Abstract

This study explores the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on firm performance by setting customer satisfaction as a mediator, and examines the moderating effect of vertical inter-organizational commitment and the moderated mediation effect of competitor identification. This study collects 210 dyad-matched questionnaires from purchasing supervisors of a Chinese multinational retailer and its suppliers in two separate stages. The empirical results are as follows: (1) Suppliers engage more in Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) can have better retailers' customer satisfaction; (2) Retailers' customer satisfaction mediates the positive relationship between suppliers’ CSR engagement and firm performance; (3) Suppliers’ vertical inter-organizational commitments can strengthen the positive relationship between suppliers’ CSR and retailers' customer satisfaction; (4) Competitor identification can strengthen the mediating relationship between suppliers' CSR and retailers' customer satisfaction, furthermore enhance suppliers' firm performance. Finally, we discuss the above-mentioned empirical findings, and shed light on theoretical and practical implications.  

Keywords

emerging marketsstakeholder theoryCSRcustomer satisfaction