Skip to main content

The Relationship Between Corporate Social Performance, and Organizational Size, Financial Performance, and Environmental Performance: An Empirical Examination

Journal of Business Ethics volume 17, pages 195–204 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the corporate social performance of an organization and three variables: the size of the organization, the financial performance of the organization, and the environmental performance of the organization. By empirically testing data from 1987 to 1992, the results of the study show that a firm's corporate social performance is indeed impacted by the size of the firm, the level of profitability of the firm, and the amount of pollution emissions released by the firm.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Anderson, J. and A. Frankle: 1980, 'Voluntary Social Report: An Iso-Beta Portfolio Analysis', Accounting Review 55, 468-479.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aupperle, K., A. Carroll and J. Hatfield: 1985, 'An Empirical Examination of the Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility and Profitability', Academy of Management Journal 28, 446-463.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belkaoui, A.: 1976, 'The Impact of the Disclosure of the Environmental Effects of Organizational Behavior on the Market', Financial Management 5, 26-31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, E.: 1978, 'Strategy, Annual Reports, and Alchemy', California Management Review 20, 64-71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, A.: 1979, 'A Three-Dimensional Conceptual Model of Corporate Social Performance', Academy of Management Review 4, 497-505.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowen, S., L. Ferreri and L. Parker: 1987, 'The Impact of Corporate Characteristics on Social Responsibility Disclosure: A Typology and Frequency-Based Analysis', Accounting, Organizations and Society 12, 111-122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dierkes, M. and R. Coppock: 1978, 'Europe Tries the Corporate Social Report', Business and Society Review, Spring, 21-24.

  • Fombrun, C. and M. Shanley: 1990, 'What's in a Name? Reputation Building and Corporate Strategy', Academy of Management Journal 33, 233- 258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, M. and B. Jaggi: 1982, 'Pollution Disclosures, Pollution Performance and Economic Performance', Omega 10, 167-176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry, F, and R. Hock: 1976, 'Who Claims Corporate Responsibility? The Biggest and the Worst', Business and Society Review/Innovation 18, 62-65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fryxell, G. and J. Wang: 1994, 'The Fortune Corporate “Reputation” Index: Reputation for What?', Journal of Management 20, 1-14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, R. and K. Frazier: 1980, 'Environmental Performance and Corporate Disclosure', Journal of Accounting Research 18, 614-622.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGuire, J., A. Sundgren and T. Schneeweiss: 1988, 'Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Financial Performance', Academy of Management Journal 31, 854-872.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poduska, R., R. Forbes and M. Bober: 1992, 'The Challenge of Sustainable Development: Kodak's Response', Columbia Journal of World Business 27, 286-291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preston, L.: 1978, 'Analyzing Corporate Social Performance: Methods and Results', Journal of Contemporary Business 7, 135-150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly, W.: 1992, 'Environment, Inc.', Business Horizons 35, 9-11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soloman, R. and K. Hansen: 1985, It's Good Business(Atheneum, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, A. and R. Simerly: 1994, 'The Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Social Performance: An Interdisciplinary Examination', Journal of Business Ethics 13, 959-968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trotman, K. and G. Bradley: 1981, 'Associations Between Social Responsibility Disclosure and Characteristics of Companies, Accounting, Organizations and Society 6, 355-362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullmann, A.: 1985, 'Data in Search of a Theory: A Critical Examination of the Relationships Among Social Performance, Social Disclosure, and Economic Performance', Academy of Management Review 10, 540-577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wartick, S. and P. Cochran: 1985, 'The Evolution of the Corporate Social Performance Model', Academy of Management Review 10, 758-769.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wokutch, R. and B. Spencer: 1987, 'Corporate Saints and Sinners: The Effects of Philanthropic and Illegal Activity on Organizational Performance', California Management Review 29, 62-77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, D.: 1991a, 'Corporate Social Performance Revisited', Academy of Management Review 16, 691-718.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, D.: 1991b, 'Social Issues in Management: Theory and Research in Corporate Social Performance', Journal of Management 17, 383-406.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Peter A. Stanwick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sarah D. Stanwick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stanwick, P.A., Stanwick, S.D. The Relationship Between Corporate Social Performance, and Organizational Size, Financial Performance, and Environmental Performance: An Empirical Examination. Journal of Business Ethics 17, 195–204 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005784421547

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005784421547

Keywords

  • Economic Growth
  • Social Performance
  • Environmental Performance
  • Financial Performance
  • Pollution Emission