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The differentiated effects of CSR actions in the service industry

Ana B. Casado-Díaz (Department of Marketing, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain)
Juan L. Nicolau-Gonzálbez (Department of Marketing, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain)
Felipe Ruiz-Moreno (Department of Marketing, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain)
Ricardo Sellers-Rubio (Department of Marketing, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain)

Journal of Services Marketing

ISSN: 0887-6045

Article publication date: 7 October 2014

3172

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to attempt to explain why the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives may be different and/or more important in service firms compared to manufacturing firms. CSR is becoming a common strategy, hence its extensive research. Central to it is the analysis of the effect of CSR on a firm’s performance, whose outcome depends on firm-specific and industry-related factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The event study methodology is applied to all the 248 companies that have ever traded on the Spanish Stock Market between 1990 and 2007. A regression analysis examines potential different effects of CSR on service and goods firms.

Findings

The results show that CSR activities have a positive impact on firm performance that is higher for service firms than for manufacturing firms. Actions related to the environment, responsible labor relationships and good corporate governance are especially important in the service context.

Research limitations/implications

This research is focused on shareholders’ performance, but it does not consider other stakeholders, such as real consumer behavior or employees’ commitment and productivity.

Practical implications

Service firms are likely to gain from focusing on some CSR activities (environment, employees and good corporate governance) and should use their responsible behavior as a valuable tool for public relations and differentiation in the market.

Originality/value

This article is the first attempt to empirically test and explain why the relationship between CSR and firm performance may be different (more positive) for service vs manufacturing firms.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Spanish Ministry of Science for financially supporting this research under Contract No. ECO2008-05487.

Citation

B. Casado-Díaz, A., L. Nicolau-Gonzálbez, J., Ruiz-Moreno, F. and Sellers-Rubio, R. (2014), "The differentiated effects of CSR actions in the service industry", Journal of Services Marketing, Vol. 28 No. 7, pp. 558-565. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-07-2013-0205

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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