Title: When collective action drives corporate social responsibility implementation in small and medium-sized enterprises: the case of a network of French winemaking cooperatives

Authors: Maryline Meyer; Sébastien Narjoud; Julien Granata

Addresses: Montpellier Business School, Montpellier Research in Management, 2300, Avenue des Moulins, 34185 Montpellier cedex 4, France ' IDEA Consulting, 5, rue des Orchidées, 34470 Pérols, France ' Montpellier Business School, Montpellier Research in Management, 2300, Avenue des Moulins, 34185 Montpellier cedex 4, France

Abstract: Increasing attention has been given to the engagement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in corporate social responsibility (CSR), yet little is known about collective SME actions to implement CSR. We conducted 29 semi-structured interviews to investigate a network of 18 French winemaking cooperatives. These SMEs are particularly interesting because they have traditionally operated on values similar to CSR principles. The case study explores how collective action was able to drive CSR implementation in the cooperatives over time. Our results highlight the mechanisms of collective action related to social capital and their impacts on cooperative relationships with key stakeholders. We also provide managerial recommendations for this type of CSR network.

Keywords: collective action; CSR implementation; network; small and medium-sized enterprise; SME; social capital; stakeholders; winemaking cooperatives.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2017.086002

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2017 Vol.32 No.1/2, pp.7 - 27

Received: 04 Jul 2015
Accepted: 20 Mar 2016
Published online: 21 Aug 2017 *

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