Abstract

This study examined the extent to which the concept of social responsibility has permeated the small business mind set of a typical rural African setting located in South African. In order to achieve the above purpose, five hypotheses focusing on social responsibility awareness, performance, focus, perceived benefits, and observable benefits were formulated and tested. The results reveal high levels of awareness and performance of socially responsible activities among the small businesses surveyed. The results further suggest that these businesses may be performing these socially responsible activities with expectations of certain benefits. The results confirm customer, employee, and community issues are important social responsibility activities for the small businesses surveyed. The study illuminates the practice of social responsibility among small businesses in the African context with particular focus on rural communities where these types of businesses are the only form of economic activity hence avenue for social transformation. Those interested in the BSR phenomenon will find it useful in research and policy formulation and implementation efforts. Small business owners will have reliable information to guide their BSR efforts. The study is limited to a small geographical area of one African country thus may raise questions about generalizability of results. However, with the known similarity in many African conditions particularly in rural areas where customs, beliefs, and socio-economic conditions have been found to be similar in many respects, the current study provides a basis for future research on a larger and multi-national scale.

Key words: Business social responsibility (BSR), small business, community related activities, customer related activities, employee related activities.