Corporate Social Responsibility amongst small and medium-sized enterprises in the Hamburg metropolitan region

What role does Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) play in small and medium-sized enterprises? On behalf of the Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik, the Student Network for Business and Corporate Ethics (sneep) has carried out a study on the understanding of corporate responsibility amongst small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Hamburg metropolitan region.

Methodology

In an initial survey phase, eleven experts from academia, business and civil society were interviewed. Based on this survey, a guide for interviews with company representatives was drawn up. In a second phase of the study, interviews were conducted with 36 business owners using the guide developed, of which 33 were usable. The interviews in the first phase were limited to a maximum of 60 minutes, whilst those in the second phase were limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.

Results

Hamburg-based entrepreneurs feel a strong sense of responsibility towards their employees and their families. The majority of those surveyed also take on responsibility within their local communities – for example, for schools, nurseries or sports clubs. Environmental issues, by contrast, tend to be of secondary importance. Alongside providing jobs tailored to employees’ needs, sponsorship is the key activity through which companies engage in corporate social responsibility.

The motivation to take on responsibility is largely regarded as a matter of course and is rarely based on strategic considerations. Consequently, communication regarding the assumption of corporate responsibility is weak, both internally and externally. The lack of resources – both in terms of time and funding – proves to be the greatest obstacle to CSR activities.

The term ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ (CSR) is unfamiliar to most business owners. Furthermore, this Anglicism is met with resistance and is regarded as unnecessary, because acting responsibly is already part of the corporate identity: Almost all entrepreneurs feel committed to the tradition of the ‘honourable businessman’, who keeps his word and conducts business with a handshake and by treating all parties involved fairly.