Sensemaking and CSR awareness-raising for entrepreneurs in support structures

Abstract

The literature on CSR in SMEs has expanded in recent years, emphasising the profile of the business owner and the SME itself as a structure. However, little attention has been paid to entrepreneurs during the creation phase of their company and the structures set up to support them. Many questions remain unanswered about CSR training for entrepreneurs and therefore about the role of entrepreneurship support structures. The aim of this study is to understand the process of CSR awareness-raising for entrepreneurs in these structures via sensemaking. A conceptual analysis of the notion of sensemaking and an exploratory study involving 20 participants (10 support structures and 10 entrepreneurs) are used to show that these actors have a CSR sensemaking mechanism based on their social concerns. They also highlight that the awareness-raising process for entrepreneurs involving such structures is based on a formal and dissociated vision of CSR.