The Impact of Dynamic Capabilities and Environmental Turbulence on Firm Corporate Social Responsibility Adaptations to Macro Events

This dissertation examines to what extent organizations adapt their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in response to major macro events as moderated by dynamic capabilities and environmental turbulence. Drawing on literature in CSR, dynamic capabilities, and environmental turbulence, a moderated moderation model is theorized and empirically tested that proposes: (1) Organizations attempt to respond to major macro events through changes in CSR activities; (2) More robust organizational dynamic capabilities impact the ability to adapt CSR in response to macro events; (3) Higher environmental turbulence impacts the ability to adapt CSR and (4) Dynamic capabilities mitigate the negative moderating effect of environmental turbulence. The model provides a novel framework for understanding CSR adaptation as a strategic response to changing external conditions. This empirical research contributes to the CSR literature through examination of CSR adaptation as a dependent variable rather than an independent variable while integrating insights from dynamic capabilities and environmental turbulence research. Furthermore, it contributes to the marketing literature by exploring how firms can strategically adjust their CSR activities to maintain firm reputation and competitiveness in response to changing societal expectations. This research also offers insight into how firms can leverage dynamic capabilities to enhance their responsiveness to external events and maintain competitive advantage through strategic CSR adaptation, thereby providing practical guidance for organizations.