University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

AN INNOVATION MODEL TO PROMOTE CSR
AMONG SMEs, OPERATING IN INDUSTRIAL
CLUSTERS: EVIDENCE FROM AN EU PROJECT
Abstract
Massimo Battaglia
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies
P.zza Martiri della Libertà 33, Pisa
Co-authors:
Fabio Iraldo, Marco Frey, Lara Bianchi
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This paper presents the findings of an EU co-funded Project, an idea developed with the aim of
this study is to progress understanding the opportunities to formalize CSR practices in SMEs in
clustered systems. Often small size companies have to compete with a global market; for this
reason, the cooperation between SMEs, and from these to the stakeholders and intermediary
institutions might be facilitated by a collective answer to the new market requests. The local
cooperation and the social capital, priority element to facilitate the trust between all the involved
actors, can play a key role in the formalization of the CSR policies and practices, also for small
companies. In the project we proceed identifying and understanding the role of the “intermediary
institutions” (such as trade unions, Local Authorities, business consortia) in the clusters.
Throughout the paper, we focus on the analysis of three industrial clusters in Tuscany (Italy).
Key – words: SMEs, CSR tools, industrial cluster, intermediary institutions
CSR and SMEs: Theory and Literature
The aim of this paper is to focus the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) topics for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in industrial
clusters. Efficiency and effectiveness of business activity are influenced by society
and societal problems, in a SME as in any other business organizations (Spence and
Schmindpeter 2003). Furthermore, a SME has a strict connection with the context in
which it is located. This context induces a stronger development of CSR actions.
Using the European Commission definition, we can say that: "CSR is a concept
whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business
operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis"
(European Commission, 2001). As well as in other definitions of CSR, this definition
emphasises the close relationship between the organization behavior and
social/environmental issues. On the other hand, if it is true that in recent years CSR
has become relevant in business studies, it is still necessary to better explain the way
in which SMEs apply CSR (Thompson and Smith 1991; Spence 1999, 2007;
Observatory of European SMEs, 2002; Perrini, 2006).