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To the Roots of Entrepreneurial Values: The Relationship with the Territory as a Driver for the Development of Corporate Social Responsibility—An Analysis of the Experiences of Italian SMEs

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Corporate Social Responsibility in the Global Business World

Abstract

The aim of this study is to propose a reflection on the contribution of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in spreading the philosophy and practices of governance directed towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as well as sustainability. The study focuses on the importance of entrepreneurial values as well as on the relationship with the territory, to which the entrepreneurs and SMEs are profoundly rooted. Sharing a system of common values which arises from a whole range of intangible context (social, anthropological, cultural) factors, specific to location, contributes to build a favourable business climate wherein the SMEs, together with other local actors, take part in constructing sustainable company and territory strategies. After presenting the theoretical framework the second section of the paper is developed by way of a qualitative research methodology centered upon the analysis of a sample of SMEs belonging to the Marche region, Italian territory “cradle” of the small-sized company and craft traditions. Using a cognitive approach, the study permits identifying the “roots” of good entrepreneurial practices and to trace the features of a territorial model of socially-responsible orientation based on excellent examples of “convivial enterprises” strongly rooted in their territories.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Based on empirical research conducted between 2005 and 2006 on a sample of 51 SMEs from diverse European countries the Authors distinguished three categories of businesses: “the business strategy enterprises”, which are making a conscious effort to implement CSR and have adopted CSR as a part of their business strategy; “the intuitive enterprises”, which are “doing” CSR without having made a conscious decision to do so—their normal business practices coincide with CSR indicators; “the raison d’être enterprises”, which are “doing” CSR because it coincides with their business concept, i.e. the actual business concept is philanthropic” (Kvåle and Olsen 2006: 7).

  2. 2.

    Molteni and Lucchini (2004) identify a typology of orientations among Italian firms, based on two coordinates (intensity of the phenomenon—i.e. the socially responsible behavior—and qualitative aspects linked to the practice and to corporate behavior): cohesive firms, multi-certified, aware, able to be mobilised, skeptical.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Urbino ‘Carlo Bo’, Urbino, Italy

    Del Baldo Mara

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Correspondence to Del Baldo Mara .

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  1. Economics & Administrative Sciences, Marmara University, Beykoz Istanbul, Turkey

    Asli Yüksel Mermod

  2. London Metropolitan University London Metropolitan Business School, London, United Kingdom

    Samuel O.Idowu

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Mara, D.B. (2014). To the Roots of Entrepreneurial Values: The Relationship with the Territory as a Driver for the Development of Corporate Social Responsibility—An Analysis of the Experiences of Italian SMEs. In: Yüksel Mermod, A., O.Idowu, S. (eds) Corporate Social Responsibility in the Global Business World. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37620-7_9

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