A Research on the Relationship between CSR and Corporate Financial Performance in the Sports Equipment Industry

In this paper, the author analyzes the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate financial performance (CFP) in the sports equipment industry. The purpose of this study is to develop an expectancy model framework which disaggregates CSR into five dimensions, i.e. employee welfare, product quality (innovation/R&D), community relations, environment, and diversity. The model contributes to examine how each dimension would affect financial performance of four global companies within the sports equipment industry. The research shows that managers from the sport equipment industry should have insights about the dimensions of CSR activities in order to improve their companies' financial performance.