Wei Chen

Wei Chen

April 29, 2025

Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate image, Stakeholder satisfaction, SM Corporation, China, Triple Bottom Line.

This study examined the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and the corporate image of SM Corporation in China. Guided by the Triple Bottom Line framework, the research explored CSR initiatives along three dimensions—People, Planet, and Profit—and assessed their impact on stakeholder perceptions of the company’s identity, communication, and feedback mechanisms. Using a descriptive-correlational research design, data were collected from 580 respondents across eight SM mall locations in China through a structured survey instrument. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation were employed to analyze the data. Results showed that CSR initiatives under the People dimension—particularly charitable events, crisis response, and educational programs—were perceived as highly effective. Environmental programs under the Planet dimension and business resilience efforts under the Profit dimension also received favorable evaluations. Corporate image indicators, especially identity and communication, were rated very satisfactory, while feedback mechanisms were found to be satisfactory. Stakeholders expressed overall satisfaction with SM’s CSR programs, with the Bay Cleanup and SM Bears of Joy initiatives receiving the highest satisfaction ratings. A significant positive correlation was observed between CSR practices and corporate image, with the People dimension showing the strongest relationship (r = 0.612, p < 0.01). The findings underscore the strategic value of CSR in enhancing corporate image and building stakeholder trust. It is recommended that SM Corporation intensify awareness campaigns, enhance financial transparency, improve feedback systems, and sustain its high-impact CSR programs to further strengthen stakeholder engagement and brand reputation.

© 2025, the Authors. Published by ISCCAC

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license