Obstacle factors of corporate social responsibility implementation: Empirical evidence from listed companies in Taiwan

This study is an initiative to integrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) and apply mind-mapping techniques to demonstrate the mind map of CSR implementation and obstacles faced by companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) and Gre Tai Securities Market (GTSM) in Taiwan. In addition, this study takes the initiative to conduct a compressive questionnaire on CSR of those companies listed. The results show that “shortage of human resources” is the major obstacle to CSR implementation and that “no mandatory regulations” is the first priority in terms of needing improvement for CSR implementation. In addition, an independent sample t-test produces a mean score of 73% for the items on CSR reports as regulated by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is reported. Moreover, a factor analysis is used to identify four dimensional factors (namely, “company resources,” “regulations and international environment,” “knowledge of CSR” and “capital” variables) as the effective predictors. This research also determines that cross-level obstacles to CSR implementation are correlated and demonstrates a view of “cross-level ecosystem of obstacle factors of CSR implementation.” Finally, the results of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members to disclose CSR information after the financial crisis are also compared and analyzed with our research in this study.