The research of sustainable development and social responsibility in SMEs: Sample of Turkey

Abstract

Transition from industrial society to knowledge society brought some changes along. With the transition to New World order, besides priority to organization profits also participated in community-related responsibilities. Social responsibility starting in 1950s, has gained a momentum given even higher level of care by globalization. As well as profit-oriented approach for organizations, social responsibility as a framework concept containing tasks for community is becoming an obligation, not a choice. And sustainable development is considered to be a concept containing economic development, social development and environmental control. In this context, social responsibility element effectuates one of the pre-conditions of sustainable development. SMEs occupy a rate as high as 99% of organizations in Turkey. For sustainable development, considering proportional size, SMEs have to advance their social responsibility level as well as coping with financial difficulties. The study, in this context, both reveals the theoretical dimension and the views of managers in SMEs operating in Konya province of Turkey, about sustainable development and social responsibilities with an empirical research.