Exploring the Causal Complexity using QCA approach: Case of CEO characteristics and Social Responsibility Ratings

This paper examines the effect of CEO characteristics on a firm’s engagement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate social irresponsibility (CSIR). Based on the ‘bundle’ of managerial characteristics view, this study argues that sets of CEOs characteristics affect the firm’s social involvement. A few prior studies examined this relationship, but they provided limited understanding by overlooking the causal complexities and interdependence among variables. Thus, in order to provide better causal understanding, this study used a qualitative comparative approach (QCA) and found that different combinations of CEO characteristics are associated with high levels of CSR and CSIR. From these results, this study contributes to the CSR literature by adopting a configurational perspective, thus providing a fresh perspective on the debate regarding what factors make a firm more socially responsible or irresponsible.