Awareness on Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Among Selected Companies in Mwaza City
Abstract
Description
The study assessed awareness on corporate social responsibility (CSR)practice based on
selected companies in Mwanza City. CSR is argued to create social development in the
community but little is known on its extent in the awareness of CSR practice related to
social-economic development among companies in Tanzania. Accordingly, the study
advanced three specific research objectives, namely (i) to assess whether CSR initiatives
were undertaken by selected companies in Mwanza city (ii) to identify any benefit gained
among selected companiesafter practicing CSR in Mwanza City and (iii) To assess factors
influencing CSR implementation among selected companies in Mwanza City.Corporate
Accountability Theory (CAT) was used to underpin the study. The study employed
qualitative research approach-a case study design where each selected company was
consideredas a separate case. Purposive samplingwas used to select companies participating
in CSR and one manager responsible for CSR activities were interviewed usingsemi structured interview. Data collected were transcribed, coded, and analyzed in themes. The
findings revealed that education, health projects, and games project were among the most
CSR practice that contribute to the development of community and organization. Projects
such as clean water supply, maintenance of infrastructure, and sanitation were least
implemented under CSR. Among the benefitidentified by companies is company
acceptance in the community, positive goodwill, and good relationship. Finally, the study
found varied factors that influenced the practice of CSR to include increased customer base,
gaining competitive advantage, instilling the culture of loving the company, and supporting
the government to meet its objectives. The study concluded that companies are aware about
CSR even though not all companies are involved in CSR practice.
Keywords
Corporate Social Responsibility