Entrepreneurial Social Responsibility. A study focused in forty enterprises in Mérida, Yucatan

Abstract

TODAY, BUSINESSES ARE REALIZING THAT SUCCESS IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF ACCUMULATING PROFITS BUT INSTEAD IT ALSO NEEDS MANAGERS AND STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED TO HELP THE FIRM BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE AND FACE AN INCREASINGLY GLOBALIZED WORLD. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS IT IS NECESSARY TO PERFORM ACTIONS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (ESR). HOWEVER, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CLARITY ABOUT WHAT ESR REALLY IS, AND SOME FIRMS THAT CLAIM TO BE PRACTICING IT ARE NOT REALLY DOING SO, OR NOT FULLY. THIS STUDY WAS APPLIED IN FORTY COMPANIES IN MERIDA, YUCATAN, MEXICO, WITH THE GOAL TO VERIFY WHAT ESR MEANS FOR THEIR LEADERS. IT WAS DETERMINED WHETHER THEY THINK THAT ESR IS NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, WHETHER THESE FIRMS ARE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, AND WHICH THEIR ESR ACTIONS ARE, IF ANY. RESULTS SHOW THAT FOR MOST PARTICIPANT ESR MEANS IMPROVING LIFE QUALITY FOR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY. HOWEVER THEIR ACTIONS ARE AIMED AT CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP AND IMAGE, IN ORDER TO INCREASE SALES. ONLY A FEW MENTIONED ENVIRONMENTAL CARE AND PRESERVATION, OR PHILANTHROPY. NONE OF THE ENTERPRISES UNDER STUDY FULLY MATCHED THE CONCEPT OF ESR. THEREFORE THEY CANNOT BE CONSIDERED FULLY SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE.