Towards a Comprehensive Model for CSR in Iran: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Although the start of the studies on corporate social responsibility (CSR) goes back to the 1960s, it has not been long since businesses have paid attention to it in Iran. In this study, English and Persian articles have been reviewed to explore the CSR models which are being used in both contexts to understand the crucial dimensions of their models. Having two different CSR models, English/Persian, and their dimensions, allows a comparative approach and some recommendations for the Iranian context to benefit more from CSR activities. In this regard, a systematic literature review of CSR models in Iran was conducted using secondary data with a qualitative approach and practical purpose. At first, the focus was on English articles in the field of CSR in the period from 2018 to 2022, and then the review of Persian articles in the same field at the same period of time. Starting with 2013 English articles and 733 Persian ones, excluding inappropriate articles based on Tranfield et al. (2003) suggestion in four steps, a final sample of 23 English and 16 Persian articles was obtained. The classification of the extracted codes showed 21 CSR dimensions in English, and 13 ones for Persian models, while 9 of them had overlap in both. The main finding of the article was knowing the point that although there are similarities between the dimensions of the CSR models being used in Iran and other countries, the differences can be divided into two categories: The first group of the differences, which can be caused by the culture, laws, religions, and perceptions of CSR, and changing them if not impossible, but very difficult and maybe not necessary. On the other hand, taking steps to reform the second group of differences requires some actions from the policymakers, government, and businesses.