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CSR and stakeholders of small businesses in regional South Australia

Author

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  • Nina Evans
  • Janet Sawyer

Abstract

Purpose - This paper aims to report on the key CSR strategies, activities and attitudes of small business owners in a South Australian regional area with regard to the key stakeholders, towards developing socially and environmentally responsible small businesses. Design/methodology/approach - The investigation was conducted collaboratively between the University of South Australia's Centre for Regional Engagement (CRE) and the Whyalla Economic Development Board (WEDB), using an interview‐driven, qualitative design. Findings - It was found that the small business owners in Whyalla were supportive of their stakeholders, especially the local community, because it was the right thing to do and was generally beneficial to their business. Research limitations/implications - It is acknowledged that this type of research design limits the degree to which the results can be generalised, as the sample was limited and questions on environmental issues can be misunderstood and misinterpreted. Practical implications - The results enable the University to assist the University and the WEDB to play an active role in developing the social and environmental awareness of businesses towards sustainable, socially and environmentally responsible regional small businesses. Social implications - CSR is viewed through the lens of stakeholder theory, where stakeholders are all the people and entities that contribute to the businesses’ wealth‐creating activities. Originality/value - The paper is based on an original study within small firms and their social and environmental responsibility relating to their stakeholders. Previous research on the CSR activities of small businesses within regional or rural environments is limited, especially in regional areas of a developed economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Nina Evans & Janet Sawyer, 2010. "CSR and stakeholders of small businesses in regional South Australia," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(3), pages 433-451, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:srjpps:v:6:y:2010:i:3:p:433-451
    DOI: 10.1108/17471111011064799
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Richard M. Crossley & Mohamed H. Elmagrhi & Collins G. Ntim, 2021. "Sustainability and legitimacy theory: The case of sustainable social and environmental practices of small and medium‐sized enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3740-3762, December.
    2. Parisa Salimzadeh & Jerry Courvisanos, 2015. "A Conceptual Framework for Assessing Sustainable Development in Regional SMEs," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(04), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Aliza Ramli* & Fadzlina Fahmi & Faizah Darus & Mustaffa Mohamed Zain, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility in Malaysian Organisations: Community Environmental Dimensions and Islamic Perspective," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, pages 1051-1057:5.
    4. Faiq Aziz & Nomahaza Mahadi & Rahayu Tasnim & Adriana Mohd Rizal & Shathees Baskaran & Suzilawati Kamarudin & Farzana Quoquab & Jihad Mohammad, 2018. "Linking Emotional Intelligence with Employee ProEnvironmental Behavior," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 8(2), pages 502-522, February.
    5. Svante Andersson & Göran Svensson & Francisco‐Jose Molina‐Castillo & Carmen Otero‐Neira & John Lindgren & Niklas P. E. Karlsson & Hélène Laurell, 2022. "Sustainable development—Direct and indirect effects between economic, social, and environmental dimensions in business practices," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1158-1172, September.
    6. Linda Westman & Christopher Luederitz & Aravind Kundurpi & Alexander Julian Mercado & Olaf Weber & Sarah Lynne Burch, 2019. "Conceptualizing businesses as social actors: A framework for understanding sustainability actions in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 388-402, February.
    7. Kurniawan, Putu Sukma, 2018. "An Implementation of Sustainability Reporting Model in Village-Owned Enterprise and Small and Medium Enterprise: Case Study in Bali, Indonesia," INA-Rxiv 6p8uv, Center for Open Science.
    8. repec:arp:tjssrr:2019:p:184-190 is not listed on IDEAS

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