The Missing Link; How Corporate Social Responsibility Increases Market Value
Bachelor Thesis Marketing Supervisor: Ph.D. Ernst Osinga 2009/2010

ANR Name E-mail Subject

: 888692 : Puck van den Biggelaar : P.vdnBiggelaar@uvt.nl : Marketing and firm value

Subject Area : Marketing corporate social responsibility and market value Study Program: International Business

1

Abstract
Corporate social responsibility is profitable for a company, but only when the following requirements are met. First the CSR strategy has to be properly motivated, thus the goal of the CSR should not be profit generation. Second the level of trust of customers should be high enough so that customers will not respond skeptical to the CSR strategy. Third the company should be innovative and not be exposed to too much risk. If these requirements are met it is necessary to choose a CSR strategy that fits the brand and to use the right communication strategy. Only then will market value rise as a result of the higher level of customer satisfaction CSR creates.

2

Table of content
Chapter 1: Research proposal 1.1 The problem background 1.2 The problem statement 1.3 Research questions 1.4 Academic relevance 1.5 Managerial relevance 1.6 Overview of the rest of the chapters Chapter 2: Corporate social responsibility from the consumer perspective 2.1 Introduction 2.2 CSR and customers Chapter 3: Consumer reactions and attitudes towards trust, communication strategy and fit 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Fit between CSR and brand 3.3 Communication strategy 3.4 Consumer trust and CSR 3.5 Cross-influences Chapter 4: Customer satisfaction 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The direct effect of communication strategy on customer satisfaction 4.3 The indirect effect of communication strategy on customer satisfaction 4.4 The direct effect of brand fit with CSR on customer satisfaction 4.5 The indirect effect of