IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/mgtdec/v42y2021i6p1492-1508.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dual function of corporate social responsibility on R&D strategy: Moderating effect of board interlock

Author

Listed:
  • Ming Tian
  • Teng Wang
  • Xiaotong Li

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been known as a strategic factor that drives enterprises to innovate. However, the current scholarship has largely overlooked the influence of CSR on R&D strategy. This paper investigates the dual function of CSR on R&D strategy from resource and risk perspectives. By using an unbalanced panel dataset compiled from multiple archival sources of Chinese‐listed companies, this paper examines the influence of CSR on R&D strategy (depth and diversification) and the moderating function of board interlock. The results indicate that a U‐shaped relationship exists between CSR and R&D depth as well as between CSR and R&D diversification. Furthermore, board interlock moderates the relationship between CSR and R&D depth.

Suggested Citation

  • Ming Tian & Teng Wang & Xiaotong Li, 2021. "Dual function of corporate social responsibility on R&D strategy: Moderating effect of board interlock," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(6), pages 1492-1508, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:42:y:2021:i:6:p:1492-1508
    DOI: 10.1002/mde.3322
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.3322
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/mde.3322?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Won-Moo Hur & Hanna Kim & Jeong Woo, 2014. "How CSR Leads to Corporate Brand Equity: Mediating Mechanisms of Corporate Brand Credibility and Reputation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(1), pages 75-86, November.
    2. Xueming Luo & Shuili Du, 2015. "Exploring the relationship between corporate social responsibility and firm innovation," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 703-714, December.
    3. Caroline Flammer & Aleksandra Kacperczyk, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility as a defense against knowledge spillovers: Evidence from the inevitable disclosure doctrine," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(8), pages 1243-1267, August.
    4. Stuart, Toby E. & Yim, Soojin, 2010. "Board interlocks and the propensity to be targeted in private equity transactions," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(1), pages 174-189, July.
    5. Lichtenthaler, Ulrich, 2010. "Determinants of proactive and reactive technology licensing: A contingency perspective," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 55-66, February.
    6. Vincent L. Barker , III & George C. Mueller, 2002. "CEO Characteristics and Firm R&D Spending," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 48(6), pages 782-801, June.
    7. Huanyong Ji & Guannan Xu & Yuan Zhou & Zhongzhen Miao, 2019. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Firms’ Innovation in China: The Role of Institutional Support," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-20, November.
    8. Antonio Juan Briones Peñalver & Juan Andrés Bernal Conesa & Carmen de Nieves Nieto, 2018. "Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility in Spanish Agribusiness and Its Influence on Innovation and Performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(2), pages 182-193, March.
    9. Yongqiang Gao & Jian Wu & Taïeb Hafsi, 2017. "The Inverted U‐Shaped Relationship between Corporate Philanthropy and Spending on Research and Development: A Case of Complementarity and Competition Moderated by Firm Size and Visibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(6), pages 465-477, November.
    10. Mohamed H. Elmagrhi & Collins G. Ntim & Ahmed A. Elamer & Qingjing Zhang, 2019. "A study of environmental policies and regulations, governance structures, and environmental performance: The role of female directors," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 206-220, January.
    11. Najah Attig & Narjess Boubakri & Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami, 2016. "Firm Internationalization and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 134(2), pages 171-197, March.
    12. repec:hal:journl:hal-00918528 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Yasemin Y. Kor & Joseph T. Mahoney, 2005. "How dynamics, management, and governance of resource deployments influence firm‐level performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(5), pages 489-496, May.
    14. Wenhao Song & Shengce Ren & Jun Yu, 2019. "Bridging the gap between corporate social responsibility and new green product success: The role of green organizational identity," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 88-97, January.
    15. Angeloantonio Russo & Francesco Perrini, 2010. "Investigating Stakeholder Theory and Social Capital: CSR in Large Firms and SMEs," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 91(2), pages 207-221, January.
    16. Suk Choi & Christopher Williams, 2014. "The impact of innovation intensity, scope, and spillovers on sales growth in Chinese firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 25-46, March.
    17. Ping-Sheng Koh & Cuili Qian & Heli Wang, 2014. "Firm litigation risk and the insurance value of corporate social performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(10), pages 1464-1482, October.
    18. Li Cai & Jinhua Cui & Hoje Jo, 2016. "Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Firm Risk," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 563-594, December.
    19. Brian R. Golden & Edward J. Zajac, 2001. "When will boards influence strategy? inclination × power = strategic change," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(12), pages 1087-1111, December.
    20. Thomas Dalziel & Richard J. Gentry & Michael Bowerman, 2011. "An Integrated Agency–Resource Dependence View of the Influence of Directors' Human and Relational Capital on Firms' R&D Spending," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48, pages 1217-1242, September.
    21. Bocquet, Rachel & Le Bas, Christian & Mothe, Caroline & Poussing, Nicolas, 2013. "Are firms with different CSR profiles equally innovative? Empirical analysis with survey data," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 642-654.
    22. Heli Wang & Jaepil Choi & Jiatao Li, 2008. "Too Little or Too Much? Untangling the Relationship Between Corporate Philanthropy and Firm Financial Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 143-159, February.
    23. Mario Davide Parrilli & Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, 2014. "Interrelated Diversification and Internationalisation: Critical Drives of Global Industries," Revue d'économie industrielle, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(1), pages 63-93.
    24. Chen, Shouming & Bu, Miao & Wu, Sibin & Liang, Xin, 2015. "How does TMT attention to innovation of Chinese firms influence firm innovation activities? A study on the moderating role of corporate governance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(5), pages 1127-1135.
    25. Chkir, Imed & El Haj Hassan, Boushra & Rjiba, Hatem & Saadi, Samir, 2021. "Does corporate social responsibility influence corporate innovation? International evidence," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    26. Lin Cui & Fuming Jiang, 2012. "State ownership effect on firms' FDI ownership decisions under institutional pressure: a study of Chinese outward-investing firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(3), pages 264-284, April.
    27. Helmers, Christian & Patnam, Manasa & Rau, P. Raghavendra, 2017. "Do board interlocks increase innovation? Evidence from a corporate governance reform in India," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 51-70.
    28. Fich, Eliezer M. & White, Lawrence J., 2005. "Why do CEOs reciprocally sit on each other's boards?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 11(1-2), pages 175-195, March.
    29. Balsmeier, Benjamin & Buchwald, Achim & Stiebale, Joel, 2014. "Outside directors on the board and innovative firm performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(10), pages 1800-1815.
    30. Luís M. B. Cabral, 2003. "R&D Competition when firms Choose Variance," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), pages 139-150, March.
    31. Suzuki, Jun & Kodama, Fumio, 2004. "Technological diversity of persistent innovators in Japan: Two case studies of large Japanese firms," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 531-549, April.
    32. Kais Bouslah & Lawrence Kryzanowski & Bouchra M’Zali, 2018. "Social Performance and Firm Risk: Impact of the Financial Crisis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(3), pages 643-669, May.
    33. ChungMing Lau & Yuan Lu & Qiang Liang, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsibility in China: A Corporate Governance Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(1), pages 73-87, June.
    34. Gautam Ahuja & Riitta Katila, 2001. "Technological acquisitions and the innovation performance of acquiring firms: a longitudinal study," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(3), pages 197-220, March.
    35. Henri Schildt & Thomas Keil & Markku Maula, 2012. "The temporal effects of relative and firm‐level absorptive capacity on interorganizational learning," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(10), pages 1154-1173, October.
    36. Zhao, Tianjiao & Xiao, Xiang, 2019. "The impact of corporate social responsibility on financial constraints: Does the life cycle stage of a firm matter?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 76-93.
    37. Karl V. Lins & Henri Servaes & Ane Tamayo, 2017. "Social Capital, Trust, and Firm Performance: The Value of Corporate Social Responsibility during the Financial Crisis," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 72(4), pages 1785-1824, August.
    38. Hazar Ben Barka & Ali Dardour, 2015. "Investigating the relationship between director’s profile, board interlocks and corporate social responsibility," Post-Print halshs-01139747, HAL.
    39. Se-Yeon Ahn & Dong-Jun Park, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Longevity: The Mediating Role of Social Capital and Moral Legitimacy in Korea," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 117-134, June.
    40. Stephanie A. Fernhaber & Pankaj C. Patel, 2012. "How do young firms manage product portfolio complexity? The role of absorptive capacity and ambidexterity," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(13), pages 1516-1539, December.
    41. Jordi Surroca & Josep A. Tribó & Sandra Waddock, 2010. "Corporate responsibility and financial performance: the role of intangible resources," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 463-490, May.
    42. Amy J. Hillman & Gerald D. Keim, 2001. "Shareholder value, stakeholder management, and social issues: what's the bottom line?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(2), pages 125-139, February.
    43. Paul C. Godfrey & Craig B. Merrill & Jared M. Hansen, 2009. "The relationship between corporate social responsibility and shareholder value: an empirical test of the risk management hypothesis," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 425-445, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Feifei Yu & Dong Jiang & Teng Wang, 2022. "The impact of green innovation on manufacturing small and medium enterprises corporate social responsibility fulfillment: The moderating role of regional environmental regulation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 712-727, May.
    2. Shuxia Zhang & Liping Xu & Ning Liu, 2022. "Crowding‐in and crowding‐out effects of corporate philanthropy on R&D investment," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(6), pages 1835-1849, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marko Reimer & Sebastiaan Doorn & Mariano L. M. Heyden, 2018. "Unpacking Functional Experience Complementarities in Senior Leaders’ Influences on CSR Strategy: A CEO–Top Management Team Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(4), pages 977-995, September.
    2. Fernando García & Jairo González-Bueno & Francisco Guijarro & Javier Oliver, 2020. "Forecasting the Environmental, Social, and Governance Rating of Firms by Using Corporate Financial Performance Variables: A Rough Set Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Chen, Shihua & Chen, Yulin & Jebran, Khalil, 2021. "Trust and corporate social responsibility: From expected utility and social normative perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 518-530.
    4. Megumi Suto & Hitoshi Takehara, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility intensity, management earnings forecast accuracy, and investor trust: Evidence from Japan," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 3047-3059, November.
    5. Leon Zolotoy & Don O’Sullivan & Jill Klein, 2019. "Character Cues and Contracting Costs: The Relationship Between Philanthropy and the Cost of Capital," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(2), pages 497-515, January.
    6. Hossain, Ashrafee Tanvir & Kryzanowski, Lawrence, 2021. "Political corruption and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    7. Gao, Feng & Li, Yubin & Wang, Xinjie & Zhong, Zhaodong (Ken), 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and the term structure of CDS spreads," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    8. Wassim Dbouk & Dawei Jin & Haizhi Wang & Jianrong Wang, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Rule 144A Debt Offerings: Empirical Evidence," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-18, November.
    9. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    10. Ruixi Long & Shuyang Jia, 2023. "Foreground or background my social responsibility: impact of the trade war on the readability of corporate social responsibility disclosures," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 79-97, March.
    11. Ghanbarpour, Tohid & Gustafsson, Anders, 2022. "How do corporate social responsibility (CSR) and innovativeness increase financial gains? A customer perspective analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 471-481.
    12. Jean McGuire & Jana Oehmichen & Michael Wolff & Roman Hilgers, 2019. "Do Contracts Make Them Care? The Impact of CEO Compensation Design on Corporate Social Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 375-390, June.
    13. Sebastian Utz, 2018. "Over‐investment or risk mitigation? Corporate social responsibility in Asia‐Pacific, Europe, Japan, and the United States," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(2), pages 167-193, April.
    14. Ilya R. P. Cuypers & Ping-Sheng Koh & Heli Wang, 2016. "Sincerity in Corporate Philanthropy, Stakeholder Perceptions and Firm Value," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(1), pages 173-188, February.
    15. Ashrafee Hossain & Samir Saadi & Abu S. Amin, 2023. "Does CEO Risk-Aversion Affect Carbon Emission?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(4), pages 1171-1198, February.
    16. Zhe Li & Bo Wang & Dan Zhou, 2022. "Financial experts of top management teams and corporate social responsibility: evidence from China," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 1335-1386, November.
    17. Shih-Chi Chiu & Mark Sharfman, 2018. "Corporate Social Irresponsibility and Executive Succession: An Empirical Examination," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(3), pages 707-723, May.
    18. Lu, Hao & Oh, Won-Yong & Kleffner, Anne & Chang, Young Kyun, 2021. "How do investors value corporate social responsibility? Market valuation and the firm specific contexts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 14-25.
    19. Rania Béji & Ouidad Yousfi & Abdelwahed Omri, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance: A cognitive approach," Post-Print hal-03144756, HAL.
    20. Zhang, Zhuang & Chizema, Amon & Kuo, Jing-Ming & Zhang, Qingjing, 2022. "Managerial risk-reducing incentives and social and exchange capital," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(6).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:42:y:2021:i:6:p:1492-1508. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/7976 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.