The Lebanese business case for green economy and corporate social responsibility and a CSR decision making model

Abstract

Purpose - This paper has two purposes; attempting to identify a CSR decision making model and exploring the perception of Lebanese business leaders on Green Economy, CSR and their inter-relationships. Design/methodology/approach - Qualitative and Deductive in nature, this paper uses 14 semi-structured and the thematic analysis framework to describe the perception of Lebanese business leaders in the exploratory study, and to test the developed proposition of the CSR decision making model in the conceptual research. Findings - The findings provide evidence to confirm the CSR decision making model, and the prevalence of the stakeholder/sociopolitical theories in the Lebanese business perceptions towards CSR, while many leaders perceive their peers as not socially responsible. The CSR behavior of Lebanese business mostly extends from the basic social responsibilities of providing economic sustainability and job creation to the environmental responsibility, community and employee relationships but falls short of the strategic philanthropy of social change. A positive attitude of the business leaders towards adopting a Green Economy model in Lebanon emerged, supported by a general consensus on the government leadership essentiality in implementing CSR policies. Research limitations/implications - Research on the conceived CSR decision making model and the relationship between Green Economy and CSR extending outside the national arena on the conceived would shed more light on the phenomena. Further quantitative research would achieve the commendable methodological mix of triangulating findings and confronting the ambiguities of CSR factors, CSR-business ethics, CSR-corporate governance and CSR-financial performance relationships. Practical implications - At the practical level, the paper attempts to provide business leaders with a decision oriented information and management tool, and to better inform Green Economy and CSR policy making. Originality/value - The theoretical originality of the CSR decision making model conceived in the research, and the highlighted relationship between Green Economy and CSR add to the value of the research. The application of the various CSR concepts to the local settings of cultural diversity shows that Green Economy and CSR engender shared social values and economic opportunity.