Transformations  in
Business & Economics

THE PERCEPTION OF CSR FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PILLAR OF V4 SMEs¹⁰
Zdenko Metzker, Katarina Zvarikova, Jaroslav Slepecky, Jan Dvorsky

ABSTRACT: The aim of the paper is to define, quantify and compare the significant attributes of the impact of the environmental attitude of SME managers on the use and implementation of CSR in the V4 countries. The empirical research, which was aimed at identifying the attitudes of small and medium-sized firms, was conducted in June 2022 in the Visegrad Four countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary). The data collection was carried out by an external company MNFORCE according to a questionnaire designed by the research team. The selection of respondents was made by random sampling from the agency's database. In the Czech Republic, the total number of respondents was 347. In the Slovak Republic the total number of respondents was 322. In Poland the total number of respondents was 381 and in Hungary the total number of respondents was 348. To test the statistical hypotheses, the regression and correlation analysis method (LRM) was used at a significance level of α = 5%. The results of the research showed that the positive attitude of SMEs towards environmental issues and doing business with respect to the environment influences the attitudes of entrepreneurs towards corporate social responsibility in the V4 countries. Knowledge of CSR concept is positively influenced by SMEs' attitude towards environmental aspects of business. As long as entrepreneurs behave responsibly towards the environment, it is assumed that they will positively perceive the possibility of using the CSR concept in the management of the company. Furthermore, the benefits of CSR are more widely realised by environmentally conscious entrepreneurs. Environmental protection is an integral part of socially responsible business and if entrepreneurs choose to run their company and business activities with environmental protection in mind, they are more positively inclined to implement other CSR pillars.

KEYWORDS:  small and medium enterprises; Corporate Social Responsibility, environmental pillar; V4 countries.

JEL classification:  L11, L20, L26, L53, M14

¹⁰Acknowledgments:  The paper is an output of the project NFP313011BWN6 "The implementation framework and business model of the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0 and smart transport". This work is supported by Tomas Bata University in Zlin through IGA/FaME/2023/014: CSR as an important factor in obtaining bank loans and external financial sources for SMEs.