Drivers of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Family Businesses

Niklas Mengel

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis analyzed the Drivers and Implementation Approaches of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Family Businesses. Qualitative Analysis based on Semi-Structured Interviews was conducted in the region of Southern Lower Saxony and later on quantified through category-based Content Analysis. The results suggest that Drivers of CSR can be divided into value-based and strategic, and Implementation Approaches into informal and formal. Family Businesses are more likely to be driven by values and implement an informal approach. Further, a model to define CSR, called Four-Peak Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility, was developed. It consists of two fundamental stones of CSR, Compliance and Profitability, and four peaks called Marketplace, Workplace, Community and Environment.

Abstract:

This thesis analyzed the Drivers and Implementation Approaches of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Family Businesses. Qualitative Analysis based on Semi-Structured Interviews was conducted in the region of Southern Lower Saxony and later on quantified through category-based Content Analysis. The results suggest that Drivers of CSR can be divided into value-based and strategic, and Implementation Approaches into informal and formal. Family Businesses are more likely to be driven by values and implement an informal approach. Further, a model to define CSR, called Four-Peak Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility, was developed. It consists of two fundamental stones of CSR, Compliance and Profitability, and four peaks called Marketplace, Workplace, Community and Environment.

Keywords

Family Businesses, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability, Drivers

Keywords

Drivers, Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Family Businesses

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 24. 7. 2016

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 8. 9. 2016
• Supervisor: Ladislav Tyll
• Reader: Jiří Hnilica

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Master programme / field:
Ekonomika a management / International Management