CSR within SMEs: Literature Review

International Business Research; Vol. 5, No. 7; 2012
ISSN 1913-9004
E-ISSN 1913-9012
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education

CSR within SMEs: Literature Review
Amina Kechiche1 & Richard Soparnot2
1

Department of Law, Economics and Social Science, Institute of Business Administration, University of Tours,
Tours, France

2

Loire Valley University/CRESCEM/ESCEM, Groupe ESCEM, Tours, France

Correspondence: Richard Soparnot, Professor of Strategy and Management, Loire Valley
University/CRESCEM/ESCEM, VALLOREM EA 6296, Groupe ESCEM, 1 Rue Léo Delibes, BP 0535, 37205
Tours Cedex 3, France. Tel: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]
Received: November 1, 2012

Accepted: April 1, 2012

doi: 10.5539/ibr.v5n7p97

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v5n7p97

Online Published: July 1, 2012

Abstract
Although CSR has traditionally been associated with big business, the SME business sector is such a significant sector worldwide in terms of the economic, environmental and social impact it makes, that attention has been turned to discussion and analysis of principles and practice of CSR in small and medium size businesses. SMEs are not merely small versions of big businesses, so as a result a particularly fast-growing body of academic work has become focused on commitment to CSR in the sector. As a result, the aim of this article is to set out an analysis of the main work carried out on the subject of CSR in SMEs. The analysis is a four part summary. In the first part, we explore the definition and the main CSR practices found in SMEs. The second part relates to determining characteristics of commitment to CSR within SMEs. Next we set out the challenges for SMEs and the constraints made upon them by CSR. Finally, the last section deals with positive examples of CSR in SMEs. Taking this literature review summary as a structural basis we then go on to demonstrate 3 research methodologies.
Keywords: CSR, SME
1. Introduction

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