Corporate Social Responsibility assumed by Chinese International Construction Companies: Heterogeneities, Causes, and Evaluation

Chinese international construction companies (CICCs) are appearing as a major competitive force in the international market. However, there are limited studies exploring their corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, which is, in fact, essential for informing CSR strategies. This research thus aims to explore CSR assumed by CICCs. Based on the coding instrument applied from CASS-CSR 4.0 (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences-Guidelines on CSR Reporting), a content analysis of 174 CSR reports of 22 CICCs from 2010 to 2019 was employed to undertake a candid evaluation of CICCs’ CSR practices. It found an enriching trend of CSR assumed by CICCs in both quantity and quality. CICCs perform CSR differently depending on their ownership (i.e., state-owned or privately owned). It also found areas in which CICCs could further enrich their CSR programs. CICCs’ embrace of CSR which are somehow perceived as heterogeneous has not been adequately articulated in the literature. This study fills the knowledge gap by analyzing the CSR heterogeneities of CICCs and their causes, and finally offering suggestions for their further improvement. This paper will allow managers of CICCs to effectively manage their CSR strategies and programs, and to foster sustainable construction management and reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).