Abstract

The goal of the present research is to examine the way in which organisational identity orientation and corporate social responsibility (CSR) interact to produce affective attachment and related beneficial behaviours among organisational members. Using a questionnaire, administered in Poland, we show that when CSR activity is viewed as authentic by employees, it leads to affective attachment to the organisation's CSR stance, while an instrumental evaluation is correlated with a negative attachment to the CSR stance. The results suggest that CSR motives are particularly important for organisations with relational and collectivistic identity orientations because of the focus of these organisations on mutual or collective good that can be demonstrated through CSR. The results contribute to social identity literature by establishing a clear relationship between the concepts of identity orientation and CSR and showing that only authentic CSR produces affective attachment and behaviours that benefit the organisation.