From CSR and Resilience to Sustainable Competitive Advantage: The Mediating Role of Enterprise Risk Management

  • Kelvin Luckness Mkundi Teh Hong Piow, Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia.
  • Hui Nee Au Yong Teh Hong Piow, Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia.
  • William Choo Keng Soon Teh Hong Piow, Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, 31900 Kampar, Perak, Malaysia.
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Organizational Resilience, Enterprise Risk Management, Sustainable Competitive, Advantage, Energy and Natural Resources

Abstract

sector face increasing pressures from climate change, geopolitical instability, regulatory change, resource scarcity, and rising stakeholder expectations. This study examines how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), and Organizational Resilience (OR) contribute to Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA) in Tanzania’s ENR sector. Drawing on Stakeholder, dynamic capability and the Resource-Based View theories, the study conceptualizes CSR as a stakeholder-oriented capability, ERM as a strategic resource’s mechanism, and OR as an adaptive dynamic capability. Using survey data from 312 respondents and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the study examines the direct effects of CSR and OR on SCA and the mediating role of ERM in the CSR and SCA relationship. The findings indicate that CSR has a positive effect on SCA and organization resilience positively influences SCA. ERM partially mediate the relationship between CSR and SCA. The findings suggest that ENR firms should integrate CSR, ERM, and resilience into strategic decision-making rather than treating them as separate compliance-oriented activities.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdel Megeid, N. S. (2024). The impact of climate risk disclosure on financial performance, financial reporting and risk management: Evidence from Egypt. Future Business Journal, 10(1), Article 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-024-00309-5

Abdul Razak, S. E., Mustapha, M., Shah, S. M., & Abu Kasim, N. A. (2024). Sustainability risk management: Are Malaysian companies ready? Heliyon, 10(3), e24681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24681

Aftab, J., Abid, N., Sarwar, H., Amin, A., Abedini, M., & Veneziani, M. (2024). Does corporate social responsibility drive financial performance? Exploring the significance of green innovation, green dynamic capabilities, and perceived environmental volatility. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(3), 1634–1653. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2654

Al-Shammari, M. A., Banerjee, S. N., & Rasheed, A. A. (2022). Corporate social responsibility and firm performance: A theory of dual responsibility. Management Decision, 60(6), 1513–1540. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-12-2020-1584

Arendt, S., & Brettel, M. (2010). Understanding the influence of corporate social responsibility on corporate identity, image, and firm performance. Management Decision, 48(10), 1469–1492. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251741011090289

Baxter, D., & Vermeulen, P. (2013). Intelligent ERM: Evolving risk management. Journal of Financial Perspectives, 1(3).

Boatright, J. R. (2011). Risk management and the responsible corporation: How sweeping the invisible hand? Business and Society Review, 116(1), 145–170. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8594.2011.00380.x

Broadstock, D. C., Matousek, R., Meyer, M., & Tzeremes, N. G. (2020). Does corporate social responsibility impact firms’ innovation capacity? The indirect link between environmental & social governance implementation and innovation performance. Journal of Business Research, 119, 99–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.014

Cardillo, M. A. dos R., & Basso, L. F. C. (2025). Revisiting knowledge on ESG/CSR and financial performance: A bibliometric and systematic review of moderating variables. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(1), 100648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100648

Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. (2017). Enterprise risk management—Integrating with strategy and performance.

Chen, R. C. Y., Hung, S.-W., & Lee, C.-H. (2018). Corporate social responsibility and idiosyncratic firm risk in the different market states. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 25(4), 642–658. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1483

Cheng, B., Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2012). Corporate social responsibility and access to finance. Working Paper. Harvard Business School, Boston. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2131

Chiaramonte, L., Mecchia, F., Paltrinieri, A., & Sclip, A. (2025). Geopolitical risk and energy markets: Past, present, and future. Journal of Economic Surveys, 39(5), 2233–2253. https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12697

Dhaliwal, D., Radhakrishnan, S., Tsang, A., & Yang, Y. (2012). Nonfinancial disclosure and analyst forecast accuracy: International evidence on corporate social responsibility disclosure. The Accounting Review, 87(3), 723–759. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr-10218

Dukhaykh, S., & Alangri, N. (2026). Dynamic capabilities and sustainable competitive advantage in SMEs: The roles of innovation and organizational learning. Sustainability, 18(3), 1320. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031320

Eccles, R. G., Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2014). The impact of corporate sustainability on organizational processes and performance. Management Science, 60(11), 2835–2857. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1984

European Commission. (2001). Promoting a European framework for corporate social responsibility: Green paper. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

Famiyeh, S. (2017). Corporate social responsibility and firm’s performance: Empirical evidence. Social Responsibility Journal, 13(2), 390–406. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-04-2016-0049

Farooq, M., Khan, I., Kainat, M., & Mumtaz, A. (2025). Corporate social responsibility and firm value: The role of enterprise risk management and corporate governance. Corporate Governance, 25(3), 631–663. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-08-2023-0341

Fatemi, A., Glaumb, M., & Kaiser, S. (2017). ESG performance and firm value: The moderating role of disclosure. Global Finance Journal, 38(1), 45–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfj.2017.03.001

Gangi, F., D’Angelo, E., Daniele, L. M., & Varrone, N. (2021). Assessing the impact of socially responsible human resources management on company environmental performance and cost of debt. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2179

Ghardallou, W., & Alessa, N. (2022). Corporate social responsibility and firm performance in GCC countries: A panel smooth transition regression model. Sustainability, 14(13), 7908. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137908

Godfrey, P. C., Merrill, C. B., & Hansen, J. M. (2009). The relationship between corporate social responsibility and shareholder value: An empirical test of the risk management hypothesis. Strategic Management Journal, 30(4), 425–445. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.750

Haberl, H., Wiedenhofer, D., Virág, D., et al. (2020). A systematic review of the evidence on decoupling of GDP, resource use and GHG emissions, Part I: Bibliometric and conceptual mapping. Environmental Research Letters, 15(6), 063002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab842a

Haque, F., & Ntim, C. G. (2018). Environmental policy, sustainable development, governance mechanisms and environmental performance. Business Strategy and the Environment, 27, 415–435. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2007

Hillmann, J., & Guenther, E. (2021). Organizational resilience: A valuable construct for management research? International Journal of Management Reviews, 00, 1–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12239

Hou, T. C. T. (2019). The relationship between corporate social responsibility and sustainable financial performance: Firm-level evidence from Taiwan. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 26(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1647

International Energy Agency. (2023). Africa energy outlook 2023. OECD Publishing. IEA – Africa Energy Outlook 2023

International Energy Agency. (2024). World energy investment 2024. OECD Publishing. IEA – World Energy Investment 2024

International Energy Agency. (2025). World energy outlook 2025. IEA. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/9753df19-0a71-422a-b725012c555763b3/WorldEnergyOutlook2025.pdf

International Energy Agency. (2026). State of energy policy 2026. https://www.iea.org/reports/state-of-energy-policy-2026

International Energy Agency. (2026). State of energy policy 2026. IEA. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/b3912b14-b276-4729-8f94-3d6f17b84226/StateofEnergyPolicy2026.pdf

International Organization for Standardization. (2018). ISO 31000:2018: Risk management—Guidelines.

Iqbal, Y., Rehman, S. U., Akram, I., Abdulmuhsin, A. A., & Afzal, M. A. (2025). Uncovering the relationship between intellectual capital, organizational resilience, innovation capacity, risk-taking tolerance and competitive advantage in manufacturing context. Business Process Management Journal, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-03-2025-0264

Jamali, D. A Stakeholder Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility: A Fresh Perspective into Theory and Practice. J Bus Ethics, 82, 213–231 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9572-4

Jamali, D., Safieddine, A.M. and Rabbath, M. (2008), Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Synergies and Interrelationships. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 16, 443-459. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8683.2008.00702.x

Jancenelle, V. (2025). Focusing on future opportunities: Do explorative firms benefit more from their corporate social responsibility? Innovation, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/14479338.2025.2505170

Jidda Jidda, D., Zhen, L., Ashraf, S. F., Nasir, A., & Amoako, T. (2025). Value of enterprise risk management integration and supply chain performance: Mediating role of firm’s resilience capability. SAGE Open, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241305618

Jitmaneeroj, B., & Tonghui, T. (2026). ESG and firm-specific risk: The moderating effects of corruption and economic development in Asia-Pacific emerging markets. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 13, 1035. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-07417-3

Khan, N., & Khan, M. (2025). “Soft” climate change exposure and firm performance across countries: Legitimacy theory perspective. Business Strategy and the Environment, 34(7), 8554–8570. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70029

Lamb, W., Wiedmann, T., Pongratz, J., Andrew, R., Crippa, M., Olivier, J., Wiedenhofer, D., Mattioli, G., Al Khourdajie, A., House, J., Pachauri, S., Figueroa, M., Saheb, Y., Slade, R., Hubacek, K., Sun, L., Kahn Ribeiro, S., Khennas, S., De La Rue Du Can, S., Chapung, L., Davis, S. J., Bashmakov, I., Dai, H., Dhakal, S., Tan, X., Geng, Y., Gu, B., & Minx, J. (2021). A review of trends and drivers of greenhouse gas emissions by sector from 1990 to 2018. Environmental Research Letters, 16(7), 073005. JRC123136.

Lindgreen, A., Swaen, V., & Johnston, W. J. (2009). Corporate social responsibility: An empirical investigation of US organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 85(S2), 303–323.

Liu, W., Lan, R., Liu, Y., Cao, Y., & Cheng, Y. (2026). Meta-analysis on relationship between corporate social responsibility and firm performance: Mediating mechanisms of innovation and reputation. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 126(2), 436–466. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-12-2024-1189

Liu, X., & Zhang, D. (2024). Research on impact mechanism of organizational resilience on sustainable competitive advantage of enterprises. Sustainability, 16, 6954. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166954

Lu, H., Liu, X., & Falkenberg, L. (2020). Investigating the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on risk management practices. Business & Society, 61(2), 496–534. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650320928981

Lv, P., Li, Y. & Mitra, D., (2020) “CSR and Performance of Family Businesses: A Systematic Review”, Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal, 14(3), 75-85. doi: https://doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v14i3.6

Naseem, T., Shahzad, F., Asim, G. A., Rehman, I. U., & Nawaz, F. (2020). Corporate social responsibility engagement and firm performance in Asia Pacific: The role of enterprise risk management. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 27(2), 501–513. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1815

Nguyen Vinh Khuong, & Le Huu Tuan Anh. (2022). The nexus between corporate social responsibility and firm value: The moderating role of life-cycle stages. Social Responsibility Journal, 19(5), 949–969. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-09-2021-0370

Ntim, C. G., & Soobaroyen, T. (2013). Corporate governance and performance in socially responsible corporations: New empirical insights from a neo-institutional framework. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 21(5), 468–494. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12026

Orlitzky, M., & Benjamin, J. D. (2001). Corporate social performance and firm risk: A meta-analytic review. Business & Society, 40(4), 369–396. https://doi.org/10.1177/000765030104000402

Ozkan, A., Temiz, H., & Yildiz, Y. (2023). Climate risk, corporate social responsibility, and firm performance. British Journal of Management, 34, 1791–1810. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12665

Pérez-Cornejo, C., & de Quevedo-Puente, E. (2023). How corporate social responsibility mediates the relationship between corporate reputation and enterprise risk management: Evidence from Spain. Eurasian Business Review, 13(2), 363–383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40821-022-00223-2

Rahman, M. J., & Fang, Y. (2019). The relationship between corporate social responsibility and firm performance in China. Risk Governance and Control: Financial Markets and Institutions, 9(4), 41–48. https://doi.org/10.22495/rgcv9i4p4

Raman, R., Pattnaik, D., Achuthan, K., Hughes, L., Al-Busaidi, A. S., & Dwivedi, Y. K., et al. (2024). Mapping research in the Journal of Innovation & Knowledge to sustainable development goals. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 9(1), Article 100538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100538

Sahoo, B., Sahu, S. K., & Malakar, K. (2024). Revisiting the impact of corporate social responsibility on firm performance in India: An application of the panel threshold approach. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Business, Management and Finance.

Saleem, S. M. U., Taib, C. A., & Iteng, R. (2025). Enterprise risk management and IT resources impact on sustainable competitive advantage through mediating role of knowledge management capability. Journal of Ecohumanism, 4(1), 1695–. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v4i1.5990

Saleem, S., & Bashir, H. (2024). Environmental corporate social responsibility and green dynamic capability: The moderating role of slack resources. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(4), 3379–3394. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2751

Salehi, M., & Bashirimanesh, N. (2024). The effect of political connections on the relationship between managers’ personality traits and corporate social responsibility disclosure. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-10-2023-0329

Salehi, M., DashtBayaz, M. L., & Khorashadizadeh, S. (2018). Corporate social responsibility and future financial performance: Evidence from Tehran stock exchange. EuroMed Journal of Business, 13(3), 351–371. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-11-2017-0044

Singh, K., & Misra, M. (2021). Linking corporate social responsibility (CSR) and organizational performance: The moderating effect of corporate reputation. European Research on Management and Business Economics, 27(1), 100139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iedeen.2020.100139

Sun, W., Chen, K., & Mei, J. (2024). Integrating the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities: A comprehensive framework for sustaining competitive advantage in dynamic markets. EPRA International Journal of Economic and Business Review (JEBR), 12(9). https://doi.org/10.36713/epra18157

Suttipun, M., & Nuttaphon, C. (2014). Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting on Websites in Thailand. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 35(3), 536–549. retrieved from https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/kjss/article/view/247301

Tao, W., Weng, S., Chen, X., Alhussan, F. B., & Song, M. (2024). Artificial intelligence-driven transformations in low-carbon energy structure: Evidence from China. Energy Economics, 136, 107719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107719

Tian, L., Chen, Y., Li, H., Guo, L., & Huang, J. (2021). From driver to enabler: The moderating effect of corporate social responsibility on firm performance. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 34(1), 2240–2262. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2020.1862686

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (2025). World investment report 2025: International investment in the digital economy. United Nations.

Wang, J. (2025). Digital transformation, environmental regulation and enterprises' ESG performance: Evidence from China. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 32(2), 1567–1582. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.3029

Wang, J., Wan, J., & Wu, Z. (2025). Seeking competitive advantage of farmers’ cooperatives through organizational resilience: Examining the role of chairpersons’ self-efficacy and environmental dynamism. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1554308. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1554308

Wang, Q., Qi, Y., & Li, R. (2025). From environmental, social, and governance ambitions to financial gains: The role of strategic adaptation in energy company success. Energy & Environment, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305X251343066

Wang, Q., Qi, Y., & Li, R. (2025). From environmental, social, and governance ambitions to financial gains: The role of strategic adaptation in energy company success. Energy & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305X251343066

Wenjie Sun, Kecun Chen, & Jianhua Mei. (2024). Integrating the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities: A comprehensive framework for sustaining competitive advantage in dynamic markets. EPRA International Journal of Economic and Business Review (JEBR), 12(9). https://doi.org/10.36713/epra18157

World Economic Forum. (2026). Energy Transition Index 2026. https://www.weforum.org/publications/energy-transition-index-2026

World Economic Forum. (2026). Energy Transition Index 2026. World Economic Forum. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Energy_Transition_Index_2026.pdf

Yang, H., Shi, X., Bhutto, M. Y., & Ertz, M. (2024). Do corporate social responsibility and technological innovation get along? A systematic review and future research agenda. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 9(1), Article 100462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100462

Yilmazkuday, H. (2024). Geopolitical risks and energy uncertainty: Implications for global and domestic energy prices. Energy Economics, 140, 107985.

Yoon, B., Lee, J. H., & Cho, J. H. (2024). Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: New evidence from the Korean market. SAGE Open, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241255196

Yucel, M., & Yucel, S. (2024). Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dynamics in the energy sector: Strategic approaches for sustainable development. Energies, 17, 6291. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17246291

Zervoudi, E. K., Moschos, N., & Christopoulos, A. G. (2025). From the corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria to the greenwashing phenomenon: A comprehensive literature review about the causes, consequences and solutions of the phenomenon with specific case studies. Sustainability, 17, 2222. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052222

Zhang, H., Song, Y., & Ding, Y. (2015b). What drives managerial perks? An empirical test of competing theoretical perspectives. Journal of Business Ethics, 132(2), 259–275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2320-7

Zhu, Z., Hunjra, A. I., Alharbi, S. S., & Zhao, S. (2025). Global energy transition under geopolitical risks: An empirical investigation. Energy Economics, 145, 108495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108495

Published
2026-09-10
Section
Articles