Corporate social responsibility as a factor of increasing the competitiveness of industrial enterprises

Abstract

Abstract. The article examines corporate social responsibility as a strategic factor in increasing the competitiveness of enterprises in the context of increased market competition, transformation of the global economy and growing public expectations for business. A comprehensive theoretical and methodological analysis of the essence and evolution of corporate social responsibility is carried out, taking into account modern scientific approaches, in particular the theory of stakeholders, signaling theory and the theory of excess resources. It is noted that the modern development of economic systems is associated with stability and adaptability, and corporate social responsibility is an important factor in reducing risks, strengthening trust and increasing the competitiveness of enterprises. It is substantiated that the integration of social responsibility principles into the strategic management system contributes to the formation of sustainable competitive advantages, strengthening business reputation, increasing investment attractiveness and developing human capital of the enterprise. The paper proposes a structured approach to assessing the impact of corporate social responsibility on internal and external groups of stakeholders. A system of indicators has been developed that reflects the social, environmental and economic aspects of the enterprise's activities from the perspectives of employees, consumers, investors and government agencies. It has been established that the implementation of corporate social responsibility contributes to the reduction of operational risks and costs, the growth of trust from partners, the increase of loyalty of personnel and customers, as well as the strengthening of the enterprise's resilience to external challenges. Particular attention has been paid to identifying barriers to the implementation of corporate social responsibility, including limited financial resources, insufficient regulatory support, weak institutional support and a low level of managerial readiness for social innovations. It has been concluded that corporate social responsibility is not only an ethical guideline for modern business, but also an effective tool for increasing the competitiveness of enterprises, ensuring their long-term sustainable development, adaptability to changes in the external environment and strengthening market positions in modern business conditions.