Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study explores the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), responsible leadership, and organizational performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China. A quantitative research design was employed, surveying 1,400 employees across various industries. The study investigates how CSR dimensions—economic, social, environmental, and voluntary—directly influence organizational performance and the mediating role of responsible leadership in this relationship. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the analysis reveals that CSR dimensions, especially the economic and social, significantly enhance organizational performance. Responsible leadership plays a critical mediating role, strengthening the effects of CSR on performance outcomes. These findings suggest that responsible leadership not only facilitates the integration of CSR into organizational strategies but also ensures its alignment with broader business goals, maximizing its positive impact. The study provides valuable insights for SMEs, urging them to cultivate responsible leadership to effectively leverage CSR for long-term success. It contributes to the CSR literature by presenting a model that integrates leadership into CSR practices and offers practical recommendations for SMEs seeking to improve performance through socially responsible initiatives.
DOI: 10.58970/ijsb.2575
Author: Chunfeng Liu
Institution: Asia Metropolitan University
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4409545750