dissertation topic on csr

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CSR Dissertation Topics

• Updated on  
• Jan 10, 2023

Writing a dissertation ? Why not choose a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) topic? CSR is the way businesses take responsibility for their stakeholders. While looking at corporate social responsibility managers tend to ask the question “Who are we harming through our actions and how can we reduce it?” For this reason, some businesses will try to focus on broader social-environmental issues to lend their support.  As a result, topics from CSR are a great choice for your dissertation.  

This Blog Includes:

Csr encourages client loyalty, csr competitive advantage , csr enhances the happiness of employees, csr sustainability, sustainability csr dissertation , role and impact of corporate social responsibility, coronavirus and csr, on the challenges of csr, csr general topics for discussion, corporate social responsibility from ethical perspective , importance of corporate social responsibility.

CSR is a self-regulating business model that helps a company to be socially accountable to its stockholders and the public. The importance of corporate social responsibility to society is as follows.

To retain customers businesses need to pay attention to what the customers care about.  When customers feel like they are expressing their belief in support of a particular business they are likely to continue with the brand. When they purchase from the brand they would feel a sense of pride. As a result, they are likely to recommend it.

Customers are loyal to companies that share their beliefs. Although the same products are offered by other companies. They will purchase the product of the company that they share their beliefs with. This is the Corporate social responsibility competitive advantage.

80% of employees feel a higher sense of purpose when they believe that their employment has a positive impact on the world. Employees who are personally fulfilled are less susceptible to stress and are more likely to stay with the organization.

When a business prioritizes corporate responsibility it has to be imaginative and creative. It compels the company to remain relevant and adapt to the client’s needs. Such adaptability is critical for the sustainability of an organization

CSR Dissertation Topics for Discussion

Below are the CSR thesis topics that you can take up for discussion 

• A quantitative examination of the effect Corporate Social Responsibility has on company sustainability
• To what extent does Coca-Cola’s CSR program coincide with the UN sustainable development goals?
• To what degree dealing with climate issues a corporate responsibility?To what degree does Starbucks’ corporate social responsibility pro
• Does gram coincide with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals?
• What effect do employer-sponsored volunteer days have based on a multi-stakeholder survey?
• To what extent is CSR is linked with business values?
• Examine whether customers in the fashion sector care about CSR
• Find out the environmental impact of CSR in the energy sector
• Find out the financial impact of CSR: A before and after comparison of Marks and Spencer’s Plan 
• Can enterprises use CSR to gain a competitive edge? Do a case study of small and medium-sized companies from the health and wellness industry
• Examining the dangers associated with reactive CSR approaches to the coronavirus problem.
• Has the COVID-19 situation resulted in a reduction in CSR spending?
• Examining the retail sector’s Corporate Social Responsibility dilemma after the coronavirus pandemic
• Responsible education: Developing organizational-wide CSR competences
• Analyzing the pragmatic as well as the ethical challenges to Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure
• How can businesses incorporate Corporate Social Responsibility across the value chain?
• Conducting a study of top executives’ attitudes toward CSR Is it real or is it greenwashing?
• Developing a culture of social responsibility inside an organization: A qualitative method

These are the CSR general topics that you can take up for dissertation discussion.

• Gender diversity impact on the BOD (board of directors) and foreign ownership on CSR performance
• The importance of voluntary CSR reporting and gender diversity on the board of directors
• Is there any sort of connection between CSR and equity finance?
• Impact of CSR on brand value and company performance
• The impact of financial limits when it comes to corporate social responsibility
• Does CSR have varying value consequences for different shareholders?
• The influence on company performance of CSR and business irresponsibility 
• Institutional structures at the country level, the role of CSR initiatives, and corporate values
• Earnings Management and the CSR practices
• Efficient Use of Investment Capital and CSR
• CSR and conflict Among Shareholders

CSR and business ethics are different concepts but are used interchangeably when referring to the same topic. Businessmen may violate the established moral norms while conducting business. Hence, Corporate Social Responsibility is a price paid by businesses as a penalty for breaching some of their rights. It explains why the revenue gained is used for restoring public health and the environment.

CSR stands for corporate social responsibility. It means a company should play a positive role in society and consider the environmental and social impact of their business decisions.

The four main types of CSR are- environmental, ethical, philanthropic, and economic responsibility.

Working conditions, human rights, corruption prevention, gender equality, corporate governance, consumer interest, taxes, and occupational integration are some of the current issues of CSR.

Corporate social responsibility has been a part of ethical business behavior. Hence, corporate social responsibility has to be ingrained in an organization’s strategy. Need assistance in studying abroad ? Call Leverage Edu at 1800 572 000 and book our free 30-minute counseling session today.

Blessy George

Blessy George is a Content Marketing Associate at Leverage Edu, boasting over a year of experience in the industry. Her expertise lies in crafting compelling content tailored to online courses, making her a go-to source for those navigating the vast landscape of digital learning. In addition to online classes, she writes content related to study abroad, English test preparation and visas. She has completed her MA degree in Political Science and has gained valuable experience as an intern.She is known for her extensive writing on various aspects of international education, garnering recognition for her insights and contributions. Apart from her professional pursuits, Blessy is passionate about creative writing, particularly poetry and songwriting.

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CSR Dissertation Topics

If you are interested in social or environmental justice, then why not write your dissertation on corporate social responsibility (CSR)?

Put simply, CSR is a way for businesses to take responsibility for their interactions with stakeholders. When adopting a CSR approach, managers ask questions like ‘who might we be harming through our actions, and how can we alleviate this harm?’ Some businesses might also look beyond stakeholder interactions and instead choose broad social-environmental issues to lend their support to. In other words, CSR tries to make the world a better place.

Sounds good, right? Well, as with most topics, there are always critical perspectives to consider. Incidentally, these critical perspectives can form the basis for a great dissertation. For example, we might ask, Is CSR always authentic? Are there risks to implementing CSR programmes? What factors might mediate the link between CSR and financial performance?

That said, here are some topical and critical CSR topics which could form the basis of your dissertation!

Analysing the role and impact of CSR

Covid-19 and csr dissertation topics, the implementation challenges of csr, sustainability csr dissertations.

• Analysing the impact of CSR on the environment: A case study of the energy sector.
• Do customers in the luxury fashion sector care about CSR? A qualitative investigation.
• What are the antecedents of consumer interest in CSR programmes?
• What is the role of CSR within marketing strategy?
• Analysing the financial impact of CSR: A before-and-after case study of Marks and Spencer’s Plan A scheme.
• Can CSR create a competitive advantage? A case study analysis of SMEs in the health and wellness sector.
• To what extent is CSR associated with firm value? Are there any mediators to this association?
• What is the impact of employer-sponsored volunteer days? A multi-stakeholder survey approach.
• Business benefits of employee volunteering: A secondary analysis.
• From cars to ventilators: Responding to urgent societal need: A case-study of Tesla and Ford.
• Analysing the risks involved in reactive CSR responses to the COVID-19 crisis.
• Has the COVID-19 crisis resulted in a scaling-back of CSR programmes? A quantitative analysis.
• Analysing the CSR crisis in the retail sector since COVID-19
• Tackling child food poverty in 2020: Analysing SMEs’ response to Marcus Rashford’s social activism.
• Analysing the barriers to CSR implementation in the Shipping sector.
• Exploring the pragmatic and ethical barriers to CSR disclosure.
• Implementing CSR across borders: UK vs Kenya.
• How can CSR be integrated into the value chain?
• How important is innovation for the implementation of CSR?
• Learning to be responsible: Developing competencies for organisation-wide CSR.
• Fostering social responsibly within the organisational culture: A qualitative approach.
• Analysing employee resistance to CSR: A case study of Ørsted.
• Implementing CSR in the gambling sectors: A possibility?
• Authentic or Greenwashing? Analysing senior managers’ perceptions of CSR.
• Analysing the contribution of intellectual capital to CSR implementation.
• To what extent does Starbucks’ CSR programme align with the UN sustainable development goals?
• To what extent does Coca-Cola’s CSR programme align with the UN sustainable development goals?
• Did CSR catalyse Ørsted’s shift from a black to green energy company? A critical investigation.
• What is the impact of CSR on corporate sustainability? A quantitative analysis.
• CSR in the food industry: The case of veganism.
• To what extent is dealing with the climate crisis a corporation’s problem? A qualitative investigation of stakeholder perspectives.

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Meta-analyses on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): a literature review

• Open access
• Published: 18 March 2021
• Volume 72 , pages 627–675, ( 2022 )

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• Patrick Velte   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5960-8449 1  

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This paper addresses quantitative meta-analyses on corporate governance-related determinants and firms’ (non) financial consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Legitimacy theory as our theoretical framework assumes that, through a social contract, a company must fulfil the respective society’s values and expectations and gain legitimacy. We also rely on the business case argument, assuming a positive relationship between CSR and financial outcomes of the firm. This analysis focusses on 54 quantitative meta-analyses on CSR and includes a structured literature review in order to increase our knowledge, which corporate governance variables and proxies of firm’s (non) financial outcome have been heavily included in archival research, and if there is an overall impact of these variables. Prior meta-analyses indicate that board independence, board gender diversity, and board size have a positive impact on CSR performance. Moreover, both CSR performance and environmental performance increase financial performance. This literature review makes a useful contribution to prior studies by summarizing the overall impact of corporate governance variables on CSR and their (non) financial consequences and by deducing recommendations for future research.

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1 Introduction

Since the financial crisis of 2008–09, public interest entities (PIEs) are very active in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies in line with the triple bottom line (economic, social, and environmental goals). In view of various (inter)national frameworks, e.g., the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and their voluntary character in many regimes, stakeholders criticize the reliability of CSR reports and included CSR performance measures due to greenwashing policy and information overload (Huang and Watson 2015 ). CSR performance measures and reports are connected with increased managerial discretion as a potential self-impression tool (Huang and Watson 2015 ). According to the famous business case argument for CSR (Schaltegger et al. 2019 ), successful CSR strategies should lead to better firm’s (non) financial performance and increased firm value. A proper corporate governance system is needed to decrease greenwashing and information overload (Ortas et al. 2017 ) and to increase firm reputation. Especially, monitoring duties of non executive directors and the implementation of incentive-based compensation systems for top managers should strengthen substantial CSR management systems and avoid symbolic CSR activities (Guerrero-Villegas et al. 2018 ).

In line with the increased relevance in business practice, CSR represents a key topic in empirical-quantitative research. Next to numerous literature reviews on the business case of CSR (Schaltegger et al. 2019 ) who focus the variation of different theories, research methods and CSR proxies within this field, quantitative meta-analyses on CSR research become important during the last few years (e.g., Majumder et al. 2017 ; Cafri et al. 2010 ). As there are very different results in empirical-quantitative CSR studies, meta-analyses statistically summarize the existing research and increase the validity of CSR research and its implications. Another main goal of meta-analyses is the implementation of relevant moderator analysis across multiple studies (Velte 2019a ; Friede et al. 2015 ; Parmigiani and Rivera-Santos 2011 ). As we notice an increased amount of CSR-related meta-analyses during the last years, we are surprised that no literature review on CSR meta-analyses exists so far. In more detail, we just identify four literature reviews on meta-analyses in business administration: a literature review of meta-analyses on accounting (Khlif and Chalmers 2015 ), auditing (Hay 2019 ), finance (Geyer-Klingeberg et al. 2020 ) and accounting, auditing and corporate governance (Velte 2019b ). We see a major research gap on conducting a literature review on prior CSR meta-analyses in view of the following reasons: First, archival CSR research has been increased during the last decade and show heterogeneous results, leading to increased use of meta-analyses on CSR. Prior meta-analyses have used different methods, variables, and moderators, stressing the need to structure the results with the help of a literature review. Second, in line with legitimacy theory and the business case argument for CSR, it is questionable whether prior CSR meta-analyses reported a positive impact of corporate governance on CSR and whether CSR is connected with positive (non) financial consequences. We thus question whether corporate governance as a monitoring and incentive tool is needed for top managers to decrease opportunistic behaviour and strengthen their CSR efforts. Third, as CSR proxies are also very heterogeneous in practice and research, we know very little about the overall impact of corporate governance on different CSR proxies and their consequences, based on meta-analyses. We thus differentiate between the most used variables in prior research: CSR performance, reporting and their related subpillars (e.g., environmental or carbon issues), board gender diversity, Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) and Socially Responsible Investments (SRI). Fourth, one of the main goals of meta-analyses is to include relevant moderator and mediator analyses . Significant results may be related to moderating and meditating variables, so that it increases our knowledge on factors that may have an impact on the business case for CSR. Therefore, the goal of our study is to evaluate 54 quantitative CSR meta-analyses by addressing the following main research questions:

What are the main corporate governance-related determinants of CSR?

What are the key firms’ (non) financial consequences of CSR?

Which moderator and mediator variables have been included in prior CSR meta-analyses?

Our literature review on CSR meta-analyses indicates that the majority of included studies has focussed on the CSR-financial performance-link. In view of the key corporate governance-related determinants, we note that board independence, board gender diversity and board size have a positive impact on CSR performance. Thus, corporate governance tools can fulfil a main incentive and monitoring tool for top managers in order to increase their CSR efforts. Moreover, in line with our business case argument, CSR (environmental) performance leads to increased financial performance according to our literature review. Thus, shareholders and other stakeholder groups include successful CSR strategies in their decision-making and this may lead to an increased firm value.

The following review provides useful information for researchers, regulators, and practitioners, which may stimulate future researchers to conduct more quantitative meta-analyses on CSR. Furthermore, business practice and regulatory bodies should be aware of the great need to strengthen the comparability of CSR performance and related CSR reporting tools. Regulators may be encouraged to implement stricter regulations on sustainable corporate governance in order to decrease greenwashing policies and lower information overload with regard to CSR.

This article is structured as follows: after introducing our legitimacy theoretical framework and our research framework (Sect.  2 ), we portray the main results of our literature view on CSR meta-analyses (Sect.  3 ). Then, we stress main restrictions of existing research and present selective recommendations for future research activities (Sect.  4 ). A summary of our results will be focussed in Sect.  5 .

2 Legitimacy theoretical foundation and research framework

2.1 general remarks.

Legitimacy theory has established as one of the most important organizational and management theories. This theory assumes that an organization has an implicit social contract with the society in which it operates. This social contract (Shocker and Sethi 1973 ) should motivate managers to comply with a society’s specific values, norms and boundaries by implementing adequate structures and processes (Dowling and Pfeffer 1975 ). Thus, the long-term success and survival of a firm is subject to its ability to meet society’s expectations through suitable systems. If a legitimacy gap arises or is detected, organizations adopt legitimating strategies (Fernando and Lawrence 2014 ).

However, societal values are dynamic (Deegan 2002 ), especially with regard to CSR. Therefore, legitimization is a continuous process, which is supported by effective tools for communicating organization’s legitimization actions. CSR efforts therefore enhance an organization’s image as a good corporate citizen (O'Donovan 1999 ). Such legitimization strategies improve an organization’s access to resources, their image and their customer, employee and investor relationships, which will subsequently enhance their competitive position. If society suspects a lack of transparency, its legitimacy suffers (Aguilera et al. 2007 ).

Heterogeneous stakeholders’ information needs can only be fulfilled by the implementation of substantial CSR management systems, e.g., by SRI policy, SSCM, CSR reports and precise CSR performance measures. CSR reporting and the communication of CSR performance represent major challenges in order to gain legitimacy of main stakeholder groups. As greenwashing policy and information overload (Mahoney et al. 2013 ) are major risks in business practice, stakeholders expect reliable CSR information. Related managerial discretion in CSR and opportunistic behaviour of top managers may be reduced by proper corporate governance systems. Corporate governance is related with internal and external incentive and monitoring tools in order to strengthen CSR strategies in line with stakeholder demands (sustainable corporate governance). Legitimacy theory assumes that CSR strategies can be both symbolic or substantive (Mahoney et al. 2013 ). Substantive CSR strategies imply a careful implementation of CSR into the firm’s business model and risk management system (Brown and Fraser 2006 ). An integrative view of economic, environmental, and social goals is required in order to prevent a symbolic use of CSR. Symbolic CSR activities are intended to meet stakeholders’ expectations and enhance public image and financial outputs as offensive greenwashing policy (Maroun 2020 ). As there is no integration of CSR within the business model and risk management, financial and non financial performances are analysed separately in this context. This also refers to the separate publication of traditional financial statements and CSR reports as a simple marketing tool. Thus, it is not clear, whether corporate governance mechanisms are needed in order to stipulate CSR and whether CSR strategies lead to positive firm’s (non) financial performance (Byron and Post 2016 ). In this literature review, we rely on the business case argument for CSR. The business case argument for CSR proposes that top management follows an “enlightened self-interest” by achieving financial goals while considering CSR aspects (Schaltegger et al. 2019 ) and vice versa. In more detail, management evaluates a trade-off between CSR and financial success. In line with firm’s (non) financial performance as a consequence of CSR activities, the business case argument also assumes that corporate governance-related pressure may mainly influence this direction.

Effective corporate governance should put pressure on top managements to implement substantial CSR strategies. Corporate governance can be classified as a legitimacy tool toward stakeholders’ demands regarding the reliability of CSR activities. The following two main subgroups can be found: internal corporate governance (board composition), and external corporate governance (ownership structure) (e.g., Velte et al. 2020 ). As internal and external corporate governance represent different concepts, a clear differentiation is justified. This differentiation is also very useful to characterize corporate governance regimes. Countries with a clear focus on internal corporate governance (insider systems), e.g., Continental Europe, strengthen their regulations on board effectiveness, e.g., by audit committees. Regimes with a focus on external corporate governance (outsider- or market systems) increase their regulations on shareholder rights and on enforcement to monitor firms and put pressure on top managers to conform with shareholders’ interests.

2.2 Internal corporate governance

Internal corporate governance is mainly linked to board composition. Management should act in line with stakeholders’ interests in their investment and strategic decisions. The board of directors, at the apex of internal control systems, advise and monitor the management (executive directors) and has to duty to hire, fire, and to compensate the senior management (Gillan 2006 ; Shleifer and Visny 1997 ). Research on corporate boards has concentrated on the links between board structure and firm value. Legitimacy theory assumes that board effectiveness leads to increased CSR activities (e.g., performance and reporting) to improve firm reputation and gain social legitimacy. As CSR strategies are linked with restricted objectivity and thus increased managerial discretion, greenwashing behaviour and information overload may threaten stakeholders’ interests. In our literature review, we assume that board composition as board effectiveness will have a positive impact on CSR outputs.

2.3 External corporate governance

In line with Shleifer and Vishny ( 1997 ), shareholders use monitoring mechanisms to ensure that they will gain a return on their investments. Shareholders, as the residual claimants, elect board members and boards owe a fiduciary obligation to shareholders. In line with shareholders, other stakeholders have information needs which have to be addressed by executive directors (Gillan 2006 ). Normally, shareholder do not just rely on the monitoring by the board of directors. They implement individual monitoring mechanisms to put pressure on the top management to fulfil their goals. Say on pay voting is a major example for active monitoring by shareholders. The degree of monitoring is mainly dependent on the individual ownership structure within a firm. Corporate governance research mainly stresses the monitoring role of institutional investors and blockholders in view of their increased power and influence on senior managers (Gillan 2006 ; Shleifer and Visny 1997 ). From a traditional perspective, investors’ goals mainly rely on financial performance. During the last decade, social responsible investors with long-term and non-financial preferences have entered the capital market (Velte et al. 2020 ). These investors are normally part of institutional investors and blockholders, leading to an increased influence on firms’ CSR strategies, e.g., climate change policies. Legitimacy theory assumes that strong monitoring by shareholders as (non) financial shareholder activism will put pressure on senior management to increase their CSR efforts.

2.4 Firms’ (non) financial consequences of CSR

We stated in Sect.  2.1 that both internal and external corporate governance are connected with increased CSR activities of the firm. But all corporate governance elements, both the board of directors and shareholders, are not only interested in an appropriate CSR performance and reporting. They also demand an adequate level of financial performance to guarantee going concern of the firm. Legitimacy theory assumes that the senior management increases their efforts to reach legitimacy of the society. Firm reputation can only be reached by a conglomeration of financial and CSR-related success of firm strategies. CSR efforts can be classified as “pre-financials” and they will be transferred into financial outcome if the market will honour the management activities. Moreover, as CSR strategies include a bundle of different aspects, an increase of a specific CSR variable, e.g., CSR performance, may also related to future changes in CSR reporting or supply chain management.

According to the business case argument for CSR, firm value, shareholder trust and other stakeholder demands are dependent from each other and gain legitimacy for firms (Dowling and Pfeffer 1975 ). There may be both intrinsic or extrinsic motivation of the top management to implement CSR management systems. Firms with better CSR tools can mainly influence their financial benefits in the long run (e.g., increased cash flows, liquidity) and thus gain better stakeholder reputation (Schaltegger et al. 2019 ). Stakeholders use CSR measures, e.g., CSR performance or CSR reporting quality, in order to analyse the reliability of CSR management and related firm risks (Velte et al. 2020 ). If stakeholders assume a low risk of greenwashing policy and information overload in a specific firm, they may not leave the firm or may increase their engagement with higher firm value as a financial consequence (Schaltegger et al. 2019 ). But certain CSR measures could also increase overall CSR performance as a consequence of professional CSR management, stressing the interlocks between various CSR efforts (e.g., the promotion of gender diversity in boards and their impact on CSR performance) (Byron and Post 2016 ). As successful CSR efforts should be linked with better stakeholder relations and firm reputation, CSR should also be value relevant for the capital market (Velte and Stawinoga 2017 ), especially for sustainable investors. Thus, we differentiate between financial performance and CSR performance as firm’s (non) financial consequences of CSR strategies .

2.5 Research framework

Figure  1 presents an overview of our research framework. In line with the business case argument for CSR and legitimacy theory, CSR (and related subpillars) will be connected with better firms’ (non) financial performance. Furthermore, an appropriate corporate governance is needed as a firm-specific pressure for executive directors to increase their CSR activities and lower the possibility of greenwashing behaviour and self-impression management. Indeed, corporate governance as a monitoring mechanism should lead to higher substantial CSR efforts and thus increased CSR performance and reporting in line with stakeholders’ needs. Thus, the goal of our literature review on prior CSR meta-analyses is a detailed analysis of the corporate governance-related determinants of CSR and their (non) financial consequences with a clear focus on financial performance. As CSR variables are heterogeneous in empirical-quantitative research, we differentiate between the most used variables in our review: CSR (and related subpillars) performance and reporting, board gender diversity, sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) and socially responsible investments (SRI). We are also interested in moderator and mediator analyses in this research strength.

Research framework on CSR meta-analyses

Based on legitimacy theory and the business case argument, our analysis focusses on the impact of corporate governance on CSR. We assume that greenwashing and information will be decreased by strict monitoring by the board of directors and shareholders. Then, we assume that successful CSR strategies should lead to increased (non) financial performance. The board of directors and shareholders will put pressure on the management to implement substantial CSR management systems. These substantial CSR efforts will strengthen (non) financial performance from a long-term perspective. Firm reputation and legitimacy by the society include both financial success and CSR performance. However, we are aware of the fact that the research on these two topics is very complex and linked with many interdependencies. Researchers include possible moderator and mediator variables to address those interdependencies. The implementation of moderators and mediators represents one of the major goals of meta-analyses. We like to incorporate prior findings on CSR meta-analyses whether certain moderators and mediators drive our two relationships. Thus, as a summary, the following three research questions are stated:

Which corporate governance determinants influence CSR in a positive way?

Does CSR lead to increased (non) financial performance ?

Which moderator and meditator variables influence the link between corporate governance and CSR on the one hand and firms’ (non) financial consequences on the other hand?

Our analysis is based on established papers on conducting high-quality structured literature reviews (Torraco 2005 ). We identify a major research gap in meta-analyses on the business case for CSR, leading to a closer look on the determinants and consequences of CSR. While CSR-related meta-analyses have increased during the last years, we do not find any literature review on prior meta-analyses on that topic. In more detail, we stress that only four literature reviews on meta-analyses in business administration exist so far: a review of accounting (Khlif and Chalmers 2015 ), auditing (Hay 2019 ), finance (Geyer-Klingeberg et al. 2020 ) and accounting, auditing and corporate governance (Velte 2019b ). We see a major research gap on the business case research on CSR, as regulators, practice and research currently controversially discuss whether corporate governance-issues are related to better CSR and whether a stricter regulation on sustainable corporate governance is needed. Moreover, we like to stress top managers’ incentives to increase CSR activities as it may lead to higher financial and CSR performance in the long run.

We use several international databases to the end of December 2020 to select our sample of included studies (Web of Science, Google Scholar, SSRN, Ebsco, Science Direct). A targeted search was conducted using the keyword “meta-analysis” in connection with “CSR”, “Sustainability”, “Corporate Social Responsibility”, “CSR Performance”, “CSR Reporting”, “Sustainability Reporting”, “Sustainability Performance”, “gender diversity”, “socially responsible investment”, “sustainable supply chain management” and related terms. We also included broad terms such as “Corporate Governance” and “firm value”. A temporal restriction on the included CSR meta-analyses was not necessary because of the relatively young research tradition. We begin with an initial sample of 71 meta-analyses.

As exclusion criteria, we only recognize quantitative meta-analyses on CSR as our goal is to analyse economic determinants and consequences of CSR. Thus, 5 studies were dropped. In line with other literature reviews, we only include meta-analyses published in English in peer-reviewed journals. Working papers were excluded. This step leads to a reduction of 12 studies. Thus, 54 studies represent the final sample of our literature review.

3 Main results of CSR meta-analyses

3.1 content analysis.

Prior CSR meta-analyses are characterized by a heterogeneity of collected data, study designs, theoretical approaches, and analytical techniques. Literature reviews have become a relevant research method for scholars, practitioners, and regulators seeking to increase our knowledge about a complex research topic (Webster and Watson 2002 ). For scholars, a literature review should create new knowledge about CSR using existing meta-analyses that covers the selected topic. A literature review should also contribute to theory development and may close research gaps and revealing precise research recommendations. For practitioners, a literature review gives useful information and insights into effective organizational developments for future business strategies and guidance for policy-making and implementation. As many regulators currently discuss stricter regulations on CSR, sustainable corporate governance, and sustainable finance, our literature review should guide regulatory bodies in these issues. We present a structured literature review in line with our theoretical foundation and our research framework. We mainly focus on our key research questions, addressing corporate governance-related determinants of CSR, the impact of CSR on (non) financial performance, and moderator and mediator variables on these links.

Table 1 gives an overview of the papers per publication year (Panel A), journal (Panel B), content (Panel C) and CSR variables (Panel D). According to Panel A, we note an increased research activity during the last few years (2017–2010) and a rather young research discipline (first study in 1997). Moreover, referring to Panel C, most meta-analyses in our review have been published in Business Ethics and Sustainability journals, e.g., Business and Society , Business Strategy and the Environment , Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management , or Journal of Business Ethics . Management and corporate governance journal are also included to a higher amount. Most of the meta-analyses address the consequences of CSR, especially the impact of CSR performance on financial performance (Panel C). Determinants of CSR are of lower attraction yet. Panel D stresses that CSR performance represents the most important CSR variable included in prior meta-studies.

Table 2 gives an overview about included moderator and mediator variables. One of the main advantages of meta-analyses is to identify possible moderator and mediator variables. With few exceptions, most papers include moderators (51). Methodological moderator variables are recognized in nearly every meta-analysis, while the differentiation of measures of independent and dependent variables is rather common (29). Moreover, firm-specific variables, e.g., industry, and country-related governance factors, e.g. cultural aspects, are important in our literature review. In contrast to this, accounting and corporate governance-related moderators are rarely included yet. We also note a very low amount of mediator variables in prior CSR meta-analyses (3).

3.2 Corporate governance determinants

We already noted that many meta-analyses relate on determinants of CSR as dominant research topic. In line with prior literature (Velte 2019b ), we differentiate between internal corporate governance (board composition) and external corporate governance (ownership structure) with a focus on board composition measures. The average number of included studies within the meta-analyses is rather low (24–158). In our literature review, we mention those studies with a relatively high and low amount of included studies. A possible reason for this is the restricted amount of single studies on the link between corporate governance and CSR. All of our included studies with a specific description of the applied procedures included random-effects models, assuming the variability between effect sizes is due to sampling error in addition to the variability in the population. Most of prior meta-analyses on the link between corporate governance and CSR included bivariate meta-analyses. A bivariate meta-analysis is a special type of meta-analysis that summarises the results from separately performed diagnostic test studies while keeping the two-dimensionality of the data.

3.2.1 Internal corporate governance (board composition)

The main duty of the board of directors is to monitor the executive directors in line with stakeholders’ interests (Byron and Post 2016 ; Maroun 2020 ; Wintoki et al. 2012 ). During the last decade, many different board characteristics were implemented in order to analyse board effectiveness. Board effectiveness should lead to increased executives’ incentives to rely on CSR activities. In this literature review, we note a research intensity on board independence, board gender diversity, board size, board activity and CEO duality as main determinants of CSR performance and reporting.

Board independence represents one major requirement of board effectiveness, as non executives should conduct their monitoring tasks without major conflicts of interests in line with stakeholders’ needs. There are clear indications that board independence significantly increases both CSR performance (Endrikat et al. 2020 ; Ortas et al. 2017 ) and CSR reporting (Lagasio and Cucari 2019 ; Velte 2019a ; Guerrero-Villegas et al. 2018 ). However, Majumder et al. ( 2017 ) found insignificant results, based on just 29 included studies. During the last decade, board gender diversity also gets main attraction in CSR research. A greater range of board diversity, especially with regard to gender, should lead to increased awareness of CSR strategies. Thus, prior meta-analyses state that board gender diversity is linked with better CSR performance (Endrikat et al. 2020 ; Byron and Post 2016 ) and CSR reporting (Lagasio and Cucari 2019 ; Velte 2019a ; Guerrero-Villegas et al. 2018 ). Again, Majumder et al. ( 2017 ) did not find any significant results. Board size and board activity are our next internal corporate governance determinants in our literature review. Literature assumes that an appropriate board size and board meeting frequency are necessary to guarantee board effectiveness (Endrikat et al. 2020 ). With regard to board size, there are indications of a positive impact on both CSR performance (Endrikat et al. 2020 ; Zubeltzu-Jaka et al. 2020 ) and CSR reporting (Lagasio and Cucari 2019 ; Guerrero-Villegas et al. 2018 ; Majumder et al. 2017 ). However, Velte ( 2019a ) did not find any significant impact on CSR reporting. Board activity is of lower relevance yet. According to Majumder et al. ( 2017 ), board meetings and CSR reporting are positively related, while insignificant results are also available (Lagasio and Cucari 2019 ). Heterogeneous results can be stated for CEO duality . From a theoretical perspective, CEO duality can either contribute to better board effectiveness and CSR activities or may be linked to a reduced monitoring activity with regard to powerful and opportunistic CEOs. Most of the included meta-analyses stated a non-significant relationship between CEO duality and CSR (Endrikat et al. 2020 ; Lagasio and Cucari 2019 ; Velte 2019a ; Majumder et al. 2017 ). According to Guerrero-Villegas et al. ( 2018 ), CEO duality decreases CSR reporting. Le et al. ( 2015 ) is the only study in our review with a focus on top managements’ values and demographic characteristics . The authors just included 29 studies and found that stakeholder values and diversity in experience of top managers are related with increased CSR performance. However, CEO ethical leadership, age and tenure are not related with CSR (Le et al. 2015 ). We also identify one study on the determinants of board gender diversity ( Halliday et al. 2020 ), based on 158 included studies. The authors found female CEO, female chairperson, CEO duality and board independence to have a positive impact on board gender diversity, while board age decreases it.

As the key goal of meta-analyses is to identify and analyse possible moderators and mediators of CSR, we also stress the key results. In this context, we note a very low attractiveness of mediator analysis in prior meta-analyses. One exception is Endrikat et al. ( 2020 ), who found a significant mediator influence of CSR committees on the impact of selective board composition variables on CSR performance.

With regard to moderators , board independence and code law regimes strengthen the positive influence of board size on CSR performance (Zubeltzu-Jaka et al. 2020 ). This is in line with the moderating impact of civil law regimes on the link between board independence and CSR performance (Ortas et al. 2017 ). Majumder et al. ( 2017 ) found that the differentiation between developed and developing countries impacts the positive relationship between board size and CSR reporting. Other country-related aspects as significant moderator variables are the degree of shareholder protection (Endrikat et al. 2020 ; Velte 2019a ; Byron and Post 2016 ), legal enforcement (Velte 2019a ), country-related gender parity (Endrikat et al. 2020 ; Byron and Post 2016 ), low country commitment to sustainable goals (Guerrero-Villegas et al. 2018 ) and market conditions (Ortas et al. 2017 ) with an impact on the relationship between corporate governance variables and CSR. Moreover, country-related gender parity weakens the link between a female CEO and board diversity (Halliday et al. 2020 ). Finally, different CSR proxies represent important moderator variables in the included meta-analyses (Endrikat et al. 2020 ; Ortas et al. 2017 with regard to self-reporting proxies; Le et al. 2015 with regard to social performance).

3.2.2 External corporate governance (ownership structure)

External corporate governance is linked with external stakeholders’ monitoring. Prior corporate governance research heavily relies on shareholders as key stakeholders of PIEs. In this context, ownership structure can have a major impact on management strategies. Certain groups of shareholders, mainly sustainable investors, may put pressure on top management to increase CSR strategies in line with other stakeholder interests. Until now, a low research activity on external corporate governance determinants can be found. Canavati ( 2018 ) stated a positive influence of family ownership on CSR performance. This contrasts the results by Lagasio and Cucari ( 2019 ) and Majumder et al. ( 2017 ) who stressed insignificant results on ownership structure in general and on government, foreign and institutional ownerships in particular.

With regard to moderator variables , according to Canavati ( 2018 ), private family firms and weak labor and corporate governance frameworks positively contribute to the impact of family ownership on CSR performance. Moreover, big four audits have a positive and managerial and concentrated ownership have a negative impact on CSR reporting (Majumder et al. 2017 ).

3.3 Firms’ (non) financial consequences of CSR

In line with the business case argument, most archival research on CSR relies on firms’ financial consequences . Literature states that both CSR performance and CSR reporting may lead to positive financial developments within companies in the long run (e.g., Busch and Friede 2018a ). As stakeholders’ demands on CSR-related information and successful CSR strategies increased since the financial crisis of 2008–09, high CSR performance and CSR reporting quality may be connected with increased firm reputation, better stakeholder relations and thus higher firm valuation. Next to firm’s financial consequences, CSR performance and reporting may have a significant impact on other CSR-related consequences. This strength of research addresses the connectivity between various CSR measures. Thus, in our literature review, we separate between financial performance and CSR performance on the one hand and between CSR and related subpillars (e.g., environmental performance) on the other hand.

In comparison to Sect.  3.2 , we note a higher average amount of studies included in prior meta-analyses on (non) financial consequences of CSR (18–437 studies). This can be explained by a relatively long tradition of studies on the CSR-financial performance-link and the increased amount of meta-analyses on that topic. In line with our results in Sect.  3.2 , random-effects models were dominantly used. One major exception is the use of fixed-effects models on the impact of environmental (green) supply chain management on (non) financial performance. Fixed-effects models in meta-analyses assume that there is one true effect size that underlies all the studies in the analysis. While we stress a variety of different methods (uni-, bi-, and multivariate meta-analyses), bivariate meta-analyses are mainly used in this research topic. This is line with our remarks in Sect.  3.2 . However, we note a relatively high amount of included meta-analyses with a lack of transparency on the applied procedures. This reduces the validity of the analyses.

3.3.1 Financial performance

Most of the included meta-analyses on the consequences of CSR address the CSR performance-financial performance-link . In this context, a differentiation between accounting-based (e.g., ROA) and market-based (e.g., Tobin’s Q) measures is common. Some researchers also separate between accounting-, market- and perception-based proxies of financial performance (Orlitzky et al. 2001 ). There are several indications for a positive significant impact of CSR performance on financial performance (Vishwanathan et al. 2020 ; Busch and Friede 2018a ; Plewnia and Guenther 2017 ; Hou et al. 2016 ; Lu and Taylor 2016 ; Friede et al. 2015 ; Wang et al. 2016 ; Quazi and Richardson 2012 ; Allouche and Laroche 2005 ; Orlitzky et al. 2003 ; Frooman 1997 ). More specifically, Busch and Friede ( 2018a ) included 25 prior meta-analysis and state a bidirectional link between CSR and finanicial performance. According to Hou et al. ( 2016 ), the impact is stronger by including environmental performance and operational performance. In a recent study, however, based on 437 included studies, no significant results between CSR and financial performance can be found (Huang et al. 2020 ). Orlitzky and Benjamin ( 2001 ) stated a positive bidirectional link between CSR performance and firm risk.

A great variety of moderator variables have been included on this link. Vishwanathan et al. ( 2020 ) included 344 studies and have identified firm reputation, stakeholder reciprocation, firm risk mitigation and innovation level as relevant moderators. Plewnia and Guenther ( 2017 ) come to the conclusion, that time lags, region (US-settings), continuous time horizons, controls for advertising intensity and public ownership control moderate the CSR-financial performance link. According to Lu and Taylor ( 2016 ), referring to 198 CSR studies, long-term effects, environmental performance, non US-settings, pre-2000 studies and multi-industries are relevant moderators. Moreover, journal quality (Busch and Friede 2018a ), SMEs, private firms and developing firms (Hou et al. 2016 ), environmental performance and developed countries (Wang et al. 2016 ) and sample size (Quazi and Richardson 2012 ) moderate this relationship. Orlitzky ( 2011 ) referred to 388 CSR studies and stressed that, in comparison to different publication outlets, economics journals concentrate on positive significant results. This might be a main argument for a problematic publication bias. The different measures of CSR and financial performance also represent major moderators in the included meta-analyses with a significant impact (Busch and Friede 2018a ; Hou et al. 2016 ; Lu and Taylor 2016 ; Allouche and Laroche 2005 ; Orlitzky et al. 2003 ; Orlitzky and Benjamin 2001 ). In his main research objective, Orlitzky ( 2001 ) concluded that firm size does not moderate the CSR-financial performance relationship. Huang et al. ( 2020 ) addressed two main challenges of prior business case research. Economic fluctuations and endogeneity concerns limit the reliability of archival CSR research. The authors found that the elimination of confounding effects of economic fluctuations and the recognition of proper estimation methods due to endogeneity concerns lead to a positive CSR-financial performance link.

Environmental performance represents one major subpillar of CSR performance. In view of the current climate change discussions from an international perspective, it is not surprising that many prior studies focus on environmental performance as CSR proxy. There are also indications that environmental performance leads to better financial performance (Hang et al. 2019 ; Endrikat 2016 ; Endrikat et al. 2014 ; Albertini 2013 ; Dixon-Fowler et al. 2013 ). In more detail, Hang et al. ( 2019 ) stressed a short run (1 year) one-way link and a long run bidirectional link (after 1 year). Endrikat et al. ( 2014 ) also reported a partially bidirectional relationship. Furthermore, according to Endrikat ( 2016 ), market reactions are stronger negative for negative events than positive for positive events. In a current meta-analysis by Tsai et al. ( 2020 ), environmental management also leads to better financial performance. Busch and Lewandowski ( 2018b ) included just 32 studies on carbon performance and found a positive impact on financial performance. Horvathova ( 2010 ) is the only meta-analysis in our review with insignificant results on the impact of environmental performance on financial performance.

We identify a variety of moderator variables on the environmental-financial performance link: employees’ age, gender and culture (Wang et al. 2020 ), event windows related to event studies (Endrikat 2016 ), proactive strategic approaches, sampling, addressing endogeneity and financial risks (Endrikat et al. 2014 ), performance measures, regions, industry, time frame (Albertini 2013 ) and the differentiation between small firms, public firms and US-settings (Dixon-Fowler et al. 2013 ). Tsai et al. ( 2020 ) stressed that financial performance proxies, the year of data collection, industry, economic development and cultural aspects moderate the environmental-financial performance link. Moreover, according to Busch and Lewandowski ( 2018b ), specific performance measures (relative emissions, market based financial performance) influence this relationship.

Next to environmental performance, we note that one meta-analysis also states a positive link between social performance and financial performance (Lopez-Arceiz et al. 2018 ). Size criteria for financial performance and social performance based on stakeholder criteria moderate this relationship.

As board gender diversity is controversially discussed with regard to the business case argument, some meta-analyses refer to the impact of female directors on financial performance. Hoobler et al. ( 2018 ), based on sales performance, and Post and Byron ( 2015 ), based on accounting returns, stated a positive impact. However, Pletzer et al. ( 2015 ) did not find any significant relationship. Cultural aspects (Hoobler et al. 2018 ), the degree of shareholder protection (Post and Byron 2015 ) and employees’ perceived CSR and employees’ perception of organization performance (Wang et al. 2020 ) can be qualified as main moderator variables on this relationship.

During the last decade, SSCM has gain main attraction in CSR research. The main goal of SSCM is the integration of environmentally and socially viable practices into the full supply chain lifecycle, from product design and development, to material selection, manufacturing, packaging, transportation, warehousing, distribution, consumption, return and disposal. Govindan et al. ( 2020 ) and Golicic and Smith ( 2013 ) found a positive impact of SSCM on financial performance. Moreover, the branch of industry (manufacturing) (Govindan et al. 2020 ; Golicic and Smith 2013 ), measurements of SSCM, region and time (Golicic and Smith 2013 ) represent relevant moderator variables.

SRI are investments that are considered socially responsible due to the nature of the business the firm conducts. Common themes for SRI include green and socially conscious investing. SRI can be made into individual companies with good green and social value, or through a socially conscious mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF). Kim ( 2019 ), Revelli and Viviani ( 2015 ) and Rathner ( 2013 ) analyse whether SRI perform better in comparison to conversional funds. The authors state a non-significant relationship. As main significant moderators, the economic crisis, control groups, the SRI measure, sampling and methodology (Kim 2019 ), survivorship bias and US focus (Rathner 2013 ) are recognized.

3.3.2 CSR performance

Next to financial performance, CSR strategies or subpillars can improve future CSR performance , stressing the various interlinks between CSR variables. This assumption was stated by Gabriel and Nathwani ( 2014 ), while this link is more pronounced by proactive CSR strategies. With regard to the link between CSR reporting and CSR performance, Gallardo-Vazquez et al. ( 2019 ) did not find any significant results. However, region, firm size and CSR disclosure type were included as significant moderators (Gallardo-Vazquez et al. 2019 ). There are also indications that green supply chain management and CSR performance are positively linked (Fang and Zhang 2018 ; Qorri et al. 2018 ; Geng et al. 2017 ). The authors used fixed-effects models as research design. The most important moderators in this context are industry, ISO, export orientation, culture (uncertainty avoidance) (Fang and Zhang 2018 ), region, industry or firm size (Qorri et al. 2018 ; Geng et al. 2017 ).

Doan and Sassen ( 2020 ) reported a weak negative influence of environmental performance on environmental reporting . The different proxy variations represent a main moderator variable. According to Erauskin-Tolosa et al. ( 2020 ), environmental management practices lead to better environmental performance , moderated by mature certification and environmental innovation. Finally, CSR performance leads to better brand loyalty (Aljarah and Ibrahim 2020 ), customer relationship quality (Aljarah et al. 2020 ) and increased employees’ attitudes and behaviour (Zhao et al. 2020 ). The innovation level and the manufacturing industry weaken the link between CSR and brand loyalty. Cultural collectivism, experience product types and online survey designs strengthen the link (Aljarah and Ibrahim 2020 ). The relationship between CSR and customer relationship quality is even stronger by customer relationship proxy trust (Aljarah et al. 2020 ). Organizational justice, trust and identification mediate the link between CSR and employees’ attitudes and behaviour (Zhao et al. 2020 ).

3.4 Key results

With regard to corporate governance determinants, we find that board independence, board gender diversity and board size have a positive impact on CSR performance . These results are in line with the assumption that corporate governance and CSR represent two dependent disciplines (sustainable corporate governance). As CSR activities can be used for greenwashing policy and self-impression management, corporate governance attributes strengthen monitoring quality, and incentive alignment and put pressure on top managers to include substantial CSR strategies. Moreover, according to our literature review, both CSR performance and environmental performance lead to increased financial performance . Thus, firm can follow the business case argument for CSR and may increase their firm value. Other relationships in this literature review are inconclusive. The amount of meta-analyses are either too low or these studies found insignificant results (e.g., CEO duality, SRI out-performance). This leaves room for many research recommendations in the next chapter. Figure  2 summarize our key results and Table 3 gives a detailed overview of included meta-analyses on CSR.

Key results of our literature review

4 Research recommendations

4.1 internal corporate governance.

Due to the lack of standardization of CSR, we stress a high degree of managerial discretion (e.g., by the choice of CSR reporting frameworks or performance measures), leading to a low comparability of CSR proxies over time and between PIEs (Mahoney et al. 2013 ). Furthermore, greenwashing and impression management mainly influence CSR activities and may be connected with symbolic use of CSR. Our literature review on prior CSR meta-analyses indicates that the majority of included studies concentrate on CSR performance as main proxy, financial performance as major consequence of CSR and variations of CSR measures as moderator variables. We recommend to conduct future meta-analyses on other corporate governance determinants, e.g., sustainable board expertise, on CSR reporting and subpillars of CSR, e.g., carbon reporting. As current discussions heavily rely on carbon performance and disclosure, we know very little about the overall effects of corporate governance on carbon-related issues (Doan and Sassen 2020 ). Moreover, as mediator analyses are very low in amount (Endrikat et al. 2020 ), other corporate governance variables may mediate the impact of CSR on financial outputs. In this context, future moderators should be more linked with the separation between symbolic/substantive and extrinsic/intrinsic motivations of senior managers in view to CSR strategies. Interestingly, the reliability of CSR performance and reporting by voluntary CSR assurance services, e.g., by professional accountants, is not included in meta-analytical research designs yet (Velte and Stawinoga 2017 ). Next to classical content analysis and scoring method, advanced methods of textual analysis (e.g., by the use of artificial intelligence, recognition of social media) can mainly impact the future empirical business case research on CSR e.g., by including readability measures or by analysing tone management. The current focus on archival (secondary) studies with regard to CSR research and their recognition in quantitative meta-analyses should be complemented by experimental designs in order to include individual preferences of various stakeholder groups.

Furthermore, individual manager characteristics and traits, e.g. by the CEO and other members of the top management team, should be included in meta-analytical designs. In line with upper echelons theory (Hambrick and Mason 1984 ), behavioural corporate governance aspects might also influence CSR strategies. CEO, CFO or other Chief officers characteristics, e.g. education and professional backgrounds, personality and preferences, as well as sustainability-related attitudes, should be addressed. In line with the monitoring role of corporate governance mechanisms, incentive alignment between managers and stakeholders can be mainly achieved by sustainable management compensation systems. As Winschel and Stawinoga ( 2019 ) conduct a literature review on the determinants and consequences of sustainable CEO compensation, we do not find any meta-analysis on this important topic yet.

4.2 External corporate governance

Interestingly, external corporate governance factors (ownership structure) are rarely used in comparison to board composition. We know very little about the impact of different types of investors on CSR in view of their time horizon and their (non) financial interests. However, traditional corporate governance research has a main focus on ownership structure and their impact on financial performance. In line with the portfolio theory, shareholders’ investment decisions are linked with considerations of risk and return (Cumming and Johan 2007 ; Hoq et al. 2010 ; Faller and Knyphausen-Aufseß 2018 ). While institutional investors are primarily focused on financial results and investment risks, SRIs explicitly consider ESG aspects in their investment decisions (Clark and Hebb 2005 ). The time horizon of institutional investors plays an important role in this context (Cox et al. 2004 ). Thus, long- and short-term investors on the one hand, and active and passive institutions on the other hand, realise different investment strategies (Soliman et al. 2013 ). Future meta-analyses should include the impact of institutional ownership on CSR due to the increased amount of studies on that topic.

Other stakeholder groups, e.g., customers or suppliers, are rarely included in prior empirical-quantitative research on CSR (Winschel and Stawinoga 2019 ). We know very little about the impact of other stakeholder groups on CSR strategies and a possible moderator influence. In line with corporate governance, many researchers analyse the impact of country-related governance on CSR, e.g., shareholder rights or cultural aspects. Thus, there are many research gaps in view of conducting meta-analyses on possible determinants of CSR, if the amount of single studies on that topic reaches an appropriate range.

4.3 (Non) financial consequences of CSR

We already mentioned that most of our included meta-studies focussed on the impact of CSR performance on financial performance. But other (non) financial consequences also important in recent CSR studies, e.g. the impact of CSR on earnings management or tax avoidance, indicating heterogeneous results. Literature assumes that intrinsic motivations of managers may lead to a negative impact of CSR strategies on both earnings management and tax avoidance (Velte et al. 2020 ). Opportunistic manager behaviour (greenwashing policies) may lead to a positive relationship between these variables.

In many ways, we know very little about reversed causality in CSR meta-regressions (Endrikat et al. 2014 ). A bidirectional link between corporate governance-related determinants and CSR on the one hand and firms’ (non) financial consequences of CSR on the other hand may be more realistic (Endrikat et al. 2014 ). Increased CSR activities may be the consequence of higher financial circumstances and successful CSR management may also lead to increased corporate governance mechanisms in the future. In view of these important endogeneity concerns, future meta-analyses on CSR should explicitly include moderator variables whether included single studies have used “advanced” regression models, e.g., two or three stage least squares (SLS) or generalized method of moments (GMM) models with instrumental variables (Wintoki et al. 2012 ). While the amount of meta-analyses on firm’s (financial) consequences of CSR has increased during the last years and recent studies increased their number of included studies and samples, we recommend to increase the transparency of explanations of applied procedures. Some meta-analyses do not explicitly include whether they conducted a uni-, bi- or multivariate meta-analysis or whether they have chosen a random- or fixed effects model.

Stakeholders of PIEs demand an appropriate CSR management system that includes diversity concepts, CSR reporting and performance measures (Maroun 2020 ). During the last decade, firm valuation is not only dependent on financial performance, but also on environmental and social strategies and successful management strategies on these issues. As a main challenge, greenwashing policy and information overload are main risks in business practice, which have been criticized by many stakeholder groups (Mahoney et al. 2013 ). With reference to the business case argument for CSR (Schaltegger et al. 2019 ), it is not clear, whether CSR-oriented firms will have better (non) financial performance in the future. Thus, the impact of corporate governance as key determinants of successful CSR practices might be crucial. During the last decade, massive research has been conducted on the corporate governance-related determinants and firm’s (non) financial consequences of CSR activities (e.g., Endrikat et al. 2020 ). We also recognize many literature reviews (e.g., Velte et al. 2020 ) and meta-analyses on CSR. However, no literature review on CSR-related meta-analyses exists so far. Prior literature review of meta-analyses only address accounting (Khlif and Chalmers 2015 ), auditing (Hay 2019 ), finance (Geyer-Klingeberg et al. 2020 ) and accounting, auditing and corporate governance (Velte 2019b ) without any focus on CSR. We see a major research gap on focussing CSR meta-analyses, as it is questionable, which corporate governance determinants are most important in prior research and will positively influence CSR efforts. Moreover, we are interested whether CSR strategies will lead to positive (non) financial consequences for firms. Meta-analyses are more suitable for inclusion in literature reviews as single studies because their aggregation of information leads to an increased statistical power (Cafri et al. 2010 ). It increases our knowledge about archival CSR research because the overall effect of various single studies on CSR can be included. Thus, we offer the first comprehensive, legitimacy theory-based framework on the business case of CSR meta-studies. In this context, we systematically include empirical-quantitative meta-analyses on CSR and differentiate between in- and external corporate governance drivers on the one hand and (non) financial performance as main firms’ consequences on the other hand. We are also interested in prior moderator and mediator analysis within meta-analytic designs.

In contrast to narrative literature reviews and single studies, quantitative meta-analyses as an alternative research method become important in CSR research during the last few years. This literature review includes 54 meta-analyses on CSR and states that the majority of quantitative CSR research concentrates on the CSR-financial performance-link. In line with the business case for CSR, board independence, board gender diversity and board size as key corporate governance factors have a positive impact on CSR performance. These corporate governance determinants seem to be most relevant in prior CSR research and significantly promote CSR strategies. Moreover, with regard to firms’ (non) financial consequences, both CSR performance and environmental performance lead to increased financial performance. There are clear indications that the business case argument for CSR does exit in business practice. However, prior meta-analyses do not mainly address the challenges of symbolic or substantive use of CSR efforts. Mediator analyses are rare and moderator analyses mainly rely on methodological aspects and classical firm-related attributes (e.g., industry). We propose research recommendations from a methodological and content-related perspective in this literature review in line with our main research questions.

Our analysis is not only useful for researchers, but it also makes a main contribution for regulatory bodies and business practice. First, based on our first research question, corporate governance mechanisms may promote successful CSR management strategies as an incentive and monitoring tool in line with our business case hypothesis. Executives should be aware of stakeholder pressure in conducting substantial instead of symbolic CSR in order to prevent information overload and greenwashing policy. Firms should clearly integrate CSR issues into their business model and their risk management processes. Second, based on our second research question, a positive link between CSR and financial performance includes a proper integration of different firm departments and a dynamic dialogue (e.g., finance and accounting department, IT, marketing, and sustainability) and sustainability expertise in the board of directors. Increased sustainability expertise by managers will strengthen CSR management and a more balanced view of both risks and chances (future value drivers) of intensive CSR investments and reorganization of business strategies. CSR efforts as “pre-financials” may be transferred into financial outputs from a long-term perspective and increase firm reputation and legitimacy. A stricter link between CSR and financial performance may be realistic, if firms switch from classical financial reporting and CSR reporting to an integrated report. A clear connectivity between financial and CSR information as integrated thinking may have a positive influence on substantial CSR strategies. Integrated reporting can be also most useful for external valuation by capital market participants and other stakeholders. Thus, a long-term transformation from CSR management to integrated thinking processes as a clear interaction of financial and CSR aspects is favorable. Finally, based on our third research question, the impact of corporate governance on CSR and their (non) financial consequences are most complex and heterogeneous in business practice. Corporate governance may only be related with increased CSR efforts if a specific environment is existent (e.g., other firm-related or country-related aspects as moderators or mediators). Similar aspects may be most important due to the CSR-financial performance link.

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Velte, P. Meta-analyses on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): a literature review. Manag Rev Q 72 , 627–675 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-021-00211-2

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CSR Dissertation Topics

by  Antony W

June 9, 2022

Are you in environmental and social justice? You might want to consider writing a dissertation on Corporate Social Responsibility. Notably, this guide includes some of the best CSR dissertation topics that you can explore as is or improve for further research. 

CSR enables organizations to take ownership of their relationships with stakeholders. When managers use a CSR approach, they consider concerns such as ‘who could be harmed by our activities, and how can we mitigate this harm?’

Additionally, some corporations may seek beyond stakeholder relationships and instead promote larger social-environmental causes. If anything, Corporate Social Responsibility aims to improve the world.

Why is Corporate Social Responsibility Important?

Corporate Social Responsibility is important because:

1. CSR Promotes Client Loyalty

To attract and retain consumers, businesses must pay attention to what customers care about the most.

If customers feel like they are expressing their beliefs in their support of a particular business, they are more inclined to continue with the brand.

When they purchase from the firm, they will experience a feeling of pride and are more inclined to suggest it.

2. CSR Gives a Business a Competitive Advantage

Customers care about a business’s social responsibilities and will be loyal to companies that share their beliefs. This means that businesses that cater to these clients will have a competitive advantage over those that don’t.

They may offer similar products and services, but their emphasis on corporate social responsibility makes them more enticing.

3. CSR Enhances Employee Happiness and Fulfilment 

Employees at firms that promote CSR are happier and more fulfilled.

Eighty percent of employees report having a greater sense of purpose when they believe their employment has a positive impact in their world. Employee loyalty and devotion are contingent upon this feeling of purpose.

Individuals who are personally fulfilled are less susceptible to weariness and stress, and they are more likely to remain in the organization.

4. CSR Increases a Business’ Sustainability

When a business decides to prioritize corporate responsibility, it must be more imaginative and creative. “Business as usual” is not an option.

Nurturing innovation and creativity compels a business to remain relevant and adapt to client desires. Customers now, and for the future, expect social responsibility from businesses because adaptability is critical for life and sustainability.

With what we’ve stated above in mind, here are some CSR topics that you can explore in your dissertation project:

Sustainability CSR Dissertation Topics

• A quantitative examination on the effect does CSR have on company sustainability
• To what degree does Coca Cola’s social responsibility program coincide with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals?
• To what degree is addressing the climate catastrophe a corporate responsibility?
• To what degree does Starbucks’ corporate social responsibility program coincide with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals?

Dissertation Topics on the Role and Impact of CSR

• What effect do employer-sponsored volunteer days have based on a multi-stakeholder survey?
• To what extent is Corporate Social Responsibility connected with business value?
• Evaluate whether buyers in the fashion sector care about corporate social responsibility
• Analyzing the environmental effect of corporate social responsibility in the energy sector
• Analyzing the financial impact of CSR: A comparison of Marks and Spencer’s Plan before and after
• Can enterprises use CSR gain a competitive edge? A case study of small and medium-sized enterprises in the health and wellness industry

Dissertation Topics on Covid-19 and Corporate Social Responsibility

• Analyzing the dangers associated with reactive corporate social responsibility approaches to the COVID-19 problem.
• Has the COVID-19 situation resulted in a reduction in CSR spending?
• Analyzing the retail sector’s Corporate Social Responsibility dilemma after the COVID-19 global pandemic

Dissertation Topics on the Challenges of CSR

• Responsible education: Developing organizational-wide CSR competences
• Examining the pragmatic and ethical challenges to CSR disclosure
• How can businesses incorporate Corporate Social Responsibility across the value chain?
• Is it genuine or is it a case of “greenwashing”? Conducting a study of top executives’ attitudes about CSR
• Developing a culture of social responsibility inside an organization: A qualitative method

General CSR Dissertation Topics

• The impact of gender diversity on the board of directors and foreign ownership on CSR performance
• Gender diversity on the board of directors and the importance of voluntary CSR reporting
• CSR and equity finance: Is there any sort of connection between the two?
• Corporate social responsibility’s influence on brand value and company performance
• Do financial limits matter when it comes to corporate social responsibility?
• Is it true that CSR has varying value consequences for various shareholders?
• Conducting business responsibly and irresponsibly: The influence on company performance of corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility
• Institutional structures at the country level, business value, and the role of corporate social responsibility initiatives
• Practices in Corporate Social Responsibility and Earnings Management
• Corporate Social Responsibility and the Efficient Use of Investment Capital
• Corporate Social Responsibility as a Potential Source of Conflict Among Shareholders

CSR from an Ethical Perspective in Business

Corporate Social Responsibility dictates that businesses have an ethical obligation to address the interests of a broader stakeholder group comprised of consumers, workers, owners, vendors, and the community.

CSR and corporate ethics are distinct concepts but commonly used interchangeably when referring to the same code or argument.

Businesspeople may cross the line into or even violate established moral norms in the quest of creative destruction, which may be a type of the ‘means justifying the goal’.

CSR is therefore a price placed on the outcomes extracted by business as a penalty for violating some of the rights. This, in part, explains why the revenue gained by taxes on wrongdoing and exploitation goes to restoring the environment and public health, if not to provide outright incentives for the manufacture of more beneficial products.  

CSR has always been a vital part of responsible and ethical business behavior. The concept has gained support in light of the contemporary worldwide economic context.

Corporate Social Responsibility operates on the premise that businesses are accountable for their commitments to a broader range of stakeholders, not just their shareholders.

CSR should never be an afterthought for a business. Instead, it should be a concept ingrained in the organization’s strategy and governance structure.

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Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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An investigation of the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on firms’ financial performance: a global study

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CSR Research by Topic

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Here at the BCCCC, our ongoing work with member companies helps us understand the issues today's corporate citizenship professionals are facing. With this audience in mind, we curate and summarize the latest CSR research studies each month. Use the briefs below to better integrate corporate citizenship into your business strategy and/or develop new solutions for pressing social challenges. For your convenience, the briefs are sorted into several prominent categories, all under the umbrella of corporate social responsibility. 

Corporate Citizenship

How consumers respond to CSR messaging from social media influencers

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers explored how consumers would respond to CSR messaging from non-CSR-themed social media influencers.

Storytelling engages customers in corporate citizenship on a personal level

RESEARCH BRIEF - Communicating CSR commitments and results within the context of stories (vs. bulleted list or other stripped down forms) can improve attitudes toward the company and thereby encourage positive attitudes and intentions with the company.

CSR and firm performance: The essential role of risk and strategy alignment

RESEARCH BRIEF - CSR activities that align with the strategic vision and risk preferences of the firm can deliver better performance.

Storytelling improves consumer trust and engagement in corporate citizenship

RESEARCH BRIEF - Consumers are more engaged in and believing of corporate citizenship communications that have a narrative style and focus on individuals—and are therefore less skeptical toward the initiatives they convey.

Engaging Employees

Create advantage in the war for talent: Promote diversity during job recruitment

RESEARCH BRIEF - Active job seekers were asked to measure the impact of public acknowledgment of diversity practices in recruitment of both LGBTQ jobseekers and non-LGBTQ prospects.

Increasing minimum wage benefits employees, productivity

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers observed the effect of the minimum wage on worker productivity and well-being among more than 40,000 salespeople whose pay is partly based on performance.

Communication of talent management strategies should account for self-perception

RESEARCH BRIEF - When it comes to inclusive vs. exclusive talent management strategies, how do employees feel about what's fair? How do their own self-perceptions play a role?

Sustainability training improves eco-friendly behaviors outside of work

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers examined the direct and indirect relationships between employee participation in an environmentally focused training at work and employees' eco-friendly behaviors outside of work...

Community Involvement

Want to increase donations? Pick a number...

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers examined how varying the way in which donations are solicited (e.g., requesting a specific amount vs. requesting an open-ended donation) affects donation amount and total number of donations.

Perceived control impacts donors’ likelihood to give money versus time

RESEARCH BRIEF - To explore how a greater number of donors might be induced to give money, researchers conducted a series of seven studies with nearly 2,800 participants...

Adjust grantee oversight to achieve intended outcomes

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers examined survey responses from 242 nonprofit organizations that received funding from foundations. They analyzed how non-monetary factors in the grantee-grantor relationship are linked to...

CSR communication: Consumers assess companies based on what they say and do

RESEARCH BRIEF - Communication strategies surrounding corporate citizenship efforts should be commensurate with actual corporate citizenship activities.

Sustainablity Reporting

Does more robust ESG disclosure reduce a firm's future earnings risk?

RESEARCH BRIEF - To investigate the relationship between ESG disclosure and future earnings risk, researchers studied disclosure scores and analyst forecast data for 1,004 S&P Global 1200 firms

How industry-related factors affect SDG-related reporting

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers studied firm ESG reporting across 36 countries with both developed and developing economies to understand what factors might influence whether a firm would report ESG metrics in alignment with SDGs.

Increased ESG ranking lowers the cost of corporate debt

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers examined more than 1,500 bonds from S&P 500 companies and the firms’ ESG scores to determine if there is a relationship between a company’s score and their cost of debt.

Does ESG news affect stock price? Only if it’s financially material

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers studied ESG information from a wide variety of sources—including reports by analysts, media, advocacy groups, and government regulators— for 3,000 companies...

Responsible Corporate Leadership

Will a higher ratio of women board members improve ESG performance?

RESEARCH BRIEF - To examine the relationship between women board directors and corporate social performance including how national culture may affect this relationship—researchers looked at nearly 3,200 public firms across 38 countries over 7 years.

Age demographics of top management teams impact environmental management strategies

RESEARCH BRIEF - To understand what effect the age of top management team members has on a firm’s environmental management strategies, researchers analyzed data from over 500 U.S. firms over eight years.

Women directors positively affect ESG performance, especially in certain countries

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers looked at the ratio of women directors on the boards of 3,175 global firms alongside the firms’ corporate social performance scores.

Women CFOs are clearer communicators with shareholders—and it pays off

RESEARCH BRIEF - CFOs who are women tend to speak more realistically, concisely, and quantitatively than their male counterparts in less scripted portions of earnings calls. Read how investors respond...

Environmental Sustainability

Implications of Legal, Cultural & Governance Factors on Corporate Climate Commitment

RESEARCH BRIEF - The purpose of this study was to understand how a country's culture and legal system, as well as internal governance mechanisms, influence a company's commitment to addressing climate change.

Climate risk disclosure and institutional investors

RESEARCH BRIEF - In this study, researchers focused on three groups of institutional investors with higher disclosure demand, which they deemed “climate-conscious investors.”

Influence of board structure on firm carbon emissions

RESEARCH BRIEF - To understand the relationship between board structure and emissions performance, researchers analyzed 7,284 firm-year observations...

It pays to manage climate risk

RESEARCH BRIEF - In a study of nearly 12,000 bank loan terms at nearly 3,000 U.S. companies, researchers analyzed how climate risk affects firm performance and risk, including operational performance, default risk, and bank loan terms.

The Value of Corporate Citizenship

Do ESG scores play a role in a firm's market value?

RESEARCH BRIEF - This study observed market value of ~200 firms from 2002 to 2021. Researchers looked at the firms’ overall ESG scores and scores for each of ESG’s three pillars: environmental, social, and governance...

How ESG affects equity valuation, risk, and performance

RESEARCH BRIEF - Can positive changes in a company's ESG characteristics serve as a useful indicator for predicting investment quality?

When to mention CSR in corporate apology statements—congruence and commitment

RESEARCH BRIEF - Researchers surveyed 252 U.S. consumers, who were asked to read a negative news article about a fictitious pharmaceutical company, along with an apology statement admitting fault for failing to report adverse side effects of its pain reliever.

Supply Chain Management

Using vague language diminishes CSR message credibility

RESEARCH BRIEF - To understand the relationship between different types of corporate social responsibility (CSR) messages and consumer trust, researchers surveyed participants about the CSR reputation of a specific unnamed company.

CSR performance affects supply-chain contracting decisions

RESEARCH BRIEF - To understand whether an increase in available CSR information affects supplier contracting decisions, researchers gathered over 3,500 supplier-year observations.

Wage-related interventions for workers who earn low wages

RESEARCH BRIEF - Can companies increase worker compensation for employees earning low wages without a negative impact to the bottom line?

Mandatory nonfinancial disclosure increases supply chain transparency

RESEARCH BRIEF - To understand how mandatory ESG disclosures might affect firms’ supply chain due diligence, researchers analyzed 1,500 firms from 2005-2016, reviewing nearly 10,000 firm year observations.

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Corporate Social Responsibility: the institutionalization of ESG

Anderson, Erika (2023) Corporate Social Responsibility: the institutionalization of ESG. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Understanding the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on firm performance as it relates to industries reliant on technological innovation is a complex and perpetually evolving challenge. To thoroughly investigate this topic, this dissertation will adopt an economics-based structure to address three primary hypotheses. This structure allows for each hypothesis to essentially be a standalone empirical paper, unified by an overall analysis of the nature of impact that ESG has on firm performance. The first hypothesis explores the evolution of CSR to the modern quantified iteration of ESG has led to the institutionalization and standardization of the CSR concept. The second hypothesis fills gaps in existing literature testing the relationship between firm performance and ESG by finding that the relationship is significantly positive in long-term, strategic metrics (ROA and ROIC) and that there is no correlation in short-term metrics (ROE and ROS). Finally, the third hypothesis states that if a firm has a long-term strategic ESG plan, as proxied by the publication of CSR reports, then it is more resilience to damage from controversies. This is supported by the finding that pro-ESG firms consistently fared better than their counterparts in both financial and ESG performance, even in the event of a controversy. However, firms with consistent reporting are also held to a higher standard than their nonreporting peers, suggesting a higher risk and higher reward dynamic. These findings support the theory of good management, in that long-term strategic planning is both immediately economically beneficial and serves as a means of risk management and social impact mitigation. Overall, this contributes to the literature by fillings gaps in the nature of impact that ESG has on firm performance, particularly from a management perspective.

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Business Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at January 5th, 2023 , Revised On April 16, 2024

Introduction

As a business student, you will study various aspects of conducting business. From handling human resources to managing the marketing and finances, you will study them all. However, what is essential is to understand how you will put your learning into practice.

That is when the real challenge starts. You might have aced your quizzes and assignments and stood out in your class, but if you cannot implement your learning in your practical life, your academic success means nothing.

Thus, to help you understand the real-life scenario, the dissertation can be a great starting point. Dissertations help you understand the concepts, frameworks, and models of business in great depth.

Choose a topic for your dissertation that will interest you and help you in your professional life. Thus, to help you fulfil your academic condition and choose an appropriate dissertation topic, here is a list of topics that are recent and relevant.

To help you get started with brainstorming for business topic ideas, we have developed a list of the latest topics that can be used for writing your business dissertation.

These topics have been developed by PhD qualified  writers of our team , so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

You can also start your dissertation by requesting  a brief research proposal  from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an  introduction  to the problem,  research question , aim and objectives,  literature review , along the proposed  methodology  of research to be conducted. Let us know if you need any help in getting started.

Check our  example dissertation to get an idea of  how to structure your dissertation .

You can review step by step guide on how to write your dissertation  here.

So, without further ado, here’s a list of business dissertation topics that will help you stand out in your class.

• International Development Dissertation Topics
• Cooperate Governance Dissertation Topics
• Business Intelligence Dissertation Topics
• Business Information Technology Dissertation Topics
• International Business Dissertation Topics
• Business Management Dissertation Topics
• Business Psychology Dissertation Topics
• Business Law Dissertation Topics
• Project Management Dissertation Topics
• HRM Dissertation Topics
• Management Dissertation Topics
• Operations Management Dissertation Topics

2024 Business Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: an evaluation of the impact of business ethics on the moral obligations associated with business deals of corporations.

Research Aim: The research aims to conduct an evaluation of the impact of business ethics on the moral obligations associated with business deals of corporations

Objectives:

• To analyse the importance of ethics for the shareholders of a business.
• To evaluate the link between business ethics and successful business deals.
• To investigate the impact of business ethics on the moral obligations of corporations while executing business deals

Topic 2: The impact of AI-based tools on business decision making and overall organisational profitability.

Research Aim: The research aims to analyse the impact of AI-based tools on business decision making and overall organisational profitability.

• To analyse the impact of AI tools on the strategic management of the business.
• To evaluate the factors impacting business decision making and profitability.
• To investigate the impact of AI tools on business decision making and overall organisational profitability.

Topic 3: How does the HRM function impact the business health of organisations?

Research Aim: The research aims to understand how the HRM function impacts the business health of organisations.

• To analyse the role of the HRL function of organisations.
• To analyse the concept of business health and how it is measured.
• To examine the impact of HRM on the business health and wellbeing of the organisations.

Topic 4: The impact of corporate governance on firm performance and internationalisation.

Research Aim: The research aims to examine the impact of corporate governance on firm performance and internationalisation.

• To critically analyse the impact of corporate governance on brand image and equity.
• To investigate the impact of firm performance on the decisions to internationalise.
• To investigate how corporate governance impacts firm performance and internationalisation.

Topic 5: An assessment of the impact of materials management on production efficiency and cost optimisation of business

Research Aim: The research aims to examine the impact of materials management on production efficiency and cost optimisation of business

• To investigate the impact of materials management in the production business
• To analyse the factors impacting production efficiency and cost minimisation of business.
• To evaluate how materials management impacts production efficiency and cost optimisation of business

Business Dissertation Topics for 2023

Topic 1: impact of digital business on the economic growth of the country: a case study of xyz country.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the significance of digital business during the pandemic and its impacts, not the country’s economic growth. It is a detailed view of the future that need to be digitalised.

Topic 2: Brand Marketing through social media

Research Aim: This research aims to focus on the importance of Brand Marketing through social media by addressing various current strategies used in brand marketing.

Topic 3: Impacts of social media on customer behaviour

Research Aim: This research aims to measure social media’s impacts on customer behaviour and address various strategies that are effective to attract customers through social media.

Topic 4: What factors influence the consumer's buying decisions?

Research Aim: This research aims to identify factors that influence the consumer’s buying decisions

Topic 5: Black Friday sale strategy to drive sales

Research Aim: This research aims to identify how the Black Friday sale strategy effectively drives sales. How can huge discounts benefit sellers?

Topic 6: The role of Influencer Marketing in increasing sale

Research Aim: Influencer Marketers impact the customer’s perception. This research aims to the role of influencer marketing in increasing sales.

Topic 7: Impact of E-marketing on consumer purchase decision: the case of the luxury industry in the UK

Research Aim: This research aims to measure E-marketing’s impact on consumer purchase decisions in the U.K luxury industry.

Topic 8: Analysis of the customer-centric marketing strategies in attaining competitive advantage for the firm and sustaining business success

Research Aim: This research focuses on attaining customer-centric marketing strategies in a competitive advantage for the firm and sustaining business success.

Topic 9: Traditional vs. digital marketing: a comparative study of the last ten years

Research Aim: This research aims to conduct a comparative study of traditional vs. digital marketing in the last ten years.

Topic 10: The impact of relationship marketing on customer loyalty: an analysis of the Honda motor

Research Aim: This research aims to assess the impact of relationship marketing on customer loyalty. An analysis of the Honda motor will be conducted as the base of the research.

Topic 11: The importance of search Engines in e-commerce

Research Aim: This research aims to identify the importance of search engines in e-commerce.

Topic 12: E-Commerce company's advertising strategy-critical analysis

Research Aim: This research aims to identify the importance of an E-Commerce company’s advertising strategy.

Topic 13: Importance of customer retention in E-commerce

Research Aim: This research aims to measure the importance of customer retention in E-commerce.

Topic 14: Importance of brand loyalty in internet marketing

Research Aim: This research aims to identify the importance of brand loyalty in internet marketing.

Business Dissertation Topics for 2022

Topic 1: assessing how the regional differences between countries influence the business strategies of multinational companies.

Research Aim: There regional differences and conflicts between countries have directly affected the trade activities. Therefore, this research will identify a highly sensitive issue by analysing how regional differences between countries impact the overall business strategies of multinational companies.

Topic 2: How corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects customer loyalty: A case study of the UK petroleum industry

Research Aim: Corporate social responsibility has become an important phenomenon as it directly impacts the brand image of the company. Therefore, the main purpose of the research is to analyse how CSR activities influence customer perception, which in return impacts customer loyalty. The focus of the research will be the UK petroleum industry.

Topic 3: Assessing the leadership styles of a non-profit organisation and how it impacts the overall business operations

Research Aim: Leadership has always been a significant aspect of any organisation as it has a drastic impact on the overall business processes. Many researchers have focused on identifying the best leadership style for MNC’s and SME’s; however, few have focused on non-profit organisations. Therefore, the main purpose of the research is to assess the most effective leadership styles that should be practised by non-profit organisations and how it affects the overall operations.

Topic 4: Examining the impact of global business negotiations on cross border mergers and acquisitions

Research Aim: The main aim of the research is to analyse the effect of international business negotiations on cross border mergers. Due to intense competition, many companies are going for mergers and acquisitions to enhance their market share. Therefore, this research will explore the aspect of global business negotiations in mergers and acquisitions between two different companies of two different countries.

Topic 5: Analysing the impact of forwarding and backward integration on business performance and sustainability

Research Aim: To gain a competitive advantage, firms have devised various supply chain strategies that help them improve their business performance. One such strategy is forward and backward integration. Therefore this research will be focusing on analysing the impact of both forward and backward integration on business performance and sustainability.

Topic C1: The economic suffering due to the plague of COVID-19

Research Aim: The research must assess the disruption that has been created by the spread of  COVID-19 in the world. This must include the global lockdown of the countries and the shutting of industries, resulting in soaring unemployment rates and a dramatic decline in economic statistics. The research aims to look at the economic consequences generated by the outbreak of COVID-19 in general.

Topic C2: The major sufferings in the economy as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak

Research Aim: The research must assess the reasons behind the rising suffering in the specific business sectors and industries, for instance, the supply chain is suffering because China has become the manufacturing hub, which has brought disruption in the supply chain of the whole industry due to complete lockdown in the country. The research aims to study majorly affected regions such as the entertainment sector, tourism industry, restaurant sector etc.

Topic C3: Expecting changes in the economic statistics by the outbreak of COVID-19

Research Aim: The recent expected changes by the professionals about the impact of  COVID-19 on the global economic statistics must be discussed in the research, such as the estimated growth rates of the world and China were predicted to be 0% and 1.6%, respectively, for the year 2020 by the Ethan Harris, head of global economic research in the Bank of America according to his recent interview. Similarly, articles from other professionals must be included in the research to focus on the effects of an outbreak on the economy.

Topic C4: The major regions and business industries affected by the spread of COVID-19

Research Aim: The research would assess the regions (cities and countries) which are being affected by the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 and the major impacted business industries such as the food industries like the restaurants are completely locked down after the outbreak of the virus and the people that were engaged in those industries are unemployed now. The research aims to focus on such industries and the impact of their lowered productivity on the economy.

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Business Strategy and Globalisation Dissertation Topics

Globalisation can be defined as the process that assists organisations and businesses in spreading their operations and influence on an international scale to increase their profit levels.

According to Financial Times Lexicon, it is  “a process by which national and regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through the global network of trade, communication, immigration and transportation.”

It will not be wrong to say that globalisation is the integration of policymaking, cultures, markets, industries, and economics around the globe.

In recent times, the concept of globalization has been expanded to include a broader range of activities and areas such as biological, political, social, cultural, technological, climate and media factors, even though initially it primarily focused on the economies, capital flows, foreign direct investment, and trade.

Some recent topics with respect to globalisation and business strategy are listed below:

Topic 6: Why organisations and businesses must change their business strategies in the era of globalisation

Research Aim: Any and every company that does strategies based on globalisation will lose out on huge business opportunities. Thus, this research will focus on reasons as to why companies should plan for globalisation related strategies.

Topic 7: Business management framework and globalisation – An empirical study

Research Aim: This research will talk about a successful business management framework for companies operating in the era of globalisation.

Topic 8: Global business strategy for MNCs and the role of corporate vision, conflicts, and empowerment

Research Aim: This research will talk about the various business strategies available for MNCs and the role their vision, conflict management, and empowerment play in building these strategies.

Topic 9: Exploring the drivers of Chinese business expansion strategy into Africa and other developing countries

Research Aim: This research will explore the various factors that drive Chinese business expansion into Africa and other developing countries.

Topic 10: An investigation into the process of offshore outsourcing of customer services to determine causes of poor customer satisfaction

Research Aim: This research will assess customer services’ offshoring process, which in turn impacts customer satisfaction.

Topic 11: Cross border management strategy – A research study focusing on foreign business organisations in Malaysia

Research Aim: This research will talk about cross border management strategies and specifically about foreign businesses operating in Malaysia.

Topic 12: An investigation into the impact of globalisation on UK businesses' operation on both a national and international scale.

Research Aim: This research will study the impact of globalisation on UK businesses. The impact on both national and international scales will be assessed.

Topic 13: How banks can implement business strategies in light of globalisation to improve connectivity with clients – A case of Barclays Plc

Research Aim: This research will focus on the globalisation of banks. Barclays PLC will be used as a case study for this research.

Topic 14: A study to examine the factors affecting the MNC’s choice of alliances and entry modes – The case of Sri Lanka

Research Aim: This study will discuss the various factors that impact the MNC’s choice of alliances and entry modes. Sri Lanka will be used as a case study for this research.

Topic 15: Performance, e-business strategies, and globalisation – Examining the factors affecting social media strategy of business organisations in the UK

Research Aim: This research will discuss the factors that impact the performance, e-business strategies, and globalisation of UK based businesses. The study will also focus on factors impacting the social media strategy of these organisations.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

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Strategic Change Management Dissertation Topics

Change management can be defined as the management of “change and development” within a business organisation. Dealing with the impact of change is of critical importance. Strategic change management helps managers deal with change from the perspective of the individual and an organisation.

An important aspect of this concept is the organisational tools that can help achieve successful transitions to adopt change. Furthermore, business organisations can effectively and quickly implement change to meet changing market requirements as part of the strategic change management process.

Topic 16: An investigation into the implementation of strategic change management in the UK retail sector

Research Aim: This research will analyse and investigate how the UK retail sector changes its business processes to stay relevant in the market.

Topic 17: Examining the factors affecting organisational changes from the perspective of employees – The case of HSBC

Research Aim: This research will focus on organisational changes from the perspective of employees. HSBC will be studied as a case in this research.

Topic 18: Use of a proprietary change management system with respect to transformational change and stakeholder communication

Research Aim: This research will discuss a proprietary change management system that helps with transformational change and stakeholder communication.

Topic 19: The role of feedback in organisational culture change: A case study of any multinational company

Research Aim: This research will talk assess the role of feedback, be it from employees or customers, in bringing and managing organisational cultural change. This study will be based on a company of your choosing.

Topic 20: Strategic management of change in Asian countries – The case of Singapore

Research Aim: This study will talk about strategic change management in Asian countries. Singapore will be the chosen country for the purpose of this study.

Topic 21: To establish the importance of measuring stress levels of employees to successfully implement change

Research Aim: This research will talk about the importance of employee stress measurement in order to implement change successfully.

Topic 22: The role of senior management of business organisations in developing a framework that connects unexpected results and strategic plans

Research Aim: This study will talk about the role of senior management of businesses in developing a framework that will help the company bring together strategic plans and unexpected positive results.

Topic 23: Differences in working styles of Saudi project managers and foreign project managers

Research Aim: This research will help understand the different working styles of Saudi project managers and foreign project managers.

Topic 24: Intervention, project management, and change management – The banking sector in the UK

Research Aim: This research will talk about the change management and implementation barriers that companies are unable to implement change effectively.

International Human Resource Management Dissertation Topics

International Human Resource Management is a system that is designed to improve employee performance at national and international levels. The IHRM function primarily focuses on the policies developed to ensure efficient personnel management within organisations at an international level.

Various activities such as training and development, skills enhancement, employee recruitment, motivational programmes, bonuses and rewards systems, and performance appraisal are implemented to help businesses increase their work output.

Topic 25: Managing employees’ performance in non-profit organisations – A case study of any non-profit organisation

Research Aim: This research will help non-profit organisations understand how they can manage and monitor employee performance even when operating at an international level.

Topic 26: Developing an effective human resource management system in large multinational companies – The recommended practices and strategies

Research Aim: This research will help multinational companies develop an effective human resource management system.

Topic 27: Examining the impact of human resource professionals and human resource management in the new global economy

Research Aim: This study will help in understanding the impact of human resource professionals and will also shed light on human resource management in the new globalized economy.

Topic 28: Can human resource development and training help to remedy poor selection processes

Research Aim: This research will aim to understand whether resource development and training will lead to better selection processes or not.

Topic 29: The causes and forms of deviance in business and non-profit organisations

Research Aim: This research will help understand the causes and forms of deviance in business and non-profit organisations.

Topic 30: Investigating the effects of organisational transition on employees’ performance in large diversified companies.

Research Aim: This research will investigate the impact of organisational transition on the performance of employees in multinationals.

Topic 31: Configuration of human resource management system in multinational companies

Research Aim: This research will help understand how the human resource management system in multinationals is configured.

Topic 32: Learning from small businesses in the UK – How firm performance is associated with strategic human resource management.

Research Aim: This research will understand how firm performance in small businesses is linked with strategic human resource management and its benefits and limitations.

Topic 33: Human resource challenges for UK construction industry – Knowledge transfer and retention

Research Aim: This research will help understand human resource challenges for the UK construction industry, particularly knowledge transfer and employee retention.

Topic 34: The role of strategic human resource management in the public sector – The recommended practices and policies

Research Aim: This research will help understand the role of strategic human resource management in the public sector.

Information Technology Management Dissertation Topics

The process of managing all information technology resources of a business organisation is known as “information technology management”. It should be noted that the information technology resources of an organisation are usually managed in accordance with the priorities, policies, and requirements as set out by the business.

Physical investments, including the staff, data centre facilities, networks, data storage databases, software, and computer hardware, are examples of information technology resources required to be managed within a company.

This is done using simple management skills such as organizing and controlling, change management, and budgeting.

Topic 35: Developing a framework for the strategic management of information technology

Research Aim: This research will help companies build a sustainable framework for the strategic management of the information technology sector.

Topic 36: Role of information technology management in large diversified business organisations.

Research Aim: This research will help in understanding the role of information technology management in large businesses.

Topic 37: Analysing the issues associated with the implementation of Information technology in new technology-based firms.

Research Aim: This study will help in assessing issues associated with the implementation of information technology in technology firms.

Topic 38: Recommended practices to introduce and implement information systems in business organisations.

Research Aim: This study will help companies introduce and implement information systems in organisations.

Topic 39: How business organisations can gain a competitive advantage through social media branding in a fast-paced electronics industry?

Research Aim: This study is extremely relevant for this day and age as it focuses on gaining a competitive advantage through social media for the electronics industry.

Topic 40: The role of strategic alliances, acquisitions and mergers in building eCommerce business giants – A case study of any large scale and established virtual company.

Research Aim: This research will focus on understanding the role of strategic alliances, acquisitions, and mergers for e-commerce business giants. You can choose a large scale company of your choice for this study.

Topic 41: How e-HR system can help UK energy companies to improve their efficiency?

Research Aim: Electronic-human resource management systems are a thing of today. This research will focus on implementing e-HR in UK based energy companies.

Topic 42: Identifying the most influential factors affecting information technology management in the UK construction industry.

Research Aim: This research will identify factors that influence information technology management in the UK construction industry.

Topic 43: Investigating the Benefits and Limitations of Implementing Information Technology in the UK Fashion Industry.

Research Aim: This research will help explore the benefits and limitations of implementing information technology in the UK fashion sector.

Topic 44: To investigate the important elements of information technology management.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the essential factors of information technology management.

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Organisational Leadership Dissertation Topics

Business leaders are the management staff that provides operational oversights, inspiration and other administrative services. It is the duty of business leaders to help prioritise organisational objectives and corporate vision for other team members. Here are some interesting topics related to organizational leadership.

Topic 45: Examining the effects of leadership and clarity of vision on business organisations.

Research Aim: This research will understand the impact of leadership on businesses and how having a clear business vision helps organisations.

Topic 46: The impact of organisational culture and leadership behaviours on practices of knowledge management in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Research Aim: This research will examine the impact of organisational culture and leadership behaviours on knowledge management in SMEs.

Topic 47: Examining the impact of leadership on organisational performance of small enterprises in Saudi Arabia.

Research Aim: This research will study the impact of business leadership on the organisational performance of small businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Topic 48: Evaluating the impact of leadership on organisational performance – A case study of any large and diversified firm.

Research Aim: This research will help evaluate the impact of leadership on organisational performance. You can choose a company of your choice for this research.

Topic 49: Role of organisational leadership in developing countries – A case study of any home-grown company.

Research Aim: This study will evaluate the role of organisational leadership in developing countries.

Topic 50: Traits of prevention-oriented and charismatic leader for the successful operation of medium-sized enterprises.

Research Aim: This research will examine the various traits of leadership that are required for successful business operations.

Topic 51: Organisational leadership in multicultural environment of Saudi Arabia.

Research Aim: This research will focus on organisational leadership in a multicultural environment in Saudi Arabia.

Topic 52: Distinguishing leadership from management to achieve corporate strategies.

Research Aim: This research will analyse and compare leadership and management that companies achieve corporate strategies.

Topic 53: Investigating the differences between individual charismatic leadership and traditional organisational leadership.

Research Aim: This research will help to investigate the differences between charismatic leadership and traditional leadership.

Topic 54: How leadership decisions to implement new business strategies can be influenced by organisational culture – A case study of Nokia.

Research Aim: This research will assess how leadership decisions help in implementing new business strategies and how they are influenced by organisational culture. This study will be based on Nokia.

International Business Strategy Dissertation Topics

International business can be defined as the transactions that occur across country borders as a result of trade. For example,  a UK based company selling its products in another country is involved in international business.

Another definition of international business is the exchange/trade of goods or products among businesses and individuals in multiple countries.

However, it is worth noting that all commercial transactions, including transportations, logistics, investments, sales, governmental and private that occur as a result of trade between two different regions are the elements of International Business.

Here are some interesting topics based on international business strategy:

Topic 55: Investigating the patterns of foreign direct investment in new global economies

Research Aim: This research will help outline foreign direct investment patterns in new global economies.

Topic 56: The future of the bamboo industry in Europe – Opportunities and challenges

Research Aim: This research will understand the bamboo industry in Europe, its opportunities, and the challenges the industry has to face.

Topic 57: How Telenor internationalised in Asia – The case of Pakistan

Research Aim: This research will focus on Telenor expanding its operations in Asia. International business strategies undertaken by the company will be discussed.

Topic 58: Internationalisation opportunities for Chinese multinational companies – The link between international business development and “knowledge and learning”

Research Aim: This research will explore the internationalisation opportunities for Chinese multinational companies, i.e. the link between international business development and knowledge will be studied.

Topic 59: Exploring strategic alternatives in Research & Development through the exploitation of opportunities and capabilities

Research Aim: This research will talk about the various strategic alternatives in research and development by exploring various opportunities and capabilities.

Topic 60: The role of new theoretical models with respect to global politics and business

Research Aim: This research will understand the role of new theoretical models by considering global politics and businesses.

Topic 61: The impact of corporate governance on performance and internationalisation of business organisation

Research Aim: This research will focus on the impact of corporate governance on the performance and internationalisation of business organisations.

Topic 62: Examining the factors that could motivate large multinational corporations to adapt internationalisation strategy

Research Aim: This research will analyse the factors that motivate multinationals to adapt to internationalization strategies.

Topic 63: The growing importance of social media strategies in the global business environment – Internationalisation, e-business plans and performance of firms

Research Aim: This research will understand the importance of social media strategy in the global business environment, i.e. firm performance, e-business plans, etc.

Topic 64: Investigating “foreign direct investment” strategies of large and diversified companies in developing economies – The case of India

Research Aim: This research will examine foreign direct investment strategies of huge diversified businesses based in India.

Corporate Social Responsibility Dissertation Topics

The concept of corporate social responsibility has gained tremendous importance, thanks to growing social and environmental concerns that need to be integrated into business operations.

CSR allows business organisations to achieve a balance of social, environmental, and economic obligations and addresses stakeholders and shareholders’ needs.

Implementing CSR amongst small and medium-sized enterprises can prove to be an extremely daunting task primarily because it requires strategies to be designed in a manner where the respective capabilities and needs of these businesses are considered, but the profitability of the company is not adversely impacted.

Here are some relevant CSR dissertation topics for you to choose from:

Topic 65: Investigating the role of corporate social responsibilities in brand equity

Research Aim: This research will analyse how brand equity is built with the help of corporate social responsibility.

Topic 66: How values are associated with perceptions of corporate social responsibility

Research Aim: This research will talk about how values and perceptions are associated with corporate social responsibility and how businesses view it.

Topic 67: Effects of CSR on the performance of business organisations in transitional economies

Research Aim: This study will examine how CSR impacts businesses’ performance operating in transitional economies.

Topic 68: Investigating performance and strategic plans of UK firms with respect to corporate social responsibility

Research Aim: This research will investigate the performance and strategic plans of UK firms with regard to their respective corporate social responsibility.

Topic 69: To what extent do international certifiable management regulations influence business practices

This research will aim to understand the extent to which international certifiable management regulations impact business practices.

Topic 70: Corporate social responsibility in developing countries – The case of the Chinese construction industry

Research Aim: This research will talk about corporate social responsibility in developing countries and focus on the Chinese construction industry.

Topic 71: Corporate social responsibility and societal expectations – A case of any multinational corporation

Research Aim: This research will understand the expectations associated with corporate social responsibilities. A multinational will be chosen for this study.

Topic 72: How corporate social responsibility affect business practices of the UK energy sector

Research Aim: This research will help understand how corporate social responsibility impacts business practices in the UK energy sector.

Topic 73: The role of CSR on international corporate governance theories and practices

Research Aim: This research will examine the role of CSR in international corporate governance theories and practices.

Topic 74: Financial performance of selected European corporations in light of corporate social responsibility

Research Aim: This research will understand how the financial performance of European businesses is impacted by corporate social responsibility.

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Organisational Behaviour Dissertation Topics

Organisational behaviour can be defined as how individuals interact with larger groups to create more efficient businesses. The theories of organisational behaviour can help to achieve maximum output from individual members of a team. Here are some interesting topics to help you pick an appropriate dissertation topic on organisational behaviour.

Topic 75: Investigating the impact of values and beliefs on employees’ performance and commitment at the workplace

Research Aim: This research will investigate the impact of beliefs and values on employees’ performance and commitment at the workplace.

Topic 76: Studying the impact of culture on organisational behaviour – The case of the Indian telecommunication industry

Research Aim: This research will help study the impact of culture on organisational behaviour. The Indian telecommunication industry will be the focus of this research.

Topic 77: Examining decision-making process in multinational corporations in light of organisational behaviour and choice

Research Aim: This research will help examine the decision making process in multinationals with respect to organisational behaviour and choice.

Topic 78: Organisational citizenship behaviour and organisational commitment, psychological contract and conflict at Oxford University

Research Aim: This research will help understand organisational citizenship behaviour, organisational commitment, and conflict at Oxford University.

Topic 79: Exploring the relationship between a sense of belongingness and development of trust with managerial behaviour in large and diversified organisations

Research Aim: This research will help in understanding the relationship between trust and a sense of belongingness in huge, multicultural organisations.

Topic 80: Investigating causes of unethical actions of individuals in the workplace – Analysing organisational standards, practices, ethical behaviour

Research Aim: This study will explore causes that lead to unethical actions at workplaces. The research will analyse the organisational standards, practices, and ethical behaviour.

Topic 81: Developing organisational citizenship behaviour and organisational culture in the pre-inauguration stages – The case of the UK hotel industry

Research Aim: This research will help develop organisational citizenship behaviour and organisational culture in the early days of businesses. The UK hotel industry will be the main focus of this research.

Topic 82: Comparing employees’ attitudes and organisational cultural values in the Indian agricultural sector

Research Aim: This research will compare employee attitude and organisational cultural values in the Indian agricultural sector.

Topic 83: This study will explore the relationship between employee performance and corporate objectives.

Research Aim: The research will take into consideration the role of shared values and standards.

Topic 84: Introducing, Implementing, and Managing Change in a Multinational – Assessing the Conflicts associated with it

Research Aim: This research will study global change management as to how multinationals introduce, implement and manage change globally.

Important Notes:

As a student of business looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment on existing business theories – i.e., to add value and interest in your research topic.

The field of business is vast and interrelated to so many other academic disciplines like  civil engineering ,  construction ,  law , and even  healthcare . That is why creating a business dissertation topic that is articular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field is imperative.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic; it is the basis of your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in  writing your dissertation , as you may end up in the cycle of rejection at the very initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best business dissertation topics that fulfil your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Take a look at some of our sample business dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure your Business Dissertation

A well-structured   dissertation can help students   to achieve a high overall academic grade.

• A Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Declaration
• Abstract: A summary of the research completed
• Table of Contents
• Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can  also be added to this chapter.
• Literature Review :  This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature available on the chosen research topic in light of research questions to be addressed. The purpose is to highlight and discuss the relative weaknesses and strengths of the selected research area while identifying any research gaps. Break down of the topic, and key terms can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
• Methodology: The  data collection  and  analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter, which usually includes  research design, research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and  data analysis strategy .
• Findings and Analysis: Findings of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include  graphs ,  charts, and  tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
• Discussion and  Conclusion: The researcher presents his interpretation of results in this chapter and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section is to establish the link between the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regards to implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
• References:  Make sure to complete this in accordance with your University’s requirements
• Bibliography
• Appendices: Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation  but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Corporate social responsibility disclosures (CSRD)'

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Consult the top 36 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Corporate social responsibility disclosures (CSRD).'

Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.

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Waris, Ali. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) : a case study of Pakistan." Thesis, Middlesex University, 2014. http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/14648/.

Abd, Rahim Nazarah. "Assessing the influence of ethical leadership behaviours, leadership styles and leader roles as determinants of online Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosures in Malaysia." Thesis, University of Gloucestershire, 2016. http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/3837/.

Farrington, Sukari. "The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility Investment and Disclosure on Cooperation in Business Collaborations." Scholar Commons, 2017. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7021.

Bergman, Axel, and Eijkel Daan van. "Corporate Social Responsibility disclosure practices a content analysis of Swedish Heavy Industrials." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Företagsekonomiska institutionen, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-388370.

Maslarov, Boris, and Toma Georgiev. "The Importance of Practices in Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure. : A case study of Volvo Cars." Thesis, Jönköping University, Internationella Handelshögskolan, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-54588.

Aldosari, Abdullah Mohammed. "Investigating the awareness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and practice in Saudi Arabia." Thesis, University of Reading, 2017. http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/74823/.

Bani, Khalid Tareq. "An analysis of disclosure of social and environmental responsibility and stakeholders' perceptions : the case of Jordan." Thesis, Abertay University, 2015. https://rke.abertay.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/54b800a6-1ad1-44ce-9b99-a1430105893e.

Akinboboye, Abisoluwa. "Health Communication via Social Media: How Pharmaceutical Companies are using Instagram for Corporate Social Responsibility." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2020. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3731.

Pouvreau, Baptiste, and Pierre Sonier. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure in corporate communication : A content analysis of the automotive industry’s sustainability reports." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Företagsekonomi, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-57063.

Johnson, Joseph Aaron. "The influence of CSR reporting models on managers' capital allocation decisions." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/53905.

Alkhalili, Shatha, and Victoria Namayanja. "The Impact Of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) On Corporate Financial Performance (CFP) In The Listed Swedish Financial Institutions." Thesis, Jönköping University, IHH, Företagsekonomi, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-52742.

Leung, Cheng Han. "Corporate social responsibility and gambling industry : an exploratory study." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/5021.

Asfandyar, S. (Safia). "The effect of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure on the cost of debt in the textile industry." Master's thesis, University of Oulu, 2018. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-201811072983.

Peters, Elaine. "Corporate non-financial disclosures : an analysis of corporate sustainability and social responsibility reporting practices of South African firms." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/59749.

Sheldon, Mark Donald. "User Perceptions of CSR Disclosure Credibility with Reasonable, Limited and Hybrid Assurances." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/65158.

Buchner, Stefan. "The Concept of CSR : An empirical study of practitioners' CSR conceptions." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Ekonomihögskolan, ELNU, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-12779.

Trencansky, David, and Dimitrios Tsaparlidis. "The effects of company´s age, size and type of industry on the level of CSR : The development of a new scale for measurement of the level of CSR." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Företagsekonomi, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-95150.

Karlsson, Alma, and Andersson Elin Strandberg. "Svenska allmännyttiga bostadsbolag - Sambandet mellan CSR-arbete och upplysningar om CSR i bolagens årsredovisningar." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Företagsekonomiska institutionen, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-415139.

Harun, Mohd Shukor Bin. "The impact of corporate governance and its consequences on CSR disclosure : empirical evidence from Islamic banks in GCC countries." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/6608.

Nordlander, Anna, and Jelena Tararyko. "Waste Management - CSR Engagement within the Construction Industry in Sweden." Thesis, Högskolan i Jönköping, Internationella Handelshögskolan, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-15627.

Laskar, Tasnim. "What Lies Behind the Formation of Corporate Social Responsibility Activities in the Automotive Industry : A Study on the Disclosure Practices at Volvo Cars." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Industriell teknik, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-413920.

Boström, Daniel. "Environmental information : A study of environmental disclosure in financial analyst reports, annual reports, CSR reports and environmental risk profiles." Thesis, Umeå University, Umeå School of Business, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-24589.

The awareness of environmental issues has increased among the public the last decades. An environmental movement is occurring and companies are beginning to adapt themselves and their business activities to the changing view of environmental issues. Greater attention are turning to companies around the world due to the view that they have a responsibility concerning environmental and sustainability matters in their business operations. The development of environmental guidelines such as the Global Reporting Initiative and the presenting of separate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports illustrate the emerged demand of an environmental awareness from various stakeholders. Government regulations and inter-continental agreements of carbon taxes, emission trade rights and various environmental targets are influencing the operations and the environmental approach for the companies.

An important link in the information chain is the financial analysts and their role as information intermediaries. The characteristics of their profession combined with their expertise knowledge of evaluating companies are reasons behind their function in the investment value chain. Traditionally, the valuation of companies has been based on financial figures and the models derive from typical tangible assets such growth numbers, estimated future earnings and cash flow. Environmental issues have throughout the years been considered of secondary importance due to the specific kind of information it represents.

This study examines factors influencing the amount of environmental information presented in financial analyst reports. The amount of environmental information presented in annual reports, CSR reports and an environmental risk profile developed by GES Investment Services have been selected as predictor variables to determine the amount of environmental information in the financial analysts’ reports.

40 companies from the industrial sector have been included in the study and the results reveal that no or very little environmental information can be found in the financial analyst reports. The financial analysts’ seem to prioritize other kinds of information when evaluating companies and creating analyst reports. The study also reveals that companies with separate CSR reports seem to have a higher amount of environmental information presented in annual reports as well as a better environmental risk profile.

Ayertey, Bliss, and Getnet Mengesha Asrat. "Legitimation Strategies in the reporting of Negative CSR Aspects." Thesis, Högskolan Dalarna, Företagsekonomi, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-25099.

Guenther, Edeltraud, Thomas Guenther, Frank Schiemann, and Gabriel Weber. "Stakeholder Relevance for Reporting: Explanatory Factors of Carbon Disclosure." Sage, 2016. https://tud.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A35436.

Landén, Emma, Lukas Berntsson, and Maja Törnqvist. "Transparency and Disclosure – Are We Doing Enough? : The NFRD’s effect on transparency and its benefits for actors in the Swedish food industry." Thesis, Jönköping University, IHH, Företagsekonomi, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-52871.

Yekini, Cecilia Olukemi. "Corporate community involvement disclosure : an evaluation of the motivation & reality." Thesis, De Montfort University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2086/6910.

El, hajjari Borg Mounia, and Elin Sundberg. "Licence to Talk : Sustainability Managers and their Managerial Realities within the Corporate Sustainability Paradox." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Företagsekonomiska institutionen, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-448552.

Alshbili, I., Ahmed A. Elamer, and E. Beddewela. "Ownership types, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility disclosures: Empirical evidence from a developing country." 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/16710.

ARINI, TSANI ISMATU, and TSANI ISMATU ARINI. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure (CSRD) on Financial Performance of Islamic Banks andConventional Banks." Thesis, 2019. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/5whj4y.

Sayekti, Yosefa. "Corporate social responsibility disclosures :." 1994. http://arrow.unisa.edu.au:8081/1959.8/84547.

Liao, Hui-yi, and 廖蕙儀. "The Determinants and the Consequences of Voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Information Disclosure." Thesis, 2012. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/59052215173498315382.

Lai, Hui-chia, and 賴蕙嘉. "Exploring the Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure and Firm Performance: CSR Performance as a Mediator." Thesis, 2015. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/5a5dn8.

HSUAN-FAN, WU, and 吳軒範. "The Study of Corporate Governance , Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures and Negative Corporate Social Performance : Evidence From Taiwan Listed Companies." Thesis, 2014. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/7u2cc9.

Chou, Yuan-Chih, and 周圓智. "The Characteristics of Voluntary Information Disclosures of Companies –– Evidence from Corporate Social Responsibility." Thesis, 2016. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/nba54q.

Van, der Merwe Cara Maria. "Towards the development of a corporate community involvement disclosures framework: evidence from South Arica." Thesis, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/26048.

Barreiros, Cilauro das Neves. "Determinantes da divulgação da responsabilidade social corporativa das empresas ibéricas no período de 2017 a 2018." Master's thesis, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10071/19902.

Graduate Galileo Circle Scholars for 2024

Congratulations to the Galileo Circle Scholars for 2024! Our graduate students are passionate, and we invite you to read further on their current paths and research!

Anubhab Chakraborty "My name is Anubhab, and I am a 6th year PhD student in Physical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona. My principal field of research involves designing metal-organic solid-state systems and studying their properties at both a molecular and a macroscopic level with the broad goal of creating more energy efficient electronic devices.

Currently, I am working on surface alloy systems that exhibit Rashba spin-orbit coupling effects, which are ideally suited for applications in the emerging field of spintronics. I am planning to graduate soon and post-graduation, I would like to join organizations that address the issue of global energy crisis using technological breakthroughs on an industrial scale. I am grateful and humbled to have been selected as a recipient of the Galileo Circle Scholarship and I would like to express my deep gratitude to my parents and my advisor Dr. Oliver Monti for guiding me every step of the way."

Bai Hei Bai completed her BS in Chemistry in 2019 at Peking University, Beijing, China, where she contributed to DNA sequence analysis and coarse-grained chromatin model in Prof. Yi Qin Gao's group. She is now a fifth-year graduate student in Dr. Steven D. Schwartz’s group. Her current research focuses on computational studies for complex systems including ionic liquids and the human cardiac myosin, aiming to illuminate the atomic structures and energetics of these vital systems.

Lindsey Holmen "I'm Lindsey Holmen, a fourth-year graduate student working in Jeffrey Pyun's research group. I focus on synthesizing new polymers with tailored properties and exploring their applications in various fields like nanotechnology and IR device fabrication. I love being part of our interdisciplinary research team, where we collaborate closely with industrial partners and other research groups, integrating insights from various fields to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation.

I am also the president of PAWS (Program to Advance Women Scientists) where I participate and help execute outreach, professional development, and social events. Outside of the lab, I love to spend time with my two dogs and participate in outdoorsy activities. I am grateful for having been selected as a 2024 Galileo Circle Scholar. It means a lot to me and motivates me to keep doing my best. Thank you to everyone who has supported me."

Ramandeep Kaur "I am a 4th year graduate student in Dr. Gianetti's lab. I am originally from a small village in Punjab (India). In Gianetti's lab, my research is focused on the development of fluorinated carbenium ions and their applications in Lewis acid-assisted catalysis. In my free time, I love watching thriller movies and web series."

Christopher Marshall "My name is Christopher Marshall, and I am a third-year graduate student in Jon Njardarson’s research group. I earned my B.S. in chemistry at the University of Arizona. Following graduation, I worked as a formulations chemist at a biotechnology company in Tucson. After working for three years, I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, specializing in synthesis and the development of new synthetic methodologies."

Joohyung Park "I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. I fell for science in my high school days, the quantized nature of atomic states during chemistry class mesmerized me and it led me to chemistry major at Chung-Ang University, located at the center of Seoul. Learning modern physics in my first year of college then led me to take a double major in physics, focusing on the physics of inorganic chemistry and condensed matter. Aside from classes, I also served friends and people in the department as a student representative for two years. After finishing my third year, I did my military service for two years.

Being isolated from the civilian world, I had many opportunities to look back on myself and decided to study more in graduate school. I did my master's degree in materials chemistry, mostly focusing on chemical methods to synthesize thin film transistors. My dire curiosity to study more physics then led me to study electronic structures of solid-state materials, especially in the US. There I started my new journey at the University of Arizona in Fall 2018. Working for Professor Monti, I learned how to become a critically thinking scientist, deep knowledge of physics that I hoped to learn, and I also had incredible chances to use state-of-the-art instruments around the world to study the exciting nature of quantum materials.

Teaching undergraduate students as a teaching assistant, especially 6 years of teaching the 400B courses, also made me a better educator and better mentor - and I have been proudly teaching 400B as a Distinguished TA since 2023. Overall, the journey to become a Ph.D. under Professor Monti and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry so far made me grow up to an unsurpassed extent in my life. I aspire to continue working as a scientist; hence I look forward to becoming a postdoctoral scholar after my Ph.D."

Sammi Rokey – Michael Cusanovich Galileo Circle Scholar Samantha graduated with her B.S. in chemistry from Illinois State University in 2020. She is currently a 4th year PhD candidate in Dr. Christopher Hulme's group. Her research specifically focuses on designing and synthesizing novel small molecule kinase inhibitors toward glioblastoma and colorectal cancer.

Annika Silverberg "Hi! My name is Annika Silverberg, I'm a second-year graduate student in Dr. Marty's lab. I study protein-lipid interactions by developing new mass spectrometry techniques. Specifically, I'm interested in how cholesterol impacts the function of serotonin receptors. I'm hoping to go into industry after getting my PhD so I can continue developing mass spectrometry methods. In my free time, I love to read, listen to music, and relax by the pool!"

Helena Woroniecka "As a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Charest lab, my research focuses on understanding cell signaling involved in chemotaxis in the overall context of cancer metastasis. The ultimate goal of my work is to aid in the development of chemotactic therapeutics targeting metastatic cancer cells. Post-graduation, I aim to pursue a career in science communication, driven by a broad need to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and societal understanding.

In an era marked by the spread of scientific misinformation, particularly evident during the pandemic and climate crisis, the need for accurate information dissemination is more urgent than ever. By translating complex scientific concepts into accessible language and engaging narratives, I aim to promote health literacy, foster informed decision-making, and facilitate the translation of scientific advancements into tangible societal benefits."

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At-home anthro live.

1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Alumni Weekend 2024

Various locations

268th Commencement

Franklin Field

Wawa Welcome America Day

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Penn Museum, 3260 South St.

Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences

Two Penn Ph.D. candidates awarded 2024 Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

The school of arts & sciences awardees are arielle xena alterwaite, who is pursuing a ph.d. in history, and katherine scahill, who is pursuing a ph.d. in music..

Two University of Pennsylvania Ph.D. candidates in the School of Arts & Sciences have been named to the 2024 class of the Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship , administered by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars .

The Newcombe Fellowship, funded by the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation , is the largest and most prestigious award for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences addressing questions of ethical and religious values in interesting, original, or significant ways. Fellows receive a 12-month award of $31,000 to support the final year of dissertation writing.

Arielle Xena Alterwaite , a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of History , and Katherine Scahill , a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Music , were named as 2024 Fellows.

Alterwaite’s research explores Haiti’s sovereign debt in the aftermath of the Haitian Revolution in her dissertation, “Empire of Debt: Haiti and France in the Nineteenth-Century Atlantic World.”

“With support from the Newcombe Foundation and its interdisciplinary focus, I look forward to deepening the ways in which I can bring my work to broad audiences,” Alterwaite says. “My hope is that this archivally grounded historical account of Haitian debt in a global context can speak to international activists, legislators, and policymakers who take the ethical ramifications of finance seriously.”

History department chair Sophia Rosenfeld says it’s no surprise that Alterwaite continues to win an extraordinary number of major external fellowships, including, now, the Newcombe.

“For her dissertation, she has taken on a crucial topic in 19th century Atlantic history—the massive debt that a newly independent Haiti owed to the French state—and she has managed both to find brand-new sources for understanding it and to generate new explanations that have real implications for thinking about sovereign debt and reparations for slavery today,” Rosenfeld says.

Scahill’s dissertation, “The gendered politics of religious authority in Thai Buddhism: Voice, embodiment, and sonic efficacy in the movement for female monastic ordination,” is based upon ethnographic fieldwork with three communities of female Buddhist monks (bhikkhunīs) in Thailand. Drawing on the fields of religious studies and music studies, her dissertation investigates the sonic practices bhikkhunīs employ to establish alternate channels of recognition, given that women’s ordination is not accepted at a national level.

“I am honored to have been selected as a 2024 Newcombe Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Fellow. The Fellowship will provide me with the resources and time I need to adequately engage with the stories and practices shared at bhikkhunī monasteries,” Scahill says. “I am truly grateful for this opportunity.”

Timothy Rommen, chair of the music department, says he’s unsurprised that Scahill’s “excellent” work continues to be recognized. 

“Katherine’s dissertation intervenes at the intersections of ethnomusicology, religious studies, and gender studies to explore what she calls efficacious chant. What makes her project so interesting and innovative is her recognition of a set of lacunae within the study of Buddhist chant,” he says. “While text, context, and religious labor have all been explored, very little has been written about the female monastics on which this dissertation is focused or on the role of ‘voice’ within their practice. Katherine zooms in on the ways that chant helps train monks to stabilize their own bodies while also making them aware of the body’s instability. We are all convinced that Katherine’s dissertation will make a signal contribution to several disciplines.”

Funding at the dissertation stage remains a vital way to support up-and-coming scholars. Since its creation in 1981, the Fellowship has supported more than 1,300 doctoral candidates with essential time and resources to complete their writing. Newcombe Fellows have gone on to be noted faculty at domestic and foreign institutions, leaders in their fields of study, Pulitzer Prize winners, MacArthur Fellows, and more.

Class of 2025 relishes time together at Hey Day

Picturing artistic pursuits

Hundreds of undergraduates take classes in the fine arts each semester, among them painting and drawing, ceramics and sculpture, printmaking and animation, photography and videography. The courses, through the School of Arts & Sciences and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in an art form in a collaborative way.

Campus & Community

Penn celebrates operation and benefits of largest solar power project in Pennsylvania

Solar production has begun at the Great Cove I and II facilities in central Pennsylvania, the equivalent of powering 70% of the electricity demand from Penn’s academic campus and health system in the Philadelphia area.

Education, Business, & Law

Investing in future teachers and educational leaders

The Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program at Penn’s Graduate School of Education is helping to prepare and retain teachers and educational leaders.

‘The Illuminated Body’ fuses color, light, and sound

A new Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of work by artist Barbara Earl Thomas features cut-paper portraits reminiscent of stained glass and an immersive installation constructed with intricately cut material lit from behind.