Title: CSR in the auto industry: do the first-tier suppliers have stakeholders?

Authors: Vincent Frigant

Addresses: GERPISA & GREThA-UMR CNRS 5113, University of Bordeaux, France

Abstract: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an increasingly important construct for corporate strategies, notably in the automotive industry. This article tries to identify which factors might induce first-tier suppliers to commit to socially responsible practices. Rooted in a stakeholder approach, we analyse in what way customers, civil society, employees, Socially Responsible Investors (SRIs) and state authorities affect first-tier suppliers. We will demonstrate that these traditional stakeholders have little influence on companies. The conclusion will argue that the analytical framework should be broadened to include the meso-economic level.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility; CSR; stakeholders; automobile industry; first-tier suppliers; automotive suppliers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2009.028525

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.9 No.4, pp.377 - 393

Published online: 18 Sep 2009 *

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