Exploring the Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on Organisational Performance in the Telecommunications Industry in Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Telone

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and the performance of TelOne, a top telecommunications company in Zimbabwe. The research investigates how TelOne's CSR efforts like economic, ethical, philanthropic and environmental responsibilities, influence the company's overall results in terms of financial performance, employee engagement and customer satisfaction. Qualitative research methods that include document findings and interviews were used to understand the problem. The study adopted the inductive approach to gather respondents‘ opinions about the impact of CSR on the performance of TelOne, resulting in deeper understanding of the problem understudy. The sample size was 20 respondents, obtained after purposively selecting 10 employees, five executives and five external stakeholders, based on convenience and personal judgement that they would provide credible information regarding how CSR influences the performance of TelOne. The results provide direction on the strategic importance of CSR in enhancing the performance of TelOne. This study theoretically contributes to the enhancement of knowledge on the connection between the concept of CSR and organisational performance. It practically contributes to the development of CSR strategies that enhance the performance of TelOne, including building internal capacity, looking into innovative finance options and investing and public-private partnerships.