Skip to main content

Social Responsibility in Digital Context and Consumer Behavior: The Case of Kuwait

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Research and Innovation Forum 2023 (RIIFORUM 2023)

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Complexity ((SPCOM))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 669 Accesses

Abstract

For a great number of years now, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been an important topic in businesses research, its potential impact on a company's reputation, brand, customer satisfaction, corporate performance and sustainability. Successful companies need to be socially responsible to acquire competitive advantage for their business. In this way, they may strengthen their brand, improve their reputation and credibility via-a-vis customers, suppliers etc. The COVID-19 pandemic and its implications forced companies to adopt social responsibility initiatives by online and digital platforms. This in turn, led to interesting implications for the entire concept of CSR. This digitally enhanced dimension of CSR shall be referred to in this paper as digital social responsibility (DSR). In this context the objective of this paper is to examine the impact of DSR on: Brand Image (BI), Spending Habits (SH), Product Involvement (PI), and Technology Adoption (TA) on consumers’ purchasing behavior (CPB) through the mediating role of digital marketing. By focusing on the case of Kuwait, a descriptive analysis approach, supported by online survey (convenience sampling) was employed to examine the issue. The analysis suggests that BI, SH and TA significantly impacted CPB, but PI did not have an impact on CPB. It was found that DSR variables have significantly impacted CPB through using DM as mediating variable.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lee, S., Lee, K., Gao, Y., Xiao, Q., Conklin, M.: Do a company’s sincere intentions with CSR initiatives matter to employees?: a comparison of customer-related and employee-related CSR initiatives. J. Global Respons. 9(4), 355–371 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1108/JGR-03-2018-0009/FULL/XML

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Wilert, P., Suchart, T.: Customer engagement with digital social responsibility in social media: a case study of COVID-19 situation in Thailand. J. Asian Fin. 8(2), 475–0483 (2021). https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2021.vol8.no2.0475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hossain, M.F., Ismail, C.T., Mahdzir, N.: Exploring w-commerce and corporate social responsibility from the Sharia point of view. Pakistan J. Humanities Soc. Sci. 9(1), 39–50 (2021). https://doi.org/10.52131/PJHSS.2021.0901.0111

  4. Al-Sumait, F., et al.: Kuwait’s digital inequalities report. From digital skills to tangible outcomes project report. Kuwait (2022). https://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/assets/documents/research/projects/disto/Kuwait-report.pdf

  5. Saleh, Y.: ICT, social media and COVID-19: evidence from informal home-based business community in Kuwait City. J. Enterprising Comm.: People Places Global Econ. 15(3), 395–413 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-07-2020-0131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Hoang, L.V., Vu, H.M., Ngo, V.M.: Corporate social responsibility and job pursuit intention of employees in Vietnam. J. Asian Finance, Econ. Bus. 7(12), 345–353 (2020). https://doi.org/10.13106/JAFEB.2020.VOL7.NO12.345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Puriwat, W., Tripopsakul, S.: Consumers’ attitude towards digital social responsibility: impacts on electronic word of mouth and purchase intention. Emerging Sci. J. 6(1), 64–74 (2022). https://doi.org/10.28991/ESJ-2022-06-01-05

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Lacey, R., Kennett-Hensel, P.A.: Longitudinal effects of corporate social responsibility on customer relationships. J. Bus. Ethics 97(4), 581–597 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0526-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fatma, M., Ruiz, A.P., Khan, I., Rahman, Z.: The effect of CSR engagement on eWOM on social media. Int. J. Organ. Anal. 28(4), 941–956 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-10-2019-1895

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Martin, K.: Trust and the online market maker: a comment on Etzioni’s cyber trust. J. Bus. Ethics 156(1), 21–24 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3780-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Martin, K.E., Freeman, R.E.: The separation of technology and ethics in business ethics. J. Bus. Ethics 53(4), 353–364 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000043492.42150.B6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Azmi, N.F.B., Ramakrishnan, S.: Relationship between financial knowledge and spending habits among faculty of management’s Staff. J. Econ. Info. 5(3), 1–6 (2018). https://doi.org/10.31580/jei.v5i3.102

  13. Stankevich, A.: Explaining the consumer decision making process: critical literature review. J. Int. Bus. Res. Market 2, 7–14 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Varadarajan, R.: Customer information resources advantage, marketing strategy and business performance: A market resources based view. Ind. Mark. Manage. 89, 89–97 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2020.03.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wertenbroch, K., et al.: Autonomy in consumer choice. Mark. Lett. 31(4), 429–439 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-020-09521-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Okazaki, S., Plangger, K., West, D., Menéndez, H.D.: Exploring digital corporate social responsibility communications on Twitter. J. Bus. Res. 117, 675–682 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Maheshwari, K., Kumar, V.: To create a positive brand image through corporate social responsibility. SSRN Electron. J. (2013). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2466844

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Plewa, C., Conduit, J., Quester, P.G., Johnson, C.: The impact of corporate volunteering on CSR image: a consumer perspective. J. Bus. Ethics 127(3), 643–659 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/S10551-014-2066-2/TABLES/4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Beaudoin, S.: New age of cause marketing (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Peng, L., Zhang, W., Wang, X., Liang, S.: Moderating effects of time pressure on the relationship between perceived value and purchase intention in social E-commerce sales promotion: considering the impact of product involvement. Info. Manage. 56(2), 317–328 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2018.11.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Rokonuzzaman, M., Harun, A., Al-Emran, M., Prybutok, V.R.: An investigation into the link between consumer’s product involvement and store loyalty: the roles of shopping value goals and information search as the mediating factors. J. Retail. Consum. Serv. 52, 101933 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.101933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Sasono, I., et al.: The impact of e-service quality and satisfaction on customer loyalty: empirical evidence from internet banking users in Indonesia. J. Asian Finance, Econ. Bus. 8(4), 465–473 (2021). https://doi.org/10.13106/JAFEB.2021.VOL8.NO4.0465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hartono, B., Maksum, I.: The importance of changing management styles in the digital age (2020). https://doi.org/10.7777/JIEMAR.V1I3.75

  24. Setiawati, N.P.A., et al.: Effect of technology acceptance factors, website service quality and specific holdup cost on customer loyalty: a study in marketing, Department of Packaging Industry Universitas PelitaHarapan, Indonesia (2021) [Online]. Available: http://annalsofrscb.ro

  25. Davis.: A technology acceptance model for empirically testing new end-user information systems: theory & results. Doctoral dissertation, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Prakosa, A., Sumantika, A., Prakosa, A., Sumantika, A.: An analysis of online shoppers’ acceptance and trust toward electronic marketplace using TAM model. JPhCS 1823(1), 012008 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1823/1/012008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. García, J.J.L., Lizcano, D., Ramos, C.M.Q., MatosN.: Digital marketing actions that achieve a better attraction and loyalty of users: an analytical study. Future Inter. 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/fi11060130

  28. Salloum, S.A.S.: Investigating students’ acceptance of e-learning system in higher educational environments in the UAE: applying the extended technology acceptance model (TAM) (2018). Accessed: Jun. 25, 2023 [Online]. Available: https://bspace.buid.ac.ae/handle/1234/1150

  29. Alghizzawi, M., et al.: The impact of smartphone adoption on marketing therapeutic tourist sites in Jordan. Inter. J. Eng. Tech. 7(4), 34, p. 91 (2018). https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.34.23587

  30. Robinson, J.P., Shaver, P.R.: Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes. Measures of social psychological attitudes by John P. Robinson, Phillip R. Shaver and Lawrence S. Wrightsman (Eds.) (z-lib.org).pdf, p. 753 (1991). Accessed: Jun. 26, 2023 [Online]. Available: https://www.elsevier.com/books/measures-of-personality-and-social-psychological-attitudes/robinson/978-0-08-057110-2

  31. Cici, E.N., Ozsaatci, F.G.B.: The impact of crisis perception on consumer purchasing behaviors during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) period: a research on consumers in Turkey. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi 16(3), 727–754 (2021). https://doi.org/10.17153/oguiibf.923025

  32. Jiang, Y., Stylos, N.: Triggers of consumers’ enhanced digital engagement and the role of digital technologies in transforming the retail ecosystem during COVID-19 pandemic. Technol. Forecast Soc. Change 172, 121029 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Lu, M., Wang, R., Li, P.: Comparative analysis of online fresh food shopping behavior during normal and COVID-19 crisis periods. British Food J. 124(3), 968–986 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-09-2020-0849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Tong, Z., Xie, Y., Xiao, H.: Effect of CSR contribution timing during COVID-19 pandemic on consumers’ prepayment purchase intentions: evidence from hospitality industry in China. Int. J. Hosp. Manag. 97, 102997 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2021.102997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Larios-Gómez, E., Fischer, L., Peñalosa, M., Ortega-Vivanco, M.: Purchase behavior in COVID-19: a cross study in Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador. Heliyon 7(3), e06468 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Taha, V.A., Pencarelli, T., Škerháková, V., Fedorko, R., Košíková, M.: The use of social media and its impact on shopping behavior of Slovak and Italian consumers during COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainability 13(4), 1710 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041710

  37. Dastane, O.: Impact of digital marketing on online purchase intention: mediation effect of customer relationship management. J. Asian Business Strat. 10(1), 142–158 (2020). https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1006.2020.101.142.158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Qalati, S.A., et al.: Effects of perceived service quality, website quality, and reputation on purchase intention: the mediating and moderating roles of trust and perceived risk in online shopping Effects of perceived service quality, website quality, and reputation on purchase intention: the mediating and moderating roles of trust and perceived risk in online shopping. Pub. Inter. State. 8, 1869363 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2020.1869363

  39. Khattak, A., Yousaf, Z.: Digital social responsibility towards corporate social responsibility and strategic performance of Hi-Tech SMEs: customer engagement as a mediator. Sustainability 14(1), 131 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. , Rungsrisawat, S., Sirinapatpokin, S.: Impact of brand equity on consumer purchase intent (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Hanspal, S., Devasagayam, P.R.: Impact of consumers’ self-image and demographics on preference for healthy labeled foods. SAGE Open 7(1), 215824401667732 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016677325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Sunarjo, W.A., Nurhayati, S., Muhardono, A.: Consumer behavior toward adoption of mobile payment: a case study in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic*. J. Asian Finance, Econ. Bus. 8(4), 581–590 (2021). https://doi.org/10.13106/JAFEB.2021.VOL8.NO4.0581

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fatemah A Al-Doseri .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Al-Doseri, F.A., Aldhmour, F.M., Al-Jayyousi, O. (2024). Social Responsibility in Digital Context and Consumer Behavior: The Case of Kuwait. In: Visvizi, A., Troisi, O., Corvello, V. (eds) Research and Innovation Forum 2023. RIIFORUM 2023. Springer Proceedings in Complexity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44721-1_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics