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Evaluating the impact of corporate social responsibility programs on consumers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Victoria Smith  and
Peter Langford
Victoria Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW, Australia
Peter Langford
Affiliation:
Voice Project, Department of Business, Macquarie University, Sydney NSW, Australia
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Abstract

This paper critically reviews and analyses the empirical and theoretical literature relating to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs and their impact on the attitudes and behaviours of consumers. Given the increasingly important and influential role that corporations are playing in society, this review considers the contrasting arguments surrounding the extent to which a well-designed and implemented CSR program will impact consumers. In doing so, this review improves our understanding of the importance of corporate socially responsible action and identifies gaps in the field of CSR research that need to be addressed in order to help organizations more effectively adopt CSR programs.

Keywords

corporate social responsibilityenvironmental responsibilityconsumer engagementbusiness ethicscorporate performanceliterature review
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 2009 , pp. 97 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2009

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