Corporate Social Responsibility in International Marketing: Review, assessment, and future research

Purpose: Although Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been an issue of major concern for marketers for more than half a century, only recently has it attracted the attention of international marketing researchers. During the last two decades, this body of research has experienced an increasing trend, which, however, is very fragmented and diverse. In response, this article aims to review, assess, and synthesize extant research on the role of CSR activities in international marketing. Design/methodology/approach: Our review and assessment covered the period from 1993 to 2013 and all relevant articles were traced, using both electronic and manual search methods. Altogether, we identified 132 studies published in 106 articles that appeared in 63 journals. Each article was content analyzed by two coders who worked independently from each other, using a structured coding protocol. Due to the nominal nature of the finalized codes, these were statistically analyzed taking the form of percentage frequencies. Findings: The results were organized in terms of theoretical, methodological, and empirical considerations. Theoretically, a third of the articles were not anchored on any theory, while the remainder employed various theoretical platforms, with stakeholder theory having a predominant role. Methodologically, this specific body of research is characterized by growing sophistication and rigor, with some room for improvement, especially as regards the use of longitudinal research, better sampling methods, wider geographic scope, and advanced statistical analysis. Empirically, a broad range of issues was covered, with the most widely studied being those focusing on the elements of international marketing strategy, external environmental influences, and CSR practices. Originality/Value: We review and assess 21 years of research conducted on a crucial and contemporary dimension of international marketing, namely CSR. Our findings provide useful insights for public policymakers, business managers, academic scholars, and marketing educators. We also provide detailed directions for future research, extracted from the articles reviewed

A dynamic capabilities perspective to socially responsible family business: Implications on social-based advantage and market performance

Despite the significant role played by family business firms in the economy, society, and environment of almost every country, there is limited knowledge as to their socially responsible conduct. This article presents the results of a study focusing on the drivers and outcomes of both internal and external CSR strategies adopted by these firms. Based on a sample of 193 family business firms in Cyprus, we confirm that certain dynamic capabilities, namely sensing, adaptive, and strategic flexibility, have a favorable effect on the development of both internal and external CSR strategy in family business. The implementation of these CSR strategies was also found to generate a social-based competitive advantage, which was conducive to heightened market performance. This impact of social-based advantage on market performance was revealed to be positively moderated by both competitive intensity and social public concern

Drivers, outcomes, and moderators of consumer intention to buy organic goods: Meta-analysis, implications, and future agenda

We develop an integrated conceptual model of the drivers and outcomes of consumers’ intentions to buy organic goods, anchored on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Our meta-analysis uses data extracted from 149 studies reported in 135 articles. The results indicate that, as opposed to consumers who are price-conscious, individuals who are environmentally, health, and safety conscious are more likely to develop a favorable attitude toward organic goods, have a higher level of subjective norms, and maintain stronger personal behavioral control. These constructs positively affect consumer intention to buy organic goods, which ultimately leads to their actual purchase. Hofstede's cultural dimensions (i.e., individualism, masculinity, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, indulgence) were also found to play a pivotal role in moderating most causal relationships between constructs of the model. It was also revealed that studies focusing on organic food exhibited stronger effects on construct associations compared to studies examining non-food products

A dynamic capabilities perspective to socially responsible family business: Implications on social-based advantage and market performance

Despite the significant role played by family business firms in the economy, society, and environment of almost every country, there is limited knowledge as to their socially responsible conduct. This article presents the results of a study focusing on the drivers and outcomes of both internal and external CSR strategies adopted by these firms. Based on a sample of 193 family business firms in Cyprus, we confirm that certain dynamic capabilities, namely sensing, adaptive, and strategic flexibility, have a favorable effect on the development of both internal and external CSR strategy in family business. The implementation of these CSR strategies was also found to generate a social-based competitive advantage, which was conducive to heightened market performance. This impact of social-based advantage on market performance was revealed to be positively moderated by both competitive intensity and social public concern