Drivers and Performance Outcomes of Social Responsibility Accounting: An Integrated Model for SMEs in the Mekong Delta.

BACKGROUND: While the strategic importance of Social Responsibility Accounting (SRA) is well-established for large corporations, its antecedents and firm-level outcomes in the context of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies remain critically under-explored. This study develops and empirically tests an integrated theoretical model examining the key drivers of SRA implementation and its subsequent impact on firm performance and access to finance among SMEs in Vietnam.

METHODS: Employing a sequential exploratory mixed-method design, qualitative interviews with nine experts informed the development of a survey instrument, which was then used to collect quantitative data from 362 SMEs in the Mekong Delta region. The proposed model was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).Results: The results confirm that stakeholder pressure, leadership commitment, accounting department competence, and export orientation are significant positive drivers of SRA implementation. In turn, SRA implementation was found to be a strong and significant predictor of both enhanced firm performance and improved access to finance.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive empirical examination of the SRA ecosystem within SMEs in an emerging market. It offers a nuanced understanding of why SMEs adopt SRA and confirms its strategic role as a mediating mechanism in improving both operational and financial outcomes.