Title: Effect of Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility on industrial SMEs’ innovation

Abstract:

This article analyses how Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (ECSR) strategies may help to enhance innovation among small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). We test our hypotheses over a large sample of 2,620 industrial SMEs in Spain. We find empirical support for ECSR driving innovation as measured by the innovative effort or R&D and its outcomes in terms of product and process innovation. In addition, we distinguish the effect of ESCR on innovation among innovative and non-innovative SMEs. The effect is more intense for the later, suggesting an important role of ECSR on firms’ transformation. Our study contributes to the literature by analyzing the effect of ECSR in promoting innovation, as opposed to most studies that examine only on green-innovation. Besides, we examine the neglected research area of SMEs environmental strategies. Our findings on the instrumental value of ECSR related to innovation strengthen the business case of pro-environmental strategies, specifically for SMEs.

Biography:

Dr. Francisco Javier Forcadell is an associate professor of management in the Rey Juan Carlos University, and professor in ESIC Business and Marketing School. He has held visiting professorship at some universities around the world. His research and teaching revolve primarily around Strategic Management and Corporate Social Responsibility. He was a consultant at Spanish’ Economy Ministry. He is the author of 17 international publications, focusing on diverse aspects of CSR, innovation, and corporate strategy. He has published in several top journals (six of them listed in the top 10th percentile of JCR categories), including Research Policy, Long Range Planning, Journal of World Business, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Journal of Business Ethics, Business Ethics: A European Review, Journal of Economic Surveys, Journal of Business Research, Scientometrics, and Global Policy.