Journal of Corporate Responsibility and Leadership

From Editors

Andrzej Lis — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200

This issue of Journal of Corporate Responsibility and Leadership (JCR&L) focuses on a miscellany of aspects related to corporate social responsibility.

CSR Case Studies: Identifying Core References with Direct Citation Analysis

Andrzej Lis — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to identify, through citation analysis, the core references employing case study methodology to explore CSR issues in various organizational contexts. The research process is focused on the following study questions: (1) What are the core references analysing
CSR case studies? (2) What are the research contexts of the top rated case studies in CSR?
Methodology: The study employs the method of direct citation analysis, which is categorized among the science mapping, bibliometric methods. As the method of citation analysis favours older publications, which have had more opportunities to receive a higher number of citations, the traditional approach based on identifying the most cited publications is
supplemented with the analysis of the normalized number of citations, which mitigates such a bias. The analysis and visualization of findings are supported with VOSviewer software.
Findings: The analysis has identified the core references among case studies exploring corporate social responsibility issues. Then, the identified publications have been explored and their research contexts have been recognized.The core case studies in CSR show their particular interest in such contexts and issues as: (1) heavy industries (e.g. mining and oil industries); (2) supply chains; (3) various types of businesses, including large companies, SMEs, and family businesses; (4) the perspectives of important stakeholders such as governments and NGOs; and recently (5) the food industry.

Research and practical implications: Through mapping scientific output of CSR case studies, the paper contributes first and foremost to the development of management theory. It points out the most recognized publications, to be considered as role models for the followers. It may also provide inspiration for further exploration of corporate social responsibility practices with the use of case study methodology.

Originality/value: The uniqueness of the paper derives from the fact that CSR case studies have not been yet mapped as a research field. Moreover, the employment of bibliometric methodology enabling objective analysis of a large number of publications and their attributes, and effective visualization techniques increase value of the study.
Paper type: Review.

Sport Sponsorship as Cross-sectoral Collaboration and its Value for Young Customers

Dominika Mirońska, Antti Bergman — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Purpose: The article discusses the benefits for companies and their customers as a result of collaboration with sport clubs on different advancement stages.
Design/methodology/approach: The research takes a quantitative approach to study customers’ attitudes towards sponsorship in sports. The survey measures customers’ attitudes grouped in three categories: brand favourability, use of products, and perceived social input. It shows how
these values change in different collaboration stages, defined by Austin’s (2000) Collaboration Continuum.
Findings: The benefits were most effectively created on the philanthropic and integrative stages of collaboration with no statistically significant difference between the two. Further analysis of the results suggested the integrative stage to be the most favourable for companies to collaborate
in, when taking into account the overall effect of collaboration.
Research and practical implications: The research provides insight for both, business and non-profit managers in order to gain better understanding of the benefits of collaboration and what stage of collaboration results in highest perceived benefits.

Originality/value: The research results may help both entities to manage their collaboration relationships. For non-profits this means understanding the value of their partnership and this way helping to create value propositions. For businesses this means the ability to engage in collaboration that brings best value for their customers and the company.
Paper type: Research paper.

From Traditional to Strategic CSR: Systematic Literature Review

Mikołaj Ślęzak — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0200

The idea of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a very significant element of companies and societies functioning. Literature exemplifies that this concept still becomes more and more popular. Considering it from the strategic perspective can be a driver for businesses success. This article focuses on the CSR concept and its different aspects. The aim of the paper is to describe and exemplify the issue of the corporate social responsibility concept, with the focus on its strategic aspects. In order to achieve the aim of the paper, there have been set the following objectives: (1) to discuss definitions of the CSR concept, its origins, drivers and different types;
(2) to present strategic CSR definitions, its benefits and dimensions; (3) to exemplify how to embed the CSR concept into strategy; (4) to discuss the complexity of the strategic approach to CSR. The study is based on the systematic literature review. At the beginning, the article presents the
method of the study and the research sampling process. The next step of the study outlines the CSR concept and its definitions and key assumptions. Later, the article exemplifies the strategic approach to the CSR concept. The study confirms the significance of converting CSR activities into strategies
and linking them with the grand strategy of companies. Nevertheless, there is still a big need to investigate this issue more deeply in order to have a better and more comprehensive view on that.

Eco-innovations and Their Role in Contemporary Business

Mikołaj Ślęzak — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0200

Eco-innovations become a more and more significant aspect in
management theory and business practice. The concept is considered to
be a solution linking the ideas of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and
innovation. The aim of the study is to discuss the eco-innovations concept
and their role in contemporary business. In order to meet the aim of the
paper, the following operational objectives were indicated: (1) to present
and discuss definitions of the eco-innovations concept; (2) to exemplify
different types, antecedents and dimensions of eco-innovations; (3) to
identify benefits of eco-innovations; (4) to consider eco-innovations as
a source of potential competitive advantage. This study is based on the
methodology of systematic literature review. The article exemplifies
the definitions of eco-innovations, their types, antecedents and different
dimensions. Later, it is discussed the role of eco-innovations in building
the competitive advantage. The study confirms that eco-innovations
can generate benefits for businesses and their environment. Thus, the
role of eco-innovations in contemporary business can be considered as
significant.