Corporate social responsibility in indian family firms: a socioemotional wealth perspective

While scholarly trajectory is drawn to the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in family firms, literature has demonstrated the implicitness of socioemotional wealth (SEW). This decipher is embroiled with a lack of empirical findings. We aim to fill this gap, by empirically exploring CSR adoption in family firms through dimensions of SEW, FIBER (Family control, Identification, Binding social ties, Emotional attachment, Renewal of succession).The crux of the study builds on Zientara’s (J Bus Ethics, 2015:1- 15) claim debating, “SEW is a driver of self-serving behavior promoting family firms to obtain-self-interested-gains, through CSR acts”. Owing to this, the study advances the debate on SEW and CSR by arguing for, and providing empirical underpinning in favor of the assumption that “SEW is a prosocial and positive stimulus, because it is at odds with the strategic, whole-business view of responsibility”. We utilize ten Indian case studies based on interpretive perspective of qualitative research. Findings illustrate, that Indian family firms adopt substantive CSR practices in workplace, community, environment and marketplace. Further, dimensions of SEW, FIBER have distinctive logics to individually influence their CSR adoption. Results generated provide valuable empirical contribution for practical and policy implications. Key Words: CSR, family firms, socioemotional wealth (FIBER)