How, why, and to what end? Corporate volunteering as corporate social performance

Christian Lorenz, Gian-Claudio Gentile and Theo Wehner

International Journal of Business Environment, 2011, vol. 4, issue 2, 183-205

Abstract: This paper systematically explores the current corporate volunteering (CV) practice in Switzerland and offers a work-psychological evaluation scenario to assess employees' CV experiences. A nationwide sample of organisations delivered data on the extent and causes of Swiss CV activities via an online survey (Study 1). In a mini-longitudinal comparison group design Study 2 proposes an approach to evaluate CV programs based on a work-psychological framework. The results show: CV is not uncommon in Switzerland, but its practice is implicit and tacit in nature. Larger companies tend to exploit CV strategically to a greater degree. CV is motivated mainly by philanthropic attitudes. A comprehensive evaluation of CV must take into account specific work-psychological antecedents, processes and outcomes. Clear-cut corporate objectives are likely to be achieved only by precisely tailored rather than non-specific CV measures. The common demand to engage in CV is premature. However, CV may be a promising way of promoting an extended concept of organisational citizenship behaviour.

Keywords: corporate social performance; Switzerland; motives; modes of conduct; evaluation; personnel development; corporate citizenship; work psychology; human resource development; HRD; psychological evaluation; employee experiences; mini-longitudinal comparisons; comparison groups; philanthropic attitudes; philanthropy; strategic considerations; antecedents; processes; outcomes; corporate objectives; tailored measures; non-specific measures; organisational behaviour; business environment; corporate volunteering; volunteers; conceptual embedment; empirical research; future perspectives. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:4:y:2011:i:2:p:183-205

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