The corporate social responsibility manager map

Abstract

This article outlines the profile of ninety managers directly involved in Corporate Social Responsibility activities (CSR Managers) in Italian firms. It presents an analysis of the organisational position, educational background and activities of these professionals. The results suggest that CSR managers: 1) have a growing relevance in the firm; 2) are predominantly existing members of the organization; 3) have principally a business management educational background; 4) play a key role in supporting senior management and improving stakeholder engagement. It emerges that CSR managers are supporting senior management in different manners. The "CSR Manager Map" allows for the identification of four types of CSR manager: (1) Specialist; (2) Generalist; (3) Process oriented; (4) External oriented.