The Stakeholders: A Key Player for Lebanese SMEs in Difficult Times

Abstract

This paper emphasizes the importance of the networks’ role: adoption’s networking, integration, and the importance of commitment’s degree in CSR of Lebanese SMEs. To highlight networks and important stakeholders, we have decided to focus on particular life’s moments of a Leban ese company in an uncertain and unstable environment. Thus, we propose an analysis of the stakeholders during the 2006 crisis by analyzing eight enterprises in order to identify the stakeholders of the socially responsible Lebanese SMEs. We have identified a trend among the interviewed managers, which is giving more importance to shareholders satisfaction, motivation, continuous training of employees and the central role of banks in the survival and development of their business. We were also able to emphasize the role of the socially responsible values of proactive managers and their ability to act durably during difficult times and in an unstable and uncertain environment. We can conclude that the Lebanese manager involved in a CSR logic manages crises better mainly by dint of certain stakeholders including employees and banks. However, there are several limitations to our research. The number of SMEs studied and the effects of the crisis in the Arab countries, for which the managers are not able to see the end, open the way for further analysis.