TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of executive citizenship and organizational commitment on corporate social responsibility
AU - Mahenthiran, Sakthi
AU - Tong, Jane Terpstra
AU - Terpstra, Robert
AU - Rachagan, Shanthy
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Purpose - This Malaysian study aims to use upper echelons theory and social identity theory variables to determine the chief executive officer (CEO) characteristics and attitudes associated with economic corporate social responsibility (CSR), legal-ethical CSR and discretionary CSR in Malaysian firms. The authors hypothesize that CSR engagements in the form of altruistic behaviour, with executives being part of the upper echelon, would tend to be expressing their values at individual level through the firm if they are affectively committed to their company. Design/methodology/approach - Using a sample of 151 Malaysian firms that took part in an annual CEO survey in 2010, the study measures executive citizenship as CEOs having critical attitude towards public issues such as public transportation, public education and crime. Hierarchical regression analyses are used to associate the CEO attitudes with the firms CSR. Findings - The authors find that executive citizenship attitude is significant and positively related to firm s legal- ethical CSR. The authors also find that executive organizational commitment has a significant positive impact on dimensions of CSR. Additionally, the executive tenure impacts the level of philanthropic CSR of the firm. Originality/value - In Malaysia, firms have a strong incentive to engage in CSR to enhance their reputation and legitimacy because of the government s influence on commercial activities. Our study is the first to examine how this notion of legitimization efforts at the individual level affects firms CSR activities.
AB - Purpose - This Malaysian study aims to use upper echelons theory and social identity theory variables to determine the chief executive officer (CEO) characteristics and attitudes associated with economic corporate social responsibility (CSR), legal-ethical CSR and discretionary CSR in Malaysian firms. The authors hypothesize that CSR engagements in the form of altruistic behaviour, with executives being part of the upper echelon, would tend to be expressing their values at individual level through the firm if they are affectively committed to their company. Design/methodology/approach - Using a sample of 151 Malaysian firms that took part in an annual CEO survey in 2010, the study measures executive citizenship as CEOs having critical attitude towards public issues such as public transportation, public education and crime. Hierarchical regression analyses are used to associate the CEO attitudes with the firms CSR. Findings - The authors find that executive citizenship attitude is significant and positively related to firm s legal- ethical CSR. The authors also find that executive organizational commitment has a significant positive impact on dimensions of CSR. Additionally, the executive tenure impacts the level of philanthropic CSR of the firm. Originality/value - In Malaysia, firms have a strong incentive to engage in CSR to enhance their reputation and legitimacy because of the government s influence on commercial activities. Our study is the first to examine how this notion of legitimization efforts at the individual level affects firms CSR activities.
U2 - 10.1108/SRJ-04-2013-0040
DO - 10.1108/SRJ-04-2013-0040
M3 - Article
VL - 11
SP - 387
EP - 402
JO - Social Responsibility Journal
JF - Social Responsibility Journal
SN - 1747-1117
IS - 2
ER -