Business Leader Strategies That Fulfill Corporate Social Responsibility
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Business Leader Strategies that Fulfill Corporate Social Responsibility Franklyn Abraham Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Business Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral study by Franklyn Abraham has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Lisa Cave, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Janie Mayo, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Gwendolyn Dooley, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Business Leader Strategies that Fulfill Corporate Social Responsibility by Franklyn Abraham MS, University of North Texas, 2015 BS, Prairie View A&M University, 1997 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University February 2020 Abstract Ineffective corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies harm the organizational brand, reputation, and financial growth. Business leaders who lack strategies to achieve CSR initiatives risk the profitability of their organizations. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore CSR strategies leaders of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) use to sustain profitability. Four SME leaders who implemented successful CSR strategies and improved profitability in Maryland and Virginia participated in semistructured interviews. Other data collected were company profit and loss statements. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The 3 primary themes that emerged were responsible employee engagement strategy, responsible governance strategy, and increased transparency strategy. The implications for positive social change include the potential for business leaders to increase corporate philanthropic donations to communities. Philanthropic activities could potentially improve the living conditions of citizens through community growth and development, increased benefits for the least advantaged, and increased collaboration between society and industry. Business Leader Strategies that Fulfill Corporate Social Responsibility by Franklyn Abraham MS, University of North Texas, 2015 BS, Prairie View A&M University, 1997 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University February 2020 Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge all who supported and encouraged me through this journey. Thank you, Dr. Lisa Cave, Dr. Mary Weber, Dr. Janie Mayo, Dr. Gwendolyn Dooley, Dr. Susan Davis, and all Walden faculty. Thanks to my wife and daughter, Andia and Ashley Abraham, and to my parents, Dr. Justice and Dr. Agnes Abraham for all the support in helping me reach this point in my academic career. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv Section 1: Foundation of the Study ......................................................................................1 Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................3 Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................3 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................4 Research Question .........................................................................................................5 Interview Questions .......................................................................................................5 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................6 Operational Definitions ..................................................................................................6 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ................................................................7 Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 7 Limitations .............................................................................................................. 7 Delimitations ........................................................................................................... 8 Significance of the Study ...............................................................................................8 Contribution to Business Practice ........................................................................... 9 Implications for Social Change ............................................................................... 9 A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature ..............................................10 Conceptual Framework ......................................................................................... 11 Themes and Phenomena ....................................................................................... 17 Corporate Social Responsibility in the United States ........................................... 42 i Additional Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Financial Performance Literature ............................................................................. 44 Transition .....................................................................................................................45 Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................47 Purpose Statement ........................................................................................................47 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................47 Participants ...................................................................................................................50 Research Method and Design ......................................................................................51 Research Method .................................................................................................. 52 Research Design.................................................................................................... 53 Population and Sampling .............................................................................................54 Ethical Research...........................................................................................................56 Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................57 Data Collection Technique ..........................................................................................59 Data Organization Technique ......................................................................................61 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................63 Reliability and Validity ................................................................................................64 Reliability .............................................................................................................. 64 Validity ................................................................................................................. 66 Transition and Summary ..............................................................................................68 Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implications for Change ..................69 Introduction ..................................................................................................................69 ii Presentation of the Findings.........................................................................................70 Description of the Sample ..................................................................................... 71 Documents Received ............................................................................................ 72 Thematic Findings .......................................................................................................73 Theme 1: Responsible Employee Engagement Improved Profitability. ............... 74 Theme 2: Responsible Governance Improved Profitability.................................. 81 Theme 3: Increased Transparency Enhanced Profitability. .................................. 84 Ties Between Study Findings, Literature Review, and Theory. ........................... 87 Applications to Professional Practice ..........................................................................89