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Assessment of Corporate Governance as a Key Component of Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study of a Water and Wastewater Utility

Author

Listed:
  • Elzbieta Pawlowska

    (Department of Management, Faculty of Organization and Management, Silesian University of Technology, Roosevelta 26, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland)

  • Joanna Machnik-Slomka

    (Department of Management, Faculty of Organization and Management, Silesian University of Technology, Roosevelta 26, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland)

  • Iwona Klosok-Bazan

    (Department of Thermal Engineering and Industrial Facilities, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Opole University of Technology, Mikolajczyka 5, 45-271 Opole, Poland)

  • Miroslava Gono

    (Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, 708-00 Ostrava, Czech Republic)

Abstract

The article discusses corporate governance, which is a core area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) currently receiving a lot of attention from both researchers and practitioners. The article aims to assess corporate governance in the water and wastewater sector within the context of CSR. The rationale for researching this topic was the lack of scientific studies in this area. The rationale for researching this topic was the lack of scientific studies in this area. To this end, in accordance with the developed research methodology, a literature analysis was used to demonstrate the originality of the problem, as well as the case study method to analyze complex phenomena. To achieve this goal, a survey was conducted of a selected company from the water and sewage industry. Statistical analysis methods were used to verify the research hypotheses. The results show that corporate governance and its individual factors are at a relatively high level. This indicates that the way the organization is managed enables the effective implementation and monitoring of activities related to CSR. From a practical perspective, it is important to further strengthen internal communication, increase legal awareness among staff, and develop managerial skills in the area of employee motivation. The research conducted makes a significant contribution to the development of science, confirming the importance of corporate governance, in which ethics and legal compliance play a key role in shaping a socially responsible organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Elzbieta Pawlowska & Joanna Machnik-Slomka & Iwona Klosok-Bazan & Miroslava Gono, 2025. "Assessment of Corporate Governance as a Key Component of Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study of a Water and Wastewater Utility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8492-:d:1755068
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jorge Alejandro Silva, 2024. "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability in Water Supply: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-29, April.
    2. Silvia Cantele & Thomas A. Tsalis & Ioannis E. Nikolaou, 2018. "A New Framework for Assessing the Sustainability Reporting Disclosure of Water Utilities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Lijuan Wu & Shanyue Jin, 2022. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: From a Corporate Governance Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Hoje Jo & Maretno Harjoto, 2012. "The Causal Effect of Corporate Governance on Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 106(1), pages 53-72, March.
    5. Zeineb Ouni & Jamal Ben Mansour & Sana Arfaoui, 2022. "Corporate Governance and Financial Performance: The Interplay of Board Gender Diversity and Intellectual Capital," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-22, November.
    6. del-Castillo-Feito, Cristina & Blanco-González, Alicia & Hernández-Perlines, Felipe, 2022. "The impacts of socially responsible human resources management on organizational legitimacy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    7. John Elkington, 2006. "Governance for Sustainability," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(6), pages 522-529, November.
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