How Can Multinational Enterprises Effectively Implement Local Consumer-Oriented Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategies? A Multi-Perspective Study on the Differences in CSR Response Mechanisms between Chinese and Japanese Consumers

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors, I enjoy reading your paper focused on on the relationship between CSR perception and consumer behavior,  regarding .distinct CSR response mechanisms  among Chinese and Japanese consumers.

However, for a greater relevance, because the people engaged in the home appliance industry can have some specific particularities in their responses, we suggest to extend your research to a national scale (China and Japan too) and to include more industrial domains and also services domains.

 

 

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors, 

Thanks for letting me read your exciting article. I do think that the contribution of your paper, as you stated clearly, is the comparative aspect of the study. 

I suggest putting extra effort into your recommendations' management and strategy aspects. This could be paramount considering the economic enterprise relations between both countries.

The article presents some minor needs for written language proofs. 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

A very good piece of research and well-written paper. Except for few typo errors on page 6 (the figure needs to be properly labelled, especially with respect to the abbreviations used) and on page 7, the name of the third Chinese company is US?? Please check.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

It would be appreciated if the objectives of the research is included in the paper, and how the paper fill in the gaps in the current literature. This is done in the conclusion section, but it is better to provide the reader with an idea regarding the objectives of the paper, the gaps you are aiming to fill in and a glimpse of your results

 

Providing a discussion section would help the reader to understand the link between the results and previous literature and point towards your novel findings in the context of your study.

 

Overall, it is an interesting research that has interesting results.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 5 Report

1.Advantages:

- The study addresses an important research gap in comparing CSR response mechanisms between Chinese and Japanese consumers, using empirical data. This helps advance cross-cultural CSR research.

- The research integrates multiple theoretical perspectives like attribution theory, culture, and institutions to analyze differences between the two consumer groups. This provides a more comprehensive understanding.

- The study collects primary data through interviews and surveys rather than relying solely on secondary sources. This allows tailored and updated insights.

- The home appliance industry selection seems appropriate given its comparable nature and close consumer relevance in both countries. This helps minimize confounding variables.

- The conceptual model linking attribution, perception, satisfaction, and loyalty is logical and expands current CSR frameworks.

- Statistical analyses like CFA, SEM, and mediation testing seem adequately performed to validate the measurement and structural models.

 

2.Disadvantages:

- The sample size of 150 each for China and Japan, while sufficient for SEM, could be expanded to improve generalizability of findings.

- The use of self-reported survey data is prone to social desirability and other biases inherent in subjective assessments. More objective metrics could augment analyses.

- Cross-sectional data offers only a snapshot versus longitudinal trends. Capturing dynamic changes over time could be beneficial.

- Extrapolation of conclusions from one industry to others may be inappropriate without examining potential moderators.

- The cultural and institutional generalizations require caution given within-country heterogeneity and individual differences.

 

3.Modification Suggestions:

- A larger, random sample would boost the statistical power and representativeness.

- Incorporate more behavioral data like sales or loyalty program metrics to complement attitudinal surveys.

- Gather time-series data through periodic surveys to identify temporal impacts.

- Test the model in other industries/product categories to assess generalizability.

- Note that cultural effects represent broad tendencies but variations exist at the individual level.

- Examine other variables like demographics, psychographics, and competitive context for potential moderating effects.

- The Discussion needs to be a coherent and cohesive set of arguments that take us beyond this study in particular and help us see the relevance of what the authors have proposed. The authors need to contextualize the findings in the literature and need to be explicit about the added value of your study towards that literature. Also, other studies should be cited to increase the theoretical background of each of the methods used. Findings should be contextualized in the literature and should be explicit about the added value of the study towards the literature. The contribution and implications of the article are yet to be specified. Please refer to the style, DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132635, or 10.1051/ro/2021187.

1.Advantages:

- The study addresses an important research gap in comparing CSR response mechanisms between Chinese and Japanese consumers, using empirical data. This helps advance cross-cultural CSR research.

- The research integrates multiple theoretical perspectives like attribution theory, culture, and institutions to analyze differences between the two consumer groups. This provides a more comprehensive understanding.

- The study collects primary data through interviews and surveys rather than relying solely on secondary sources. This allows tailored and updated insights.

- The home appliance industry selection seems appropriate given its comparable nature and close consumer relevance in both countries. This helps minimize confounding variables.

- The conceptual model linking attribution, perception, satisfaction, and loyalty is logical and expands current CSR frameworks.

- Statistical analyses like CFA, SEM, and mediation testing seem adequately performed to validate the measurement and structural models.

 

2.Disadvantages:

- The sample size of 150 each for China and Japan, while sufficient for SEM, could be expanded to improve generalizability of findings.

- The use of self-reported survey data is prone to social desirability and other biases inherent in subjective assessments. More objective metrics could augment analyses.

- Cross-sectional data offers only a snapshot versus longitudinal trends. Capturing dynamic changes over time could be beneficial.

- Extrapolation of conclusions from one industry to others may be inappropriate without examining potential moderators.

- The cultural and institutional generalizations require caution given within-country heterogeneity and individual differences.

 

3.Modification Suggestions:

- A larger, random sample would boost the statistical power and representativeness.

- Incorporate more behavioral data like sales or loyalty program metrics to complement attitudinal surveys.

- Gather time-series data through periodic surveys to identify temporal impacts.

- Test the model in other industries/product categories to assess generalizability.

- Note that cultural effects represent broad tendencies but variations exist at the individual level.

- Examine other variables like demographics, psychographics, and competitive context for potential moderating effects.

- The Discussion needs to be a coherent and cohesive set of arguments that take us beyond this study in particular and help us see the relevance of what the authors have proposed. The authors need to contextualize the findings in the literature and need to be explicit about the added value of your study towards that literature. Also, other studies should be cited to increase the theoretical background of each of the methods used. Findings should be contextualized in the literature and should be explicit about the added value of the study towards the literature. The contribution and implications of the article are yet to be specified. Please refer to the style, DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132635, or 10.1051/ro/2021187, or 10.1016/j.spc.2023.07.021

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 5 Report

The current version is nearly suitable for publication.

The current version is nearly suitable for publication.