Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Developing Country Perspective

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to identify the CSR dynamics through a social capital lens in a developing country's context.

Approach – The research design underpinning this study is qualitative. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with SMEs owner-managers.

Findings – Adopting a pragmatic stance, the research highlighted the significant role of the social capital concept in enabling or hindering SMEs’ engagement in the CSR discourse in the Egyptian context.

Implications/limitations – A holistic understanding of the subject has been achieved by examining core issues at different levels. It is recommended that micro-individual (SME owner/manager), meso-organisational (SME context and industry), and macro-environmental (socio-economic and cultural environment) dynamics be explored by employing suitable research methods grounded in research paradigms that allow for qualitative exploration.

Practical implications – By giving prominence to SMEs as the research focus, the significance of these enterprises for sustainable development is highlighted at the policy level by developing tools and mechanisms that deal with effective implementation of CSR programmes in that sector.

Social implications – An in-depth understanding of the CSR practices of SMEs as embedded in their operational management will help policy makers in promoting sustainable practices by integrating social and environmental activities in the day-to-day operations of SMEs.

Originality/value – The chapter makes a contribution to academic theory in the area of CSR in SMEs by examining the phenomenon through a social capital lens using a multi-layered approach from a developing country's perspective.

Citation

Ibrahim, S., Jamali, D. and Karatas-Ozkan, M. (2012), "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Developing Country Perspective", Underwood, S., Blundel, R., Lyon, F. and Schaefer, A. (Ed.) Social and Sustainable Enterprise: Changing the Nature of Business (Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research, Vol. 2), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 167-192. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2040-7246(2012)0000002012