Int. J. Tourism Policy, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2015 17
Copyright © 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Stakeholders approach in influencing corporate
social responsibility: a case study at two hotels in
Jordan
Ramzi Mahmoud Alrousan* and
Malek Aziz Bader
Department of Sustainable Tourism,
Queen Rania Institute of Tourism and Heritage,
The Hashemite University,
Zarqa, Jordan
Email: rousanramzi@yahoo.com
Email: malekbader@hotmail.com
*Corresponding author
Ismaiel Abuamoud
Faculty of Archaeology and Tourism,
University of Jordan,
Amman, Jordan
Email: ismaiel005@yahoo.com
Abstract: This study aims to investigate the influence of the stakeholder’s
approach on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) adopted by hotels. This
study uses Edward Freeman’s stakeholder theory (1984). The stakeholder
theory explains organisational management and business ethics that deals with
values and morals in management and organisation. The research questions
involve both aspects of internal and external CSR. The main concerns are
primary and secondary stakeholders, which are based on Carroll’s three-domain
approach, as well as factors that influence CSR practices in hotels within each
stakeholders group. Two five-star hotels in Jordan were chosen for the case
studies and the data were analysed through both within-case and cross-case
analysis. The main aim of the case analysis is to thoroughly describe and
understand the practices through supervision and investigation. On the other
hand, the cross-case helps the researcher make comparison between cases and
determine how the policy and overall policies can be modified. This study
illustrates the influence of integrating the stakeholder theory into CSR practices
by employing a specific group of stakeholders. The findings suggest that the
hotels are encouraging new methods to implement both internal and external
aspects of CSR. Nonetheless, the stakeholders want the hotels’ business model
to be economical and ethical. There are many factors that influence CSR
practices within each stakeholders group in the hotels with regards to the
availability of services offered. Finally, this study reveals that the stakeholders’
relationship with the CSR approach supports the stakeholder theory.
Keywords: corporate social responsibility; CSR; hotels; Jordan; stakeholders
management.