The importance of corporate social responsibility in achieving high corporate reputation

Abstract

Increased global competitiveness has forced corporations to improve how they manage their resources, especially when it comes to resources that give them a competitive advantage. Corporate Reputation and Corporate Social Responsibility fulfill that role. This research aims to identify the dimensions that most influence Corporate Reputation and which can be most easily used to achieve a positive result. To do this, the data about 46 companies (from different sectors) contained in the 2015 report “The world's most reputable companies” by Reputation Institute was used. This report identifies seven dimensions which influence Corporate Reputation: products and services, innovation, workplace, governance, citizenship, leadership, and performance. The most important main conclusions are that (a) those companies in which the dimensions of Corporate Social Responsibility (workplace, governance, citizenship) were at an acceptable level, also had an acceptable level of Corporate Reputation. (b) Companies usually carry out passive Corporate Social Responsibility actions, such as those involving citizenship.