Creating Shared Value beyond Corporate Social Responsibility (A study of Iranian Enterprises' experiences)

The purpose of this study is distinguishing shared value activities from corporate social responsibility activities in Iranian enterprises. Through examining the social activities experiences of Iranian enterprises, focusing on activities which have characteristics of creating shared value, we identified several types of social activities of Iranian enterprises.

Due to the lack of a similar model, we used Grounded Theory until we could explore the traveled path of social activities of Iranian companies, using practical experiences of 37 interviews with managers and other related experts. 

The final model suggests 6 types of social activities in Iranian enterprises, displaying Iranian creating shared values in a spectrum. The first two types didn’t have the capability of creating shared value, but on the other hand, the other four categories can create shared value with different intensity and effectiveness.

Conclution:

 Results suggest that Iranian companies created shared value through four ways (enhancing reputation and legitimacy through social activities, decreasing risks and costs through environmental protection activities, increase in revenue through creating economic opportunities due to solving social issues, and increase in revenue through enhancing transmitted benefits of stakeholders).