THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CSR MEANING AND CSR PRACTICES: THE CASE OF SMES

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the meaning attached to CSR as a concept and the legal, economic and ethical CSR activities of SMEs in Zimbabwe. For a long time researchers have concentrated on studying the impact of CSR practices on the operations of SMEs and yet very little regard has been given to investigating the relationship between CSR meaning and CSR activities in SMEs.The study made use of questionnaires to collect data from a sample of 201 SMEs residing in the region of Harare. The correlation method was adopted in order to examine the relationship between CSR meaning and CSR activities of SMEs in Zimbabwe. The results of the study revealed that the meaning of CSR is related to the major CSR activities undertaken by SMEs in Zimbabwe. This means SMEs that indulge in donating money and goods to need people will define CSR as donations in cash or kind. Therefore the meaning attached to CSR must be related to the legal, economic and ethical CSR activities of SMEs in Zimbabwe. For this reason there is no standard meaning for CSR.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Small To Medium Enterprise, Correlation, CSR Meaning And Zimbabwe

How to cite this paper: Manuere, F., & Phiri, M. (2016). The relationship between CSR meaning and CSR practices: the case of SMES. Corporate Ownership & Control, 13(4), 103-109. https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv13i4p11