Corporate social responsibility and Chinese family-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises

Abstract

We investigated corporate social responsibility (CSR) cognitions and practices in Chinese family-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises. We explored the internal mechanisms of CSR on the basis of the quantitative data we obtained from managers and owners of these enterprises, and industry experts. The results showed that CSR cognitions significantly influenced CSR motivations, which, in turn, influenced CSR practices, and that the relationship between CSR cognitions and practices was mediated by CSR motivations. In addition, we found that perceived importance of the customer moderated the relationship between CSR motivations and practices. Our findings have both theoretical and empirical implications for owners’ and managers’ knowledge and motivation.