Qualitative Study on Corporate Social Responsibility Practice and Wellbeing in Industrial Parks: Evidence from Selected Industrial Parks in Ethiopia

Abstract

The study's main objective is to understand the development of internal and external CSR in industrial parks and explore its relationship with employees and community well-being. This study employed an exploratory research approach. The study relies on semi-structured interviews and FGD with employees and the community of three selected industrial parks in Ethiopia. The study utilized thematic analysis and the NVivo-11 version for the analysis. The results show that various CSR practices are implemented in industrial parks. There is a positive relationship between most CSR practices and well-being, except for insurance, employment, and infrastructure. Moreover, the study explored some CSR activities specific to IPs, i.e., meal service, dormitory, transportation, and consumer cooperatives. Besides the knowledge contribution, the study has a practical contribution to industrial park managers, government agencies, policymakers, and multinational companies to practice CSR better as it enhances the employees' and community's well-being. This study is unique not only because it explored CSR practices that are specific to industrial parks, but also the relationship between internal and external CSR with employees' and community well-being, respectively.