The Faculty of Business and Law invite all our research staff and supervisors, PGR students and all those interested to two transfer seminars, happening next week in C227. PGR student, Louise Atkinson, is presenting at 1pm on Tuesday 4th October on “The Role of Community Influences on Socially Responsible Activity within SMEs”. PGR student, Maher Daboul, is presenting at 12.30pm on Wednesday 5th October on “Impact of Brand Crises on Brand Image in the age of Corporate Social Responsibility.” Read on for the abstracts…

PGR student, Louise Atkinson, 1pm on Tuesday 4th October in C227 :-
The Role of Community Influences on Socially Responsible Activity within SMEs.
Abstract
It is identified within research examining Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) that the community is an important stakeholder for many. This study examines the relationship between SMEs and their community exploring the nature of community engagement in the context of social responsibility. The study considers demographic variances as potential influencing factors of engagement, the ways in which SMEs engage, and the effect that this has on the community, from the perspective of SMEs.

PGR student, Maher Daboul, is presenting at 12.30pm on Wednesday 5th October in C227 :-
Impact of Brand Crises on Brand Image in the age of Corporate Social Responsibility
Abstract
The research aims to investigate whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) would help brands to protect their brand image in the event of a crisis. CSR has been increasingly recognised as an effective tool to create a positive impact on the brand image. Despite the debate around its financial cost, CSR has been considered by companies in various occasions as a strategy to enhance brand reputation with its ability to create a strong “socially responsible” brand identity. However, existing literature proves that the customer’s reactions to CSR is very complex. It depends on various variables such as the timing of CSR and the motivation behind conducting CSR activities by a company. Hence, this research will investigate what will happen to the brand image when the negativity of a crisis hits a positivity of a CSR. Will it amplify the crisis impact and make the issue even worse? Or insulate and protect the brand image from such negative effects?