Responsible Leadership and CSR Practices of Manufacturing SMEs in Samut Sakhon Province: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This research consists purposes were 1. to examine the perspectives and meanings that leaders of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) attribute to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and 2. to explore decision-making patterns and CSR practices of SME leaders in Samut Sakhon Province. This study employed a qualitative research approach. The research instrument was a semi-structured interview. The target group consisted of 14 participants selected through purposive sampling. Data collected from the semi-structured interviews and relevant documents were analyzed using content analysis. The findings reveal that 1) SME leaders perceive CSR as closely linked to business survival, relationships with local communities, and the avoidance of social conflicts, rather than as formalized policies or standardized practices and 2) CSR-related decision-making and practices are highly centralized in leaders and are implemented in an informal manner, relying primarily on personal experience, contextual understanding of the local area, and relationships with stakeholders. These practices are shaped by constraints related to resources, time and organizational management systems. Nevertheless, SME leaders are able to exercise responsible leadership through flexibility, direct communication, and trust-building with local stakeholders. The findings theoretically support viewing CSR in SMEs as a context-embedded and relational process, in which responsible leadership functions as a key mechanism linking organizational systems with stakeholder engagement, with important implications for area-based SME development and policy design.