Intrinsic CSR and Competition Doing well amongst European SMEs

This edited book is at the intersection of the discussion on family-owned business, the CSR agenda and company competition in Europe. The authors contribute to the debates on corporate social responsibility by arguing that formal management systems are not the one-size-fits-all solution they are typically presented to be. Exploring alternative interpretations of the profile environmental management activities have in SMEs, the book evaluates the way in which cultural and ethical values are embedded in European SMEs in order to drive and orientate CSR successfully without following the mainstream ‘systems’ approach. It addresses several values of thought within the CSR debate such as intrinsic CSR, the role of virtue ethics and moral theory in corporate culture, environmental sustainability and vision-driven CSR. Focusing on a European perspective, the book heuristically explores an alternative model for the integration of CSR, innovation dynamics and economic success driven by intrinsic values rather than extrinsic post-decision rationalisations. This is the kind of research that we need more in the field of Business, Ethics and Society. It is based on good theoretical ideas, and these ideas are developed through case analysis and illustration. The study of CSR has been the province of large corporations for far too long, and this volume, focusing on Central-European SMEs and family firms, develops and extends the idea of intrinsic CSR to smaller enterprises. From the historical analysis of the Honorable Merchants to more contemporary firms we see the relevance and development of key CSR ideas. The essays cover the territory both broadly and deeply. There is a new story of business that is emerging all over the world. “Business as solely concerned with profits” is an idea whose time has come and gone. As research and practice move forward we will see many more frameworks, arguments and analyses of business that do not separate “economic” from “social”. This book is a welcomed addition to this burgeoning literature.