CSR and Related Terms in SME Owner–Managers' Mental Models in Six European Countries: National Context Matters

Yves Fassin, Andrea Werner, Annick van Rossem, Silvana Signori, Elisabeth Garriga, Heidi von Weltzien Hoivik and Hans-Jörg Schlierer
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Andrea Werner: Middlesex University
Annick van Rossem: KU Leuven - Catholic University of Leuven = Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Silvana Signori: UniBg - Università degli Studi di Bergamo = University of Bergamo
Elisabeth Garriga: EADA Business School Barchelona - EADA
Heidi von Weltzien Hoivik: BI Norwegian Business School [Oslo]
Hans-Jörg Schlierer: EM - EMLyon Business School

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Abstract: As a contribution to the emerging field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) cognition, this article reports on the findings of an exploratory study that compares SME owner–managers' mental models with regard to CSR and related concepts across six European countries (Belgium, Italy, Norway, France, UK, Spain). Utilising Repertory Grid Technique, we found that the SME owner– managers' mental models show a few commonalities as well as a number of differences across the different country samples. We interpret those differences by linking individual cognition to macro-environmental variables, such as language, national traditions and dissemination mechanisms. The results of our exploratory study show that nationality matters but that classifications of countries as found in the comparative capitalism literature do not exactly mirror national differences in CSR cognition and that these classifications need further differentiation. The findings from our study raise questions on the universality of cognition of academic management concepts and warn that promotion of responsible business practice should not rely on the use of unmediated US American management terminology.

Keywords: Business ethics; Cognition; Corporate social responsibility (CSR); Cross-national study; Repertory Grid Technique; Small to medium sized enterprises (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-05-01
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02313143v1
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published in Journal of Business Ethics, 2015, 128 (2), 433-456 p. ⟨10.1007/s10551-014-2098-7⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02313143

DOI: 10.1007/s10551-014-2098-7

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