How Delphi Method adopts to collect the Data for Identifying Corporate Social Responsibility Activities in Sri Lanka?

Abstract

Researcher has developed a CSR framework in 2012 from the developing countries point of view. Current study also based on that CSR framework and identified the main activities relating to the three bottom lines, people, profit and planet. Although there is no mandatory requirement for CSR in Sri Lanka, the firms are running with the several CSR activities. Basically, the firms do not consider the CSR frameworks when they implement the CSR activities (Fernando 2010). The different firms activate their own activities as CSR, firms like to disclose those activities. Moreover, the new business organisations and existing non-CSR organisations wishes to identify the most popular CSR activities for their potential responsibilities. However, there is no accepted theory or a mandatory requirement of CSR activities to understand the above wishes. Therefore, this study fills this gap summarising the most popular CSR activities are being implemented by the public listed companies in Sri Lanka. Many Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) researchers have described their CSR studies as two ways. First, the development studies such as CSR concepts, standards, and frameworks. Second, the relationship studies such as relationship between CSR and Company performances and Stock Markets. The latter studies have been expanded up to the identification of the advantages from implementing CSR activities in their business organisations. While discussing CSR on developing world, it can see that (Lantos 2007; Fernando 2010; Tilakasiri 2012) no accepted frameworks, standards and indices, but the companies are tried to organize CSR activities, looking at the developed world CSR frameworks, standards and techniques. However, this study’s aim was to recognize CSR activities relates to Sri Lankan context. Delphi method was used for refining the data and the content analysis research technique was used to classify the qualitative CSR activities according to the stakeholder theory. Looking at the developed countries’ CSR organisations, it cannot be identified the real feedback of CSR or benefits to the developing countries. Therefore, this study tried to develop the CSR activities in developing countries which they own such as Sri Lanka, it is good to identify the benefit and advantages from the CSR concept for the particular country. Research problem of the study was, How CSR activities are categorised by the existing firms? What are the popular CSR activities in Sri Lanka? Are there similar CSR activities in the firms in Sri Lanka? If so what are those? 5 point Likert scale used for analysing the significance of the activity and content analysis research technique used for analysing the data. On conclusion, the study identified 28th CSR activities as major activities in Sri Lanka.