The Impact of Supplier Instability on Corporate Social Responsibility Performance over the Firm Lifecycle: A Social Systems Theory Perspective

Managing corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the supply chain context requires companies to consider complex issues embedded their chains, one of which is complexity caused by unstable suppliers. However, prior studies have focused primarily on how supplier instability affects a firm's operational or financial performance. Grounded systems theory, we aim enrich this body literature investigating impact CSR performance throughout firm lifecycle. Using large panel dataset Chinese manufacturing firms from 2008 2018, find that relationship between and varies At growth maturity stages, can negatively affect external internal performance, respectively. decline stage, negative insignificant. Further, unravel moderating effects different reduction practices. This paper has significant implications for both research practice increasingly important domain management chains.