Corporate social responsibility architecture and project alignments

Abstract

Purpose – The developed world increasingly expects corporations to support the community under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) banner. For developing countries, the situation differs and CSR has yet to be fully embraced. This study aims to examine the CSR in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI). Design/methodology/approach – A multi-stage methodology employs descriptive statistics, the t-test and χ2-test to analyse survey data. Findings – Results highlight three broad classifications of CSR project typology: social; infrastructure; and environmental. Ghanaian firms are found more aligned to social/intangible CSR projects than tangible ones. Research limitations/implications – The study is geographically focussed, but the findings hold relevance to all the developing countries. The findings hold implications for policy making and planning in terms of how Ghanaian communities might integrate corporations within their geographical catchments, to enhance sustainable, local development. Originality/value – This is the first in a series of CSR research within the Ghanaian context. It holds value for others conducting similar work within the developing world.

Developing a Corporate Social Responsibility Framework for Sustainable Construction Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling

“…A widely acknowledged definition of CSR that is attributed to the Commission of the European Communities 2001is "a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in the business operations and in their interactions with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis. " Lichtenstein, Badu, Owusu-Manu, Edwards, and Holt (2013) summarized previous definitions and stated: "CSR is characterized by a deliberate corporate effort to improve society and maintain sustainable business development. " These definitions demonstrated that CSR could reduce the negative effects of firms' activities while increasing the positive effects by addressing extensive social and environmental issues and by contributing to the development of local communities and society (Bevan & Yung, 2015).…”

Critical Barriers to Social Responsibility Implementation within Mega-Construction Projects: The Case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…However, despite the growing importance of SR, there are still critical barriers preventing it from becoming the norm [19], particularly within construction industry. Research and implementation of SR within mega-construction projects worldwide is lacking [8,9], particularly within developing countries like the KSA [153,154]. Barriers, such as the lack of awareness, may impact on business operations [85], ultimately influencing their decision to overlook implementing SR, particularly due to its association with high costs.…”

“…Furthermore, since SR is concerned with consistent long-term sustainability and harmonization between organizations and the environment, it is a topic of special interest for management scholars. However, the field of SR within mega-construction projects remains undeveloped compared with its prevalence in other sectors and academia [8,9]. This can be attributed to the levels of complexity and dynamism of mega-construction projects [10,11] and the various levels of SR itself [12,13].…”

Research on Corporate Social Responsibility in Ghana

“…Drawing on companies listed on the GC100 for the 2003/2004 listing years, Ofori and Hinson (2007) found that internationally connected firms seemed to have a better approach to CSR than their local counterparts. A survey by Lichtenstein et. al.…”