%0 Journal Article
%T Obstacles to Implementing Initiatives of Social Responsibility in Small and Medium-Size Firms  moni  socialin  atsakomyb  ir jos iniciatyv  diegimo kli¨±tys smulkiojo ir vidutinio verslo  mon se
%A Rima £¿esynien£¿
%A Marina Neverkevi£¿
%J Business, Management and Education
%D 2011
%I Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
%R 10.3846/bme.v8i1.18
%X The purpose of the paper is to analyse the obstacles to implementing social responsibility initiatives in small and medium-size business firms. The implementing fields and the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in small and medium-size business firms are stressed in the paper. The current situation of CSR in Lithuanian small and medium-size firms is presented. The research data allowed discovering that the main obstacle to implement social responsibility in the small and medium-size firms is the managers¡¯ attitude that social responsibility is a matter of great concern only to large companies. 43% of respondents indicated this obstacle. On the other hand, the research data allowed finding out that in our turbulent environment social responsibility in small and medium-size business firms is not a random phenomenon (71 %), and it is constant concern to managers, which provides for the budget (54 %). The understanding that social responsibility initiatives are only charity or philanthropy is also declined, only 5% of the respondents think so, however, 32 % of firms are supporting charitable initiatives. The most stimulating factors in the implementation of CSR are: staff loyalty and job satisfaction, a better image of the company, long-term competitiveness of the business advantage, the increased consumers requirements. Socially responsible behaviour disincentives are: the lack of human resour-ces (51 %), lack of information about gain from socially responsible activities (50 %), lack of financial resources (28 %). Both theory and practice agree that the implementation of CSR issues is most dependent on the leader¡¯s attitude. The managers of small and medium-size business firms mostly are coordinating the implementation of CSR initiatives (70% of respondents). The results of the empirical research of CSR initiatives implementation in business prac-tices were presented in the possible model of tools which stimulates social responsibility initiatives in small and medium-size business firms. This integrated model includes pu-blic, government and business efforts and interests: 1) improvement of public policy, 2) revitalization of public organizations; 3) encourage and support research, 4) integration of CSR into education, 5) singleness of purpose (depending on companies¡¯ specifics), 6) increase of managers¡¯ consciousness, 7) implementation of a step-by-step approach. Keywords: corporate social responsibility, small and medium-size enterprise, sustainable development.  moni  socialin s atsakomyb s ( SA) id ja, kuria grind iamas 199
%K corporate social responsibility
%K small and medium-size enterprise
%K sustainable development
%U http://www.bme.vgtu.lt/index.php/bme/article/view/18