HOW CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AND SUPPLY CHAIN COLLABORATION SHAPE FIRM PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM FREIGHT FORWARDING FIRMS IN HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.n4.5081Keywords:
Corporate Social Responsibility, Green Human Resource Management, Absorptive Capacity, Supply Chain Collaboration, Innovation Capability, Firm Performance, Freight Forwarding FirmsAbstract
Purpose: Based on Resource-Based View (RBV), Dynamic Capabilities Theory (DCT) and Stakeholder Theory (ST), this study examines how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is transformed into firm performance (FP) through organizational mechanisms and capabilities in the context of freight forwarding firms in Ho Chi Minh City. CSR is conceptualized according to stakeholder groups, including: CSR to social and non-social stakeholders (CSRSS), customers (CSRC), employees (CSRE) and government (CSRG). The study simultaneously evaluates the roles of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM), Absorptive Capacity (AC), Supply Chain Collaboration (SCC) and Innovation Capability (IC) in the value creation mechanism. Methodology: Cross sectional survey data from 603 freight forwarding firms were analyzed using covariance based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) and bootstrapping to test for mediating effects. Findings: Multidimensional CSR has a direct positive impact on FP, but only at a moderate level (β ≈ 0.098–0.114), while value is primarily formed through internal transformation mechanisms. CSRE is the strongest antecedent of GHRM (β = 0.357). GHRM is the central link, directly impacting FP (β = 0.157) and promoting IC (β = 0.286). At the same time, AC and SCC primarily enhance FP through IC (AC → IC → FP; SCC → IC → FP). The model achieved a good fit (CMIN/df = 1.898; CFI = 0.951; TLI = 0.944; RMSEA = 0.039) and explained 31.7% of the variance in FP (R² = 0.317). Contributions: This research clarifies CSR as an intangible asset. It shows that CSR creates value when it's integrated through micro-level processes, like GHRM, and dynamic capabilities, such as AC, SCC and IC. The study also provides real-world evidence from the logistics sector in a developing economy.
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