Social responsibility of SMEs from the perspective of their innovativeness: Evidence from Poland

In the context of long-term development, the question of innovation activities undertaken by SMEs that influence their ability to react quickly to changes in the environment, appears to be particularly important. Therefore, we have attempted to answer the question whether the use of CSR measures increases the chances of SMEs introducing product and process innovations. In the study, we used the CAPI method, and we assessed data obtained from 1286 Polish SMEs using logistic regression. The results suggest that the chances of SMEs that use elements of the CSR approach introducing innovations are higher than in the case of SMEs that do not undertake such activities. The relationship can be observed among SMEs which plan to increase expenditure on R&D, indicating that the investment is financing opportunities available on the market that correspond to their needs, or those which plan to modernize their infrastructure or to develop high-quality, reliable infrastructure.

Automated summary

The study indicates that SMEs using CSR measures have a higher likelihood of introducing product and process innovations. This relationship is particularly evident among SMEs planning to increase research and development expenditure.