Management Commitment and Sustainable Coffee Export Performance, Evidence from Ethiopian Companies: The Mediating Role of Corporate Social Responsibility

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility and managerial commitment are both essential to long-term commercial success. In this study, corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in Ethiopia’s coffee exporting enterprises are used as a mediating factor to assess the impact of management commitment on sustainable coffee export performance. This study used both quantitative and qualitative research methods and primary and secondary data sources obtained from the 236 sampled coffee exporting enterprises in Ethiopia. In addition, this study used a standardized questionnaire to collect data. To determine the causal link between management commitment, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable export performance, the obtained data were analyzed using PLS structural equation modeling version 3.2.8 and SPSS version 25. The outcome demonstrates that management commitment and corporate social responsibility have a favorable and considerable impact on companies’ performance in exporting sustainably grown coffee. Results also showed that the effect of management commitment on sustainable export performance was partially mediated by CSR. The survey also revealed that while most private enterprises have not yet begun CSR, certain coffee exporting companies, notably cooperative unions in Ethiopia, have integrated CSR practices into their operations to increase export performance. In order to help practitioners and decision-makers comprehend the advantages of management commitment and CSR in creating sustainable coffee export performance, this study offers strategic recommendations. In addition, the study has contributed to the existing literature.