CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN ITALIAN SMES: TOWARD A 'TERRITORIAL' MODEL BASED ON SMALL 'CHAMPIONS' OF CSR"

Abstract: Does a positive relationship between the adhesion to a culture of social responsibility and evolved systems of governance exist? And is such correlation more or less significant for small- and medium-sized firms with respect to large-sized firms? This paper winds itself around these questions and describes the principle findings that have emerged from the qualitative investigation focused on a selected group of ‘cohesive’ Italian small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), in which the nexus between the evolution of corporate governance and socially responsible management practices were examined. The concluding reflections trace the features of a territorial model of socially responsible orientation centred on the best practices of SMEs, ‘convivial enterprises’ who are excellent examples of ‘spirited businesses’. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE SOCIEY, IJSSOC