Purpose

The purpose of this study is to scrutinize the effect of corporate social responsibility activities (CSRA) of the firm on its financial performance (FP) and analyze the mediating role of innovation and competitive advantage (CA) in the relationship between CSRA and FP in the manufacturing sector of an emerging country, i.e. Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Data has been collected through an electronic structured questionnaire from 300 middle-level and top-level managers by surveying different manufacturing firms of Gujranwala, Pakistan. The study’s hypotheses have been checked by analyzing the reliability and validity of data and applying confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling through statistical package for the social sciences and analysis of moment structures.

Findings

Outcomes of this study supported the hypothesized model. It has been found that the CSRA plays a significant positive role in determining the FP of the firm. Furthermore, the CA and innovation have been proved as significant mediators between CSRA and FP.

Originality/value

The first time examining the intermediation of innovation and CA in the relationship between CSRA and FP is the primary input of this study to the literature. Practically, this study’s findings will help strategy makers of manufacturing firms in emerging countries develop better strategies for implementing CSRA, enhancing innovation, seeking CA and improving FP.

中文翻译：

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从企业社会责任活动到财务绩效：创新和竞争优势的作用

目的

本研究的目的是审查公司的企业社会责任活动（CSRA）对其财务绩效（FP）的影响，并分析创新和竞争优势（CA）在CSRA和FP之间关系中的中介作用。新兴国家的制造业，即巴基斯坦。

设计/方法/方法

通过调查巴基斯坦古吉兰瓦拉的不同制造企业，通过电子结构化问卷收集了 300 名中高层管理人员的数据。通过分析数据的可靠性和有效性，并通过社会科学的统计软件包和力矩结构分析应用验证性因素分析和结构方程模型，对研究假设进行了检验。

发现

这项研究的结果支持了假设模型。已经发现，CSRA 在确定公司的 FP 方面起着重要的积极作用。此外，CA 和创新已被证明是 CSRA 和 FP 之间的重要中介。

原创性/价值

首次研究创新和 CA 在 CSRA 和 FP 之间的关系中的中介作用是本研究对文献的主要输入。实际上，本研究的结果将帮助新兴国家制造企业的战略制定者制定更好的战略来实施 CSRA、加强创新、寻求 CA 和改善 FP。