1. Young people’s perception of gender differences
in the promotion of corporate social
responsibility by Romanian entrepreneurs
Elena Nedelcu
Nicolae Titulescu University of
Bucharest, Associate Professor, PhD

2. • The present paper attempts to find an answer for key
questions concerning the way in which autochthonous
entrepreneurship is perceived by Romanian young people:
• If and to what extent do the young people perceive
entrepreneurs as CSR promoters in Romania?
• If and to what extent do the young people correlate
entrepreneurial success with CSR promotion?
• Do young Romanians consider that the promotion of CSR by
autochthonous entrepreneurs involves gender differences?
• Key words: entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility,
perception, gender.

3. The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The integration of CSR in business strategies in
Romania
• “Responsible” initiatives of companies have been differently
coined as: corporate citizenship, corporate philanthropy,
corporate societal marketing, community affairs, and
community development.
• Marrewijk: three important perspectives concerning CSR:
1. The company is financially responsible only for its
shareholders. “Business is business” and its role is to make
profit.
2. The company is responsible for all stakeholders; on the
other hand, there is responsibility towards society.
3. Business organizations – which are components of the
social environment – are entirely held responsible towards
society.

4. • Several reasons for getting companies involved in responsible
actions:
a) a pragmatic one: improving its image and consolidating
profits on a long term;
b) a deontological one: the company feels that – besides
increased profit– it has a moral duty towards society and the
community within which it pursues its activities;
c) a third one, generated by social pressure: society rejects
companies which do not act responsibly. (Iamandi Irina-
Eugenia)

5. • Recent research points out that the preferred social
investment domains in Romania, are:
-training and professional development opportunities for
employees (94%),
-education (70%), working conditions for employees
-culture(69%) and art (63%). (Diaconu Bogdan & Oancea
Dana)
• The main limits of CSR responsibility: transparency and
credibility;
• -61% of the entrepreneurs recognize that their companies
are not socially audited and do not publish social reports.
• -Only 24% of the companies – most of them multinational
ones – are socially audited. (Diaconu Bogdan & Oancea Dana)

6. The objective of the research
• The present study aims to reveal young people’s perception
regarding CSR promotion by Romanian entrepreneurs within
the relatively hostile economic context in Romania: the low
employment potential and the low level of salaries.
• The study attempts to point out whether young people
perceive the existence of gender differences regarding the
extent to which and the forms under which Romanian
entrepreneurs promote corporate social responsibility.
• - “Brush (1992) hypothesized that women view their
businesses as a cooperative network of relationships rather
than as a distinct profit-generating entity.
• - More women entrepreneurs (73%) in comparison with the
new male entrepreneurs (55%) have a degree in management
and business administration (Driga Otilia & Lafuente
Gonzales Esteban).

7. The material and method used
• The surveyed group
The surveyed group comprises a number of 276 young
undergraduates and graduates aged between 20 and 35 years old,
of whom 47.8% are males and 52.2% are females. There are at least
two main arguments that justify the choice of the above mentioned
surveyed group.
a. In comparison with other categories of young people,
undergraduates and graduates are more informed as to the CSR
issue – a topic which has quite recently been approached by the
special Romanian literature and the educational system.
b. Entrepreneurial education especially addresses to young people
and consequently it is necessary to know their opinions regarding
the attitudes and behaviours of entrepreneurs.

8. • Inquiry instrument
We have used as an inquiry instrument an opinion questionnaire made up
of 30 questions conceived on the basis of the following concept scheme:
a.Indicators concerning the entrepreneurs’ environmental performances
( their concern for reducing gas emissions, waste, the use of raw
materials and energy, as well as for cutting down expenses / investments
made for protecting the environment)
b. Indicators of the entrepreneurs’ social performance, i.e.:
b. 1 ensuring decent working standards and practices (hiring personnel,
health and work security, training and promotion);
b. 2 the observance of human rights and fight against discrimination at
the workplace (freedom of association and negotiation, participation in
decision-making, ensuring equality of chances etc.);
b. 3 implementing programmes and practices that are meant to develop
communities (and generate positive effects for the entire community)
through: investments in education, research, philanthropic activities,
promoting excellence and civic initiative.

9. Young people’s perception regarding the
environmental performance of Romanian
entrepreneurs
• Reducing quantities of waste
- female entrepreneurs
Very large extent – 2,75%
Large extent– 17, 43 %
Medium – 23, 85 %
Small – 27, 52 %
Very small/ Don’t know- 28, 44%

10. - male entrepreneurs
Very large extent – 4, 59 %
Large extent – 16, 51 %
Medium – 20, 18 %
Small – 31, 19 %
Very small/ Don’t know- 27, 52%

11. • spent money for environmental protection
- female entrepreneurs
Very large extent – 7, 25 %
Large extent – 10, 14 %
Medium – 21, 01 %
Small – 44, 20 %
Very small/ Don’t know- 17, 39 %

12. - male entrepreneurs
Very large extent – 3, 62 %
Large extent – 11, 59 %
Medium – 19, 57 %
Small – 46, 38 %
Very small/ Don’t know- 18, 84 %

13. Young people’s perception regarding the Romanian
entrepreneurs’ social performance
• Relations with the local community

14. • Philantropic activities

15. • Implementing health programmes for their employees

16. • attention to practices for preventing accidents at the
workplace
- female entrepreneurs - male entrepreneurs
• Very large extent – 16, 67% - 8, 70 %
• Large extent – 15, 22 % - 10, 87 %
• Medium – 35, 51 % - 42, 03 %
• Small – 20, 29 % - 22, 46%
• Very small - 12, 32% - 15, 94 %

17. Conclusions
The present research reveals that – according to young people –
the implementation by Romanian entrepreneurs of CSR is
significantly deficient.
Those who answered the questionnaire appreciate that most
entrepreneurs are low in environmental performance. The situation
is similar as regards social performances.
Apart from similitudes, young people also perceive the existence of
gender differences as regards the large or significantly large extent
to which entrepreneurs promote CSR. In the opinion of young
people, gender differences more frequently favour women
entrepreneurs. The surveyed group appreciates that women
entrepreneurs’ performances regarding certain CSR sub-indicators
(waste reduction, implementation of health programmes for
employees or of practices that are meant to prevent accidents at
the workplace or of philanthropic activities etc.) are higher than
those of men.

18. Thank you!