Strategies and instruments for organising CSR by small and large businesses in the Netherlands
Abstract
This paper analyses the use of strategies and instruments for organising ethics by small and large business in the Netherlands. We find that large firms mostly prefer an integrity strategy to foster ethical behaviour in the organisation, whereas small enterprises prefer a dialogue strategy. Both large and small firms make least use of a compliance strategy that focuses on controlling and sanctioning the ethical behaviour of workers. The size of the business is found to have a positive impact on the use of several instruments, like code of conduct, ISO certification, social reporting, social handbook and confidential person. Also being a subsidiary of a larger firm has a significant positive influence on the use of instruments. The most popular instrument used by small firms is to let one member of the board be answerable for ethical questions, which fits the informal culture of most small firms. With respect to 2 sectorial differences, we find that firms in the metal manufacturing and construction sectors are more actively using formal instruments than firms in the financial service sector and retail sector. The distinction between family and non-family firms hardly affects the use of instruments.Download Info
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Paper provided by University Library of Munich, Germany in its series MPRA Paper with number 20754.Length:
Date of creation: 2003
Date of revision:
Publication status: Published in Journal of Business Ethics 47.1(2003): pp. 45-60
Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:20754
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Related research
Keywords: Comparison of small and large firms; ethics strategies; ethics instruments; organisation of corporate social responsibility;Find related papers by JEL classification:
- M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Social Responsibility
- L29 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Other
References
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- Graafland, J.J., 2001. "Profts and principles: Four perspectives," MPRA Paper 21134, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Citations
Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.Cited by:
- Graafland, J.J. & Smid, H., 2004.
"Reputation, corporate social responsibility and market regulation,"
MPRA Paper
20772, University Library of Munich, Germany.
- J.J. Graafland & H. Smid, 2004. "Reputation, Corporate Social Responsibility and Market Regulation," Review of Business and Economics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Faculteit Economie en Bedrijfswetenschappen, vol. 0(2), pages 271-308.
- Thijssens, Thomas Jean Gertrude Ignace, 2012. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure: management, commitment, and stakeholder influence," Open Access publications from Maastricht University urn:nbn:nl:ui:27-28272, Maastricht University.
- Rasi Kunapatarawong & Ester Martínez-Ros, 2013. "Influences of institutional pressures on corporate social responsibility attitude and corporate social responsibility outcomes," Business Economics Working Papers wb130301, Universidad Carlos III, Departamento de Economía de la Empresa.
- Marcus Wagner, 2010. "Corporate Social Performance and Innovation with High Social Benefits: A Quantitative Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(4), pages 581-594, July.
- repec:eme:srjpps:v:6:y:2010:i:2:p:490-508 is not listed on IDEAS
- Graafland, J.J. & Eijffinger, S.C.W. & Smid, H., 2004.
"Benchmarking of corporate social responsibility: Methodological problems and robustness,"
MPRA Paper
20771, University Library of Munich, Germany.
- Graafland, J.J. & Eijffinger, S.C.W. & Smid, H., 2004. "Benchmarking of corporate social responsibility: Methodological problems and robustness," Open Access publications from Tilburg University urn:nbn:nl:ui:12-139286, Tilburg University.
- Marylyn Carrigan & Caroline Moraes & Sheena Leek, 2011. "Fostering Responsible Communities: A Community Social Marketing Approach to Sustainable Living," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 100(3), pages 515-534, May.
- Geoff Moore & Laura Spence, 2006. "Editorial: Responsibility and Small Business," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 67(3), pages 219-226, September.
- Graafland, J.J. & Mazereeuw, C. & Yahia, A., 2006. "Islam and socially responsible business conduct: An empirical research among Dutch entrepreneurs," MPRA Paper 20279, University Library of Munich, Germany.
- Francesco Perrini & Angeloantonio Russo & Antonio Tencati, 2007. "CSR Strategies of SMEs and Large Firms. Evidence from Italy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 74(3), pages 285-300, September.
- Fara Azmat & Ramanie Samaratunge, 2009. "Responsible Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries: Understanding the Realities and Complexities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 90(3), pages 437-452, December.
- Arménio Rego & Susana Leal & Miguel Cunha, 2011. "Rethinking the Employees’ Perceptions of Corporate Citizenship Dimensionalization," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(2), pages 207-218, December.
- Heledd Jenkins, 2006. "Small Business Champions for Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 67(3), pages 241-256, September.
- Angeloantonio Russo & Antonio Tencati, 2009. "Formal vs. Informal CSR Strategies: Evidence from Italian Micro, Small, Medium-sized, and Large Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 85(2), pages 339-353, April.
- Ted Fuller & Yumiao Tian, 2006. "Social and Symbolic Capital and Responsible Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Investigation of SME Narratives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 67(3), pages 287-304, September.
- Nelarine Cornelius & Mathew Todres & Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj & Adrian Woods & James Wallace, 2008. "Corporate Social Responsibility and the Social Enterprise," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 81(2), pages 355-370, August.
- Sven Helin & Johan Sandström, 2007. "An Inquiry into the Study of Corporate Codes of Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 75(3), pages 253-271, October.
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