Implementation of corporate social responsibility in Australian construction SMEs

被引:56
|
作者
Bevan, Emma A. M. [1 ]
Yung, Ping [1 ]
机构
[1] Curtin Univ Technol, Sch Built Environm, Perth, WA, Australia
关键词
Australia; Small to medium-sized enterprises; Ethics; Construction industry; Environmental management; Corporate strategy; CSR; CITIZENSHIP; BENEFITS;
D O I
10.1108/ECAM-05-2014-0071
中图分类号
T [工业技术];
学科分类号
08 ;
摘要
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) related activities in small to medium sized construction enterprises within Australia. Reasons behind the implementation level are also evaluated. Design/methodology/approach - Quantitative and qualitative company level data from 28 Australian small to medium sized construction enterprises were collected using an in-depth questionnaire. Levels of CSR implementation in three aspects, namely, environmental, social and ethical, were measured. Each aspect was broken down into sub-areas and implementation scores were aggregated and normalised. Awareness level and concern for economic aspect, the two hypothesised reasons for level of implementation, were also measured. Non-parametric correlation analyses were used to examine the hypotheses. Findings - The findings suggest small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) incorporate some aspects of CSR into their business activities even though they do not refer to the practices as CSR, as none of them have a formal CSR policy in place. Most SMEs in the construction industry implement ethical and economic aspect of CSR; however implementation across environmental and social issues is limited. Non-parametric correlation analyses show that higher awareness of CSR issues leads to higher levels of implementation and that concern about economic aspect is not a reason why CSR is not implemented into business practices. Research limitations/implications - Everett Rogers' diffusion paradigm can also be applied to CSR implementation, but more research works are required to theoretically and empirically examine the relationships between CSR implementation and economic aspect. Originality/value - It is apparent that there is a significant gap in the research regarding Australian SMEs and sustainability issues as the majority of the literature is focused upon large organisations even though the approaches taken by SMEs towards CSR are very different to those of large corporations. The SME business sector is a significant sector in terms of its environmental, economic and social impacts. Hence recognition of this sector is growing and is now becoming the focus of an agenda to promote the implementation of CSR practices in SMEs. This paper aims to provide useful and detailed information to add to what is currently an underdeveloped body of knowledge in this area.
引用
收藏
页码:295 / 311
页数:17
相关论文
共 50 条
  • [21] Introduction: Corporate Social Responsibility Implementation
    Lindgreen, Adam
    Swaen, Valerie
    Maon, Francois
    [J]. JOURNAL OF BUSINESS ETHICS, 2009, 85 : 251 - 256
  • [22] Introduction: Corporate Social Responsibility Implementation
    Adam Lindgreen
    Valérie Swaen
    François Maon
    [J]. Journal of Business Ethics, 2009, 85 : 251 - 256
  • [23] Corporate Social Responsibility for Construction Enterprises
    Wang Kun
    Zheng Rongyue
    Jiang Jianlin
    [J]. PROCEEDINGS OF 2008 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONSTRUCTION & REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT, VOLS 1 AND 2, 2008, : 660 - 663
  • [24] CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: A STUDY OF SMES IN SOUTH AFRICA'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
    Wentzel, Lance
    Fapohunda, Julius
    Haldenwang, Rainier
    [J]. ACTA STRUCTILIA, 2024, 31 (01) : 159 - 193
  • [25] Unveiling corporate social responsibility awareness and implementation: a study of the Chinese construction firms
    Zhang, Qian
    Oo, Bee Lan
    Lim, Benson Teck Heng
    [J]. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 2023, 66 (09) : 1861 - 1889
  • [26] Critical incidents and social construction of corporate social responsibility
    Engen, Ole Andreas
    Mikkelsen, Aslaug
    Gronhaug, Kjell
    [J]. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY JOURNAL, 2010, 6 (03) : 345 - +
  • [27] Using the Web by Finnish SMEs for corporate social responsibility activities
    Lakatos, Elena-Simina
    Gazdac, Roxana-Mirela
    Dan, Viorel
    [J]. OPTIMIZATION OF THE ROBOTS AND MANIPULATORS, 2011, 8 : 169 - 173
  • [28] Corporate Social Responsibility: Perceptions and practices among SMEs in Colombia
    Pastrana, Nathaly Aya
    Sriramesh, Krishnamurthy
    [J]. PUBLIC RELATIONS REVIEW, 2014, 40 (01) : 14 - 24
  • [29] CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: A DRIVING FORCE FOR EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION IN SMES?
    BERARD, Celine
    SZOSTAK, Berangere
    ABDESSELAM, Rafik
    [J]. JOURNAL OF INNOVATION ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT, 2022, (38): : 119 - 146
  • [30] Perceptions and practices of corporate social responsibility among SMEs in Pakistan
    Jamshed Raza
    Abdul Majid
    [J]. Quality & Quantity, 2016, 50 : 2625 - 2650