Exploring the integration of corporate social responsibility into the strategies of small and medium sized enterprises: A systematic literature review
Abstract A marked increase has taken place in the past two decades in the volume of research undertaken into the procedures used, and issues encountered, by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as they integrate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into their business strategies. In the present study, we uncover, by means of a systematic literature review (n 118) a growing conceptual and terminological fragmentation of the nomenclature used to capture notions surrounding areas of business responsibility that are specific to smaller business. Likewise, as a result of this, a diverse selection of terms are used by scholars in the field as alternatives to the term "CSR" This practice hinders consolidation in the field. Here, we use a qualitative content analysis approach to explore the different expressions used to characterize CSR in the context of SME strategy. We then categorize the academic literature into 4 overarching topics: (1) "Ethical values and social connections/relationships of the entrepreneur or owner manager" (2) "Relevance of business context and long term performance" (3) "Importance of formal processes for CSR integration" and (4) "Political issues with relevance to CSR" This categorization serves as a basis for future research: by consolidating a fragmented field, it offers a comprehensive foundation on which to base future conceptual and empirical efforts into evaluating the various ways in which SMEs integrate CSR into their strategies.