IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/corsem/v26y2019i2p341-350.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The role of innovation for performance improvement through corporate social responsibility practices among small and medium‐sized suppliers in China

Author

Listed:
  • Qinghua Zhu
  • Fei Zou
  • Pan Zhang

Abstract

Small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in emergent countries have been motivated to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, whereas innovation is needed or even necessary to gain performance. This paper develops a conceptual model to explore if three types of innovation (technology, management, and marketing) have moderation and mediation effects on relationships between CSR practices and performance. Using 494 samples collected from Chinese SMEs, hierarchical regression analysis results show that technology innovation can improve environmental performance together with employee efforts, and it can also improve social image together with environmental practices and community involvement. Management innovation is necessary to improve stakeholders' satisfaction, and it can also help bring environmental performance through employees' efforts and improve social image through organizational governance. Marketing innovation is necessary to gain economic performance. Meanwhile, marketing innovation can improve stakeholders' satisfaction together with organizational governance, and it can help to improve environmental performance through community involvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Qinghua Zhu & Fei Zou & Pan Zhang, 2019. "The role of innovation for performance improvement through corporate social responsibility practices among small and medium‐sized suppliers in China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 341-350, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:341-350
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.1686
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1686
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/csr.1686?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. 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.
    2. Ueki, Yasushi & Jeenanunta, Chawalit & Machikita, Tomohiro & Tsuji, Masatsugu, 2016. "Does safety-oriented corporate social responsibility promote innovation in the Thai trucking industry?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5371-5376.
    3. Bhardwaj, Pradeep & Chatterjee, Prabirendra & Demir, Kivilcim Dogerlioglu & Turut, Ozge, 2018. "When and how is corporate social responsibility profitable?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 206-219.
    4. Claude Didry & Elodie Bethoux & Arnaud Mias, 2007. ""What Codes of Conduct Tell Us: corporate social responsibility and the nature of the multinational corporation"," Post-Print hal-00178718, HAL.
    5. Rachel Bocquet & Christian Le Bas & Caroline Mothe & Nicolas Poussing, 2017. "CSR, Innovation, and Firm Performance in Sluggish Growth Contexts: A Firm-Level Empirical Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 241-254, November.
    6. Angela C. Chao & Zhengning Pu, 2017. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmentally Sound Technology in Endogenous Firm Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-13, February.
    7. Dorothée Baumann-Pauly & Christopher Wickert & Laura Spence & Andreas Scherer, 2013. "Organizing Corporate Social Responsibility in Small and Large Firms: Size Matters," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(4), pages 693-705, July.
    8. Johan Graafland, 2018. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Put Reputation at Risk by Inviting Activist Targeting? An Empirical Test among European SMEs," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(1), pages 1-13, January.
    9. Élodie Béthoux & Claude Didry & Arnaud Mias, 2007. "What Codes of Conduct Tell Us: corporate social responsibility and the nature of the multinational corporation," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(1), pages 77-90, January.
    10. Marc Vilanova & Josep Lozano & Daniel Arenas, 2009. "Exploring the Nature of the Relationship Between CSR and Competitiveness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 87(1), pages 57-69, April.
    11. Franck Brulhart & Marais, Magalie & Sandrine Gherra, 2017. "Are environmental strategies profitable for companies? The key role of natural competences from a resource-based view," Post-Print halshs-01708145, HAL.
    12. Marlen G. Arnold, 2017. "Corporate social responsibility representation of the German water-supply and distribution companies: from colourful to barren landscapes," International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22.
    13. Ahmed Al‐Abdin & Taposh Roy & John D. Nicholson, 2018. "Researching Corporate Social Responsibility in the Middle East: The Current State and Future Directions," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(1), pages 47-65, January.
    14. Marina Mattera & Veronica Baena, 2015. "The key to carving out a high corporate reputation based on innovation: corporate social responsibility," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(2), pages 221-241, June.
    15. Zhu, Qinghua & Liu, Junjun & Lai, Kee-hung, 2016. "Corporate social responsibility practices and performance improvement among Chinese national state-owned enterprises," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(P3), pages 417-426.
    16. Qinghua Zhu & Yong Geng & Kee‐hung Lai, 2011. "Environmental Supply Chain Cooperation and Its Effect on the Circular Economy Practice‐Performance Relationship Among Chinese Manufacturers," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(3), pages 405-419, June.
    17. Pablo Sánchez & Sonia Benito-Hernández, 2015. "CSR Policies: Effects on Labour Productivity in Spanish Micro and Small Manufacturing Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 128(4), pages 705-724, June.
    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. Nguyen Hoang Tien & Dinh Ba Hung Anh & Nguyen Minh Ngoc, 2020. "Corporate financial performance due to sustainable development in Vietnam," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 694-705, March.
    2. Samuel Adomako & Nguyen Phong Nguyen, 2023. "Green creativity, responsible innovation, and product innovation performance: A study of entrepreneurial firms in an emerging economy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4413-4425, November.
    3. Xie, Yibo & Ma, Wenbin & Ma, Yichuan & Ren, Zhouqi & Tong, Zelin & Wang, Yihuan, 2023. "A counterfactual thinking perspective of moral licensing effect in machine-driven communication: An example of natural language processing chatbot developed based on WeChat API," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    4. Pavla Vrabcová & Hana Urbancová, 2023. "Sustainable innovation in agriculture: Building competitiveness and business sustainability," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 69(1), pages 1-12.
    5. Julio C. Acosta-Prado & Oscar H. López-Montoya & Carlos Sanchís-Pedregosa & Ulpiano J. Vázquez-Martínez, 2020. "Sustainable Orientation of Management Capability and Innovative Performance: The Mediating Effect of Knowledge Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.
    6. Nor'Aini Yusof & Amin Akhavan Tabassi & Ernawati Mustafa Kamal, 2020. "Do environmental, economic and reputational advantages strengthen green practices' impact on environmental performance?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2081-2093, September.
    7. Ana León-Gómez & José Manuel Santos-Jaén & Daniel Ruiz-Palomo & Mercedes Palacios-Manzano, 2022. "Disentangling the impact of ICT adoption on SMEs performance: the mediating roles of corporate social responsibility and innovation," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(3), pages 831-866, September.
    8. Geng, Duanyang & Lai, Kee-hung & Zhu, Qinghua, 2021. "Eco-innovation and its role for performance improvement among Chinese small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    9. Mansour Naser Alraja & Rabia Imran & Basel M. Khashab & Mahmood Shah, 2022. "Technological Innovation, Sustainable Green Practices and SMEs Sustainable Performance in Times of Crisis (COVID-19 pandemic)," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1081-1105, August.
    10. Carla Gonzales-Gemio & Claudio Cruz-Cázares & Mary Jane Parmentier, 2020. "Responsible Innovation in SMEs: A Systematic Literature Review for a Conceptual Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-27, December.
    11. Chen, Yu & Gu, Xin & Gao, Yongqiang & Lan, Tian, 2021. "Sustainability with high-speed rails: The effects of transportation infrastructure development on firms’ CSR performance," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(2).
    12. Mark Anthony Camilleri & Ciro Troise & Serena Strazzullo & Stefano Bresciani, 2023. "Creating shared value through open innovation approaches: Opportunities and challenges for corporate sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4485-4502, November.
    13. Natalia Wagner & Bogusz Wiśnicki, 2022. "The Importance of Emerging Technologies to the Increasing of Corporate Sustainability in Shipping Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, September.
    14. Adelaide Martins & Manuel Castelo Branco & Pedro Novo Melo & Carolina Machado, 2022. "Sustainability in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-26, May.
    15. Xin Pan & Paresha Sinha & Xuanjin Chen, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and eco‐innovation: The triple bottom line perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 214-228, January.
    16. Huynh Thi Thuy Giang & Luu Tien Dung, 2022. "The effect of internal corporate social responsibility practices on firm performance: the mediating role of employee intrapreneurial behaviour," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 1035-1061, May.
    17. Zhiwen Li & Oswin Aganda Anaba & Zhiqiang Ma & Mingxing Li, 2021. "Ghanaian SMEs Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating the Influence of Entrepreneurial Orientation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-27, January.
    18. Shou, Yongyi & Shao, Jinan & Wang, Weijiao & Lai, Kee-hung, 2020. "The impact of corporate social responsibility on trade credit: Evidence from Chinese small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    19. Vecchio, Yari & Di Pasquale, Jorgelina & Del Giudice, Teresa & Pauselli, Gregorio & Masi, Margherita & Adinolfi, Felice, 2022. "Precision farming: what do Italian farmers really think? An application of the Q methodology," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    20. Víctor Meseguer-Sánchez & Francisco Jesús Gálvez-Sánchez & Gabriel López-Martínez & Valentín Molina-Moreno, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. A Bibliometric Analysis of Their Interrelations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.

    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. Chege, Samwel Macharia & Wang, Daoping, 2020. "The influence of technology innovation on SME performance through environmental sustainability practices in Kenya," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    2. Yan lI, 2022. "Corporate Social Responsibility of Chinese Manufacturing Companies' effect on Green Business Strategy, Innovation and Performance," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 31(1), pages 522-552, May.
    3. repec:thr:techub:10031:y:2022:i:1:p:522-552 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Suyun Chen & Yu Ji, 2022. "Do Corporate Social Responsibility Categories Distinctly Influence Innovation? A Resource-Based Theory Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-25, March.
    5. Tuyen, Bui Quang & Phuong Anh, Do Vu & Mai, Nguyen Phuong & Long, To Quang, 2023. "Does corporate engagement in social responsibility affect firm innovation? The mediating role of digital transformation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 292-303.
    6. Yun‐an Bai, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility and corporate innovation output: Empirical evidence based on Chinese listed companies," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(8), pages 3534-3547, December.
    7. Johan Graafland, 2020. "Competition in technology and innovation, motivation crowding, and environmental policy," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1), pages 137-145, January.
    8. Svensson, Göran & Wood, Greg & Callaghan, Michael, 2010. "A corporate model of sustainable business practices: An ethical perspective," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(4), pages 336-345, October.
    9. Virginia Bodolica & Martin Spraggon, 2015. "An Examination into the Disclosure, Structure, and Contents of Ethical Codes in Publicly Listed Acquiring Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 459-472, February.
    10. 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.
    11. Huynh Thi Thuy Giang & Luu Tien Dung, 2022. "The effect of internal corporate social responsibility practices on firm performance: the mediating role of employee intrapreneurial behaviour," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 1035-1061, May.
    12. Dolores Gallardo-Vázquez & Luis Enrique Valdez-Juárez & Ángela María Castuera-Díaz, 2019. "Corporate Social Responsibility as an Antecedent of Innovation, Reputation, Performance, and Competitive Success: A Multiple Mediation Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-28, October.
    13. Zhu, Qinghua & Lai, Kee-hung, 2019. "Enhancing supply chain operations with extended corporate social responsibility practices by multinational enterprises: Social capital perspective from Chinese suppliers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 1-12.
    14. Cézanne, Cécile & Rubinstein, Marianne, 2012. "La RSE comme instrument de gouvernance d’entreprise : une application à l’industrie française des télécommunications," Revue de la Régulation - Capitalisme, institutions, pouvoirs, Association Recherche et Régulation, vol. 12.
    15. Ehsan Poursoleyman & Gholamreza Mansourfar & Mohammad Kabir Hassan & Saeid Homayoun, 2024. "Did Corporate Social Responsibility Vaccinate Corporations Against COVID-19?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(3), pages 525-551, January.
    16. Leon Guillén & Afcha Sergio & Chu Manuel, 2022. "Research on social responsibility of small and medium enterprises: a bibliometric analysis," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(3), pages 857-909, September.
    17. Sonia Benito-Hernandez & Cristina Lopez-Cozar Navarro & Gracia Rubio Martin, 2020. "CSR Policies on Community Relationships as Value Drivers of Spanish Firms," EconWorld Working Papers 20002, WERI-World Economic Research Institute, revised May 2020.
    18. Jędrzej G. Frynas, 2008. "Corporate Social Responsibility and International Development: Critical Assessment," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(4), pages 274-281, July.
    19. Gema García‐Piqueres & Rebeca García‐Ramos, 2020. "Is the corporate social responsibility–innovation link homogeneous?: Looking for sustainable innovation in the Spanish context," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 803-814, March.
    20. Hyder Kamran & Irfan Khurshid & Fawaz Ali & Nitin Raj Srivastava, 2012. "Value Creation Through Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Proctor & Gamble Pakistan," International Journal of Business Research and Management (IJBRM), Computer Science Journals (CSC Journals), vol. 3(6), pages 279-293, December.
    21. Broadstock, David C. & Matousek, Roman & Meyer, Martin & Tzeremes, Nickolaos G., 2020. "Does corporate social responsibility impact firms' innovation capacity? The indirect link between environmental & social governance implementation and innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 99-110.

    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:corsem:v:26:y:2019:i:2:p:341-350. 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: https://doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)1535-3966 .

    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.