Author:
Dias António,Rodrigues Lúcia Lima,Craig Russell,Neves Maria Elisabete
Abstract
PurposeCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) literature has focused mainly on larger firms. Only recently has discussion of the engagement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in CSR emerged in research studies. Here we contribute to that growing discussion of CSR in SMEs by analyzing the disclosure practices of 57 Portuguese companies of different sizes (small, medium, large).Design/methodology/approachWe use stakeholder theory to identify the stakeholders that SMEs and large firms prioritize. By means of thematic content analysis and an index of disclosure (calculated according to company type and stakeholder type) we analyze whether business characteristics influence CSR disclose strategies.FindingsCompanies give priority to CSR activities that are directly related to maintaining business and achieving economic results. CSR disclosure practices of SMEs and large companies do not differ significantly. However, larger companies disclose more information on Environment and Society. Companies who are closer to consumers disclose more information on Customers, Community and Society. The act of assuring a CSR report drives system improvements and extended CSR disclosure.Research limitations/implicationsWe recognize that it is difficult to compare CSR in Small and large enterprises. For this reason, we have developed a methodology based on the most basic aspects of the CSRD, and therefore applicable without distinction to large and small companies.Practical implicationsA framework to evaluate the CSRD of SMEs was developed. We identify CSR indicators divided in five dimensions (customers, employees, environment, community and society) that are applicable to firms of all sizes.Originality/valueThis study extends knowledge of CSR by comparing the disclosure practices of SMEs and large (listed and un-listed) Portuguese companies. This study takes account of the particularities of SMEs and other fundamental business characteristics using a replicable assessment framework.
Subject
Social Sciences (miscellaneous),General Business, Management and Accounting
Reference78 articles.
1. Corporate social responsibility in Portugal: empirical evidence of corporate behavior;Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society,2005
2. La divulgación de la información social y medioambiental de la gran empresa española en el período 1994-1998: situación actual y perspectivas;Revista Española de Financiación y Contabilidad,2003
3. The determinants of corporate sustainability performance;Accounting & Finance,2010
4. Implementing responsible business behavior from a strategic management perspective: developing a framework for Austrian SMEs;Journal of Business Ethics,2008
5. Small and medium enterprises and environmental issues: empirical evidence in Italian context,2013
Cited by
65 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献