Social network analysis in CSR research

Abstract

As a viable multidisciplinary method social network analysis (SNA) has been frequently used to reveal the nature and structure of relationships among different actors in a network or to analyse the network itself for a long time. This network perspective together with considering the relational aspects of phenomena can be particularly useful to conceptualize and analyse the social economic or political structures of social units. Therefore this social network perspective can be also used in the analysis of the relational context of social responsibility and ethical issues. The purpose of the current study is to provide a viable understanding of the application of social network analysis (SNA) for corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature. In doing so this study first provides a conceptual framework of SNA and then briefly discusses its paradigmatic stance and methodological approach based on the relevant literature. In the second section it is analysed whether and how SNA can address our CSR related research problems over three selected research mainstreams: stakeholder management collaborative social responsibility projects and ethical conduct among employees. © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.