Title: Knowledge acquisition from intra- and inter-organisational relationships, CSR and financial performance

Authors: Janthorn Sinthupundaja; Navee Chiadamrong; Youji Kohda

Addresses: School of Manufacturing Systems and Mechanical Engineering, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Ishikawa, Nomi, 1-1 Asahidai, 923-1211, Japan ' School of Manufacturing Systems and Mechanical Engineering, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand ' School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Ishikawa, Nomi, 1-1 Asahidai, 923-1211, Japan

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to identify how knowledge acquired from intra- and inter-organisational relationships influence corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their impacts on financial performance via the knowledge-based view (KBV). We used the KBV to argue that internal knowledge from employee relationships, external knowledge from partner and customer relationships and CSR practices together contribute to successful firm performance. The KBV can contribute to the analysis of CSR by offering important insights on valuable knowledge acquisition from a wider range of stakeholders. Fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis was employed to explain these causal relationships. Based on 73 firms from six service sectors listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the findings provide support for the hypothesised links between intra- and inter-organisational relationships on CSR, which can result in improved financial performance. This study contributes to the management and CSR literature by investigating intra- and inter-organisational relationships as knowledge-based resources.

Keywords: knowledge acquisition; intra- and inter-organisational relationships; corporate social responsibility; CSR; knowledge-based view; KBV; service firms; Stock Exchange of Thailand; SET.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKMS.2020.106332

International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies, 2020 Vol.11 No.2, pp.190 - 209

Accepted: 29 Jul 2019
Published online: 02 Apr 2020 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article