measure the impact of CSR on financial performance for a 12-month period. The authors used econometric analysis of the data using structural equation modeling.
Findings
Results reveal significant relationships between CSR and two determinants of firm performance, namely, employee commitment and corporate reputation.
Research limitations/implications
Findings of the study are important for policymakers, entrepreneurs and other professionals in SMEs sectors both in under-developed and, with further application and exploration, in developing countries.
Originality/value
There is no single longitudinal study prior to this has been carried out on the relationships of CSR and firm performance in the SME sector in the context of the Pakistani economy. Hence, this study significantly fills an important gap in the research.
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The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) and examine the reflection of SRHRM on sustainable development (SD…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) and examine the reflection of SRHRM on sustainable development (SD) in Egyptian companies.
Design/methodology/approach
The study data was collected using a quantitative method to examine and test the relationship between the two variables. An empirical study was conducted between 2022 and 2023 on 150 samples of male and female employees from 18 companies located in Egypt working in castings and car batteries.
Findings
The study found that, in general, SRHRM has a significant impact on organizational sustainability. This contribution is also beneficial for general HRM and corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature as it stresses the importance of its relations to SD. By critically analyzing contemporary SRHRM literature, this study further demonstrates how studies with utilitarian approaches have dominated earlier research. By recognizing the necessity for process-oriented studies and the significance of critical scholarship within the field of SRHRM and its connections to the SD, the researcher thereby creates a research agenda for future studies.
Research limitations/implications
The findings only apply to the sample that has participated in this study and to the Egyptian companies. A longitudinal quantitative evaluation of the SRHRM approaches and dimensions and their impact on the SD strategies of Egyptian companies would be recommended in terms of further research study, highlighting the role of SRHRM and its impact on achieving companies' CSR strategies.
Practical implications
The study's findings are helpful for firms looking to implement SR-HRM to enhance some employees' performance and promote organisational sustainability. In Egypt, there is a dire need for responsible leadership in the public and private sectors, which is crucial in the market and industry sectors. In addition to updating all policies, urge the younger generation to participate in them. For example, new hires to the company must demonstrate that they have engaged in volunteer work as part of their social obligation to the community, and this is required for recruitment.
Social implications
Furthermore, refreshing all the policy encourage the young generation working or before working to take part in these policy, such as newcomers to the companies have to show that they have conducted some social responsibility towards their community as voluntary work. A study conducted by Cristina del-Castillo et al. (2022) confirmed that regarding the performance of different factors, the results show that the organizations under study are investing too much effort in improving CSR factors that are less relevant to achieving positive legitimacy assessments. On the one hand, resources destined to improve policies related to health, security and social benefits and those regarding the improvement of the relationship paths between managers and employees are excessive considering the relevance that they represent compared to the rest of the CSR policies. According to Hazzi and Maldaon (2023), stakeholders (including the general public and policymakers) might make an informed choice about how much organizations with CSR could safeguard their well-being if they had access to transparent CSR information. Talking about the sustainability behaviour of SRHRM as crucial for embedding sustainability in the business, a study by Abutaleb et al. (2021) evidence that subjective norms and attitudes, followed by perceived behavioural control and personal norms had the greatest influence on intentions towards behavioural HR. Attitudes towards sustainability practices were significantly influenced by economic advantages and sustainability. A good model fit was demonstrated by measurement and structural models (Abutaleb et al., 2021).
Originality/value
This paper is unique in that it participates in presenting the concept of the social responsibility of HRM as an intervention and approach for SD. It also participates in presenting unique findings related to Egyptian companies. There is a scarcity of literature related to research and studies on SRHRM in Egypt.
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This study aims to determine the current state of research on sustainability in the context of human resource management (HRM) practices adopted by small and medium-sized…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the current state of research on sustainability in the context of human resource management (HRM) practices adopted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), identify the most important gaps and propose an agenda for future studies.
Design/methodology/approach
Through a systematic literature review (SLR), this study comprehensively examines the relevant literature on sustainability-related aspects of HRM in SMEs. It includes descriptive and thematic analyses of 29 research articles published in high-ranked academic journals selected from 506 records retrieved from four major databases (Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and EBSCOhost).
Findings
The findings suggest a growing interest in sustainability-related HRM in SMEs after 2020. Notably, most studies focused on green and social sustainability concerns, with limited attention to the triple bottom line (TBL) perspective. A detailed examination revealed variations among the three streams of research in terms of methodology, location of studies, nature of sustainability-HRM linkage and placement of HRM practices in research models. Despite these differences, positive effects of HRM practices on sustainability integration seem evident, including impacts on employee competences, behaviors and company-level outcomes.
Originality/value
This article is the first to systematically review the literature on the sustainability-HRM nexus specifically for SMEs. It contributes by identifying thematic clusters, methodological trends, contextual aspects and outcomes of sustainability-HRM integration, thereby laying the groundwork for future research.
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Erdal Eroğlu, Mine Aydemir Dev and Kübra Dalgın
The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating role of university environmental performance in the relationship between students’ environmental awareness and behavior…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating role of university environmental performance in the relationship between students’ environmental awareness and behavior, with a particular focus on the imperative for universities to adopt comprehensive sustainability frameworks.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a quantitative research methodology, the study administered a survey to 775 undergraduate students from diverse academic departments at a public university. The survey aimed to assess students’ environmental awareness, behaviors and perceptions of university environmental performance. The Mann–Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Friedman test were applied, and a simple moderation analysis was performed.
Findings
The results indicate that environmental awareness significantly influences students’ environmental behaviors. Crucially, the perception of environmental performance moderates the relationship between environmental awareness and behavior. The relationship between environmental awareness and environmental behaviors becomes stronger when environmental performance increases.
Research limitations/implications
While the scope of this research is limited to a single institution, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings, future studies could extend this investigation to multiple universities to confirm and expand upon these results.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the existing body of literature by emphasizing the critical role universities play in cultivating students’ environmental awareness and behaviors, and it underscores the importance of institutional environmental performance in promoting sustainable practices within academic environments. Although previous research has explored environmental awareness and behavior, this study offers a unique contribution as it establishes a connection between the awareness-behavior gap and environmental performance.