The Missing Link between Corporate Social Responsibility and Competitiveness: Two Cases in South Korea

Recent interest in corporate social responsibility has been the result of increased recognition from customers and markets on the effect of corporate activities on society. While corporate activities can add values to society by delivering various services and products, they can also create ethical, social, and environmental risk. Previous studies have paid significant attention to discussing the interdependent relationship between corporate activities and society focusing on why corporate is responsible for social wealth. However, the missing or at least the weak link on the above discussion is how corporate activities can be performed in a way to increase corporate competitiveness as well as social wealth. Inspired from two explorative case studies in South Korea, this paper discusses the concept of strategic corporate social responsibility and develops a conceptual framework that can link corporate strategy, social responsibility, and competitiveness.