Int. J. Business Performance Management, Vol. 5, Nos. 2/3, 2003 141 Copyright ' 2003 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Managing for performance: corporate responsibility and internal stakeholders S. Jaseem Ahmad*, Nicholas ORegan and Abby Ghobadian Centre for Interdisciplinary Strategic Management Research, Middlesex University Business School, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BT, UK E-mail: j.ahmad@mdx.ac.uk E-mail: n.oregan@mdx.ac.uk E-mail: a.ghobadian@mdx.ac.uk *Corresponding author Abstract: Businesses today face more than just commercial and competitive pressures. Recent decades have seen an increasing emphasis on corporate responsibility and ethical, socially responsible corporate behaviour. Research suggests a positive link between responsible corporate behaviour and financial performance. Concurrently, the emergence of stakeholder theory has focused attention on businesses and their relationships with important groups and institutions. Arguably, maintaining good stakeholder relationships is fundamentally sound management and can result in enhanced corporate reputation. Much of the extant literature on these issues, however, has centred on conceptual issues, large corporations, external stakeholders and/or North American case studies. Where internal stakeholders have been considered, the discussion has often been limited to working conditions, pay and benefits, and related matters. This paper broadens the research to date by focusing on internal stakeholders in small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. It reports the findings of a study designed to assess the perceived impact of selected attributes of responsible corporate practice, as they pertain to internal stakeholders, beyond the basic issues of working conditions and rewards. Keywords: Corporate responsibility; internal stakeholders; employee participation; strategic management; organisational performance; SMEs. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Ahmad, S.J., ORegan, N. and Ghobadian, A. (2003) Managing for performance: corporate responsibility and internal stakeholders, Int. J. Business Performance Management, Vol. 5, Nos. 2/3, pp.141-153. Biographical notes: S. Jaseem Ahmad is Senior Lecturer in Business Studies at Middlesex University Business School. His research interests include corporate social responsibility, e-business and corporate and management strategy. Nicholas ORegan is Principal Lecturer in Business Studies at Middlesex University Business School. His research interests include the organisational culture, leadership and strategic planning processes of small and medium sized organisations.