Gender difference in corporate social responsibility implementation in Lithuanian SMEs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24136/oc.2020.023Keywords:
Corporate Social Responsibility, perceptions of CSR, gender diversity, senior managers, SMEsAbstract
Research background: There are many scientific papers dealing with the challenges of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation at the company level. However, there are few studies dealing with gender difference between female and male managers in the perception towards CSR initiative.
Purpose of the article: To understand the differences between male and female managers? behaviour in the process of CSR implementation in companies.
Methods: A survey of managers at different levels in Lithuanian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was performed in 2019. The study focused on the female and male respondents? answers to the participation in CSR implementation, their perception about CSR implementation and the most important issues for them in that process.
Findings & Value added: The results of the study indicated that, compared to their male counterparts, female respondents highlighted different factors having impact on successful implementation of CSR initiatives. Female managers were more convinced to the benefits of CSR practices than their male counter-parts. The ?Communication skills? were defined as the most important for implementing CSR strategy for the females and ?Understanding of CSR strategy? for males. For most of the female managers, ?Sociality? was the most important competence necessary for a leader, followed by ?Global and holistic thinking?, however, the male respondents were more doubtful about all the necessary competencies for a sustainability leader. The main theoretical value added of the paper is elicitation of the differences between male and female managers in the perception of CSR initiatives and necessary skills of a leader for implementing these initiatives in SMEs. The practical and managerial im-plications were also provided for the strengthening of the CSR activities in SMEs.
Downloads
References
Ali, M., Ng, Y. L., & Kulik, C. T. (2014). Board age and gender diversity: a test of competing linear and curvilinear predictions. Journal of Business Ethics, 125(3).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1930-9
View in Google Scholar
Atakan, M. G. S., Burnaz, S., & Topcu, Y. I. (2008). An empirical investigation of the ethical perceptions of future managers with a special emphasis on gender – Turkish case. Journal of Business Ethics, 82. doi: 10.1007/s10551-007-9577-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9577-z
View in Google Scholar
Azmat, F., & Rentschler, R. (2017). Gender and ethnic diversity on boards and corporate responsibility: the case of the arts sector. Journal of Business Ethics, 141. doi: 10.1007/s10551-015-2707-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2707-0
View in Google Scholar
Bear, S., Rahman, N., & Post, C. (2010). The impact of board diversity and gender composition on corporate social responsibility and firm reputation. Journal of Business Ethics, 97. doi: 10.1007/s10551-010-0505-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0505-2
View in Google Scholar
Ben-Amar, W., Chang, M., & McIlkenny, P. (2017). Board gender diversity and corporate response to sustainability initiatives: evidence from the carbon disclosure project. Journal of Business Ethics, 142. doi: 10.1007/s10551-015-275 9-1.
View in Google Scholar
Ben-Amar, W., Francoeur, C., Hafsi, T., & Labelle, R. (2013). What makes better boards? A closer look at diversity and ownership. British Journal of Management, 24(1). doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8551.2011.00789.x.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8551.2011.00789.x
View in Google Scholar
Bernardi, R. A., & Threadgill, V. H. (2010). Women directors and corporate social responsibility. EJBO Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and Organization Studies, 15(2).
View in Google Scholar
Boulouta, I. (2013). Hidden connections: the link between board gender diversity and corporate social performance. Journal of Business Ethics, 113. doi: 10.1007/s10551-012-1293-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1293-7
View in Google Scholar
Calabrese, A., Costa, R., & Rosati, F. (2016). Gender differences in customer expectations and perceptions of corporate social responsibility. Journal of Cleaner Production, 116. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.12.100.
View in Google Scholar
Chan, J., Doran, S., & Marel, C. (2010). Doing and undoing gender in policing. Theoretical Criminology, 14(4). doi: 10.1177/1362480610376408.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480610376408
View in Google Scholar
Erhardt, N. L., Werbel, J. D., & Shrader, C. B. (2003). Board of director diversity and firm financial performance. Corporate Governance, 11(2). doi: 10.1111/14 67-8683.00011.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8683.00011
View in Google Scholar
Epitropaki, O., & Martin, R. (1999). The impact of relational demography on the quality of leader‐member exchanges and employees’ work attitudes and well‐being. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 72(2). doi: 10.1348/096317999166635.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1348/096317999166635
View in Google Scholar
Fatma, M., Rahman, Z., & Khan, I. (2015). Building company reputation and brand equity through CSR: the mediating role of trust. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 33(6). doi: 10.1108/IJBM-11-2014-0166.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-11-2014-0166
View in Google Scholar
Fernandez-Feijoo, B., Romero, S., & Ruiz-Blanco, S. (2014). Women on boards: do they affect sustainability reporting? Corporate Social Rsponsibility and Environmental Management, 21(6). doi: 10.1002/csr.1329.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1329
View in Google Scholar
Galbreath, J. (2018). Do boards of directors influence corporate sustainable development? An attention-based analysis. Business Strategy and the Environment, 27(6). doi: 10.1002/bse.1879.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2028
View in Google Scholar
Garry, T., & Harwood, T. (2017). Exploring consumer associations between corporate reputation, corporate sustainability, and product attributes within utilitarian market contexts. International Studies of Management & Organization, 47(3). doi: 10.1080/00208825.2017.1318021.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00208825.2017.1318021
View in Google Scholar
Glass, C., Cook, A., & Ingersoll, A. R. (2016). Do women leaders promote sustainability? analyzing the effect of corporate governance composition on environmental performance. Business Strategy and the Environment, 25(7). doi: 10.1002/bse.1879.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1879
View in Google Scholar
Grace, D. A., & O’Cass, A. (2002). Brand associations: looking through the eye of the beholder. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 5(2). doi: 10.1108/13522750210423797.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/13522750210423797
View in Google Scholar
Li, H.S., & Chen, P. (2018). Board gender diversity and firm performance: the moderating role of firm size. Business Ethics: A European Review, 27(4). 10.1111/beer.12188.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12188
View in Google Scholar
Hatch, C. D., & Stephen, S. A. (2015). Gender effects on perceptions of individual and corporate social responsibility. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 17(3). doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.12.100.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.12.100
View in Google Scholar
Hemingway, C. A., & Maclagan, P. W. (2004). Managers’ personal values as drivers of corporate social responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 50(1). doi: 10.1023/B:BUSI.0000020964.80208.c9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000020964.80208.c9
View in Google Scholar
Hur, W. M., Kim, H., & Jang, J. H. (2016). The role of gender differences in the impact of csr perceptions on corporate marketing outcomes. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 23(6). doi: 10.1002/csr.1380.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1380
View in Google Scholar
Hyun, E., Yang, D., Jung, H., & Hong, K. (2016). Women on boards and corporate social responsibility. Sustainability, 8(4). doi: 10.3390/su8040300.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su8040300
View in Google Scholar
Isidro, H., & Sobral, M. (2015). The effects of women on corporate boards on firm value, financial performance, and ethical and social compliance. Journal of Business Ethics, 132(1). doi: 10.1007/s10551-014-2302-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2302-9
View in Google Scholar
Felix, O.U. (2020). Students' perception of corporate social responsibility: analyzing the influence of gender, academic status, and exposure to business ethics education. Business Ethics: A European Review. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/beer.12306.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12306
View in Google Scholar
Lee, E. M., Park, S. Y., & Lee, H. J. (2013). Employee perception of csr activities: its antecedents and consequences. Journal of Business Research, 66(10). doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2012.11.008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2012.11.008
View in Google Scholar
Lee, C., Chang, W., & Lee, H. (2017). An investigation of the effects of corporate social responsibility on corporate reputation and customer loyalty - evidence from the taiwan non-life insurance industry. Social Responsibility Journal, 13(2). doi: 10.1108/SRJ-01-2016-0006.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-01-2016-0006
View in Google Scholar
Li, J., Zhao, F., Chen, S., Jiang, W., Liu, T., & Shi, S. (2017). Gender diversity on boards and firms’ environmental policy. Business Strategy and the Environment, 26(3). doi: 10.1002/bse.1918.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1918
View in Google Scholar
Liao, L., Luo, L., & Tang, Q. (2014). Gender diversity, board independence, environmental committee and greenhouse gas disclosure. British Accounting Review, 47(4). doi: 10.1016/j.bar.2014.01.002.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2014.01.002
View in Google Scholar
Lu, J., Ren, L., Qiao, J., Lin, W., & He, Y. (2019). Female executives and corporate social responsibility performance: a dual perspective of differences in institutional environment and heterogeneity of foreign experience. Transformations in Business & Economics, 18(2).
View in Google Scholar
Luthar, H. K., DiBattista, R. A., & Gautschi, T. (1997). Perception of what the ethical climate is and what it should be: the role of gender, academic status, and ethical education. Journal of Business Ethics, 16(2). doi: 10.1023/A:1017980 520924.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017980520924
View in Google Scholar
Perryer, C., & Jordan, C. (2002). The influence of gender, age, culture and other factors on ethical beliefs: a comparative study in Australia and Singapore. Public Administration and Management: An Interactive Journal, 7(4).
View in Google Scholar
Perkins, P. E. (2007). Feminist ecological economics and sustainability. Journal of Bioeconomics, 9(3). doi: 10.1007/s10818-007-9028-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10818-007-9028-z
View in Google Scholar
Petkeviciute, N., Barvydiene, V., & Surpikiene, N. (2018). Authentic leadership: leader-follower relationship genesis. Transformations in Business & Economics, 17(1).
View in Google Scholar
Neri, S., Pinnington, A., Lahrech, A., & Al-Malkawi, H. A. N. (2019). Top executives' perceptions of the inclusion of corporate social responsibility in quality management. Business Ethics: A European Review, 28(4). doi: 10.1111/bee r.12235.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12235
View in Google Scholar
Rao, K., & Tilt, C. (2016). Board composition and corporate social responsibility: the role of diversity, gender, strategy and decision-making. Journal of Business Ethics, 138(2). doi: 10.1007/s10551-015-2613-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2613-5
View in Google Scholar
Rosati, F., Costa, R., Calabrese, A., & Pederse, E. R. G. (2018). Employee attitudes towards corporate social responsibility: a study on gender, age and educational level differences. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 25(6). doi: 10.1002/csr.1640.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1640
View in Google Scholar
Setó-Pamies, D. (2013). The relationship between women directors and corporate social responsibility. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 22(6). doi: 10.1002/csr.1349.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1349
View in Google Scholar
Simga-Mugan, C., Daly, B. A., Onkal, D., & Kavut, L. (2005). The influence of nationality and gender on ethical sensitivity: an application of the issue-contingent model. Journal of Business Ethics, 57(2). doi: 10.1007/s10551-004-4601-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-4601-z
View in Google Scholar
Wei, J., Wang, Y., & Zhu, W. (2014). Strategically manipulating social reputation by scheduling corporate social responsibility events. Journal of Public Affairs, 14(2). doi: 10.1002/pa.1516.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1516
View in Google Scholar
Zhang, J. Q., Zhu, H., & Ding, H. B. (2013). Board composition and corporate social responsibility: an empirical investigation in the post sarbanes-oxley era. Journal of Business Ethics, 114(3). doi: 10.1007/s10551-012-1352-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1352-0
View in Google Scholar
