The latest issue of Business ethics: a European review presents papers that explore how social responsibility is slowly emerging as not only a condition but also as a strategy for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The papers selected for this issue attempt to understand how, and with what impact, CSR can contribute to creating a competitive advantage for SMEs. They also suggest ways in which to identify, explore and analyse CSR among SMEs in a manner relevant in a European context. The guest editors of this special issue (Morsing & Perrini) argue that public authorities, policy-makers and researchers need to investigate and give visibility to this area and open up the debate on the particular implications of CSR in SMEs.
The papers selected for this issue cover a range of perspectives starting with Murillo & Lozano who look at how networks can support the development of CSR among SMEs. Heledd Jenkins develops a business opportunity model of CSR in SMEs to analyse how SMEs may take advantage of the challenges of CSR. The paper from Hammann, Habisch & Pechlaner explores the link between personal managerial values and economic value using qualitative interviews and a survey including data from 261 German SME executives. Lynch-Wood, Williamson & Jenkins sets out to explore what they refer to as 'the external business case' by developing a model to analyse its constituent elements in a voluntary setting and how these elements influence the behaviour of SMEs. Fisher et al argue in their paper that SMEs have stronger relationships with their stakeholders than their MNC counterparts and therefore SMEs have a strong social capital. They develop a model of strategic CSR from an SME perspective (the ABCD framework). The final paper presents a study from Nielsen & Thomsen which explores how SME managers respond to the increased demand for SMEs' corporate communication on CSR issues.
This issue of Business ethics: a European review (Vol.18:1) can be found in the journals collection located in the library basement
Alternatively, current staff, students and faculty can use Article Finder (available via Portal) to find out which of our databases provides full-text access to this journal.
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