Research On Corporate Social Responsibility And Product Innovation Strategies In The Context Of Competition

As one of the most crucial micro-entities in the market economy,enterprises not only bear the significant duty of propelling economic development but also play an indispensable role in fulfilling social responsibilities.While possessing the right to utilize social resources,they also have corresponding obligations toward social responsibility.However,the "Corporate Social Responsibility Bluebook(2020)" indicates that,compared to foreign corporations,the overall development level of Chinese enterprises in terms of social responsibility is relatively lower.Given China’s current economic and social transition from rapid to high-quality development,enterprises face the challenge of navigating complex new international circumstances and achieving the "green and sustainable" strategic goals.Understanding how corporate social responsibility(CSR)influences business decisions is crucial for enterprises in the new development landscape to adjust resource allocation rationally,achieve business objectives,win social credibility,and promote sustainable development.According to China’s "Guidelines for Social Responsibility" and Elkington’s(1998)"Triple Bottom Line" theory,enterprises should not solely focus on maximizing economic benefits during their pursuit of sustainable development;they must also uphold economic,social,and environmental responsibilities.Economically,enterprises should maintain competitive advantages and generate above-average profits,especially post-pandemic,where core competencies derived from technological innovation can mitigate risks from uncertainties.Innovation is pivotal for fulfilling economic responsibilities.Environmentally,as society develops rapidly,issues like resource and environmental constraints become prominent.Establishing a circular economy to achieve sustainable socio-economic development is a global focus.The National Development and Reform Commission’s "14th Five-Year Plan for Circular Economy Development"(2021)highlights constructing a recycling system for waste materials as a key task,underscoring remanufacturing as an essential means for enterprises to meet their environmental responsibilities.Socially,as the most crucial and direct stakeholders,consumers’ increasing awareness and attention to corporate social actions have transformed the role of enterprises.More are moving beyond short-term profit maximization to build more sustainable and responsible business practices for longterm commercial success and social impact.Longstanding research on CSR has evolved significantly,but existing studies often approach CSR from a singular dimension or broadly as a concept,lacking a systematic,multidimensional approach.Additionally,most research emphasizes the positive externalities of CSR initiatives without returning to the impact on the enterprises themselves.Few studies consider how the interplay between different dimensions of responsibilities affects corporate decisions.This paper employs game theory and optimization methods to integrate product innovation,recycling and remanufacturing,and consumer focus within a unified framework from the three dimensions of CSR,exploring their impact on corporate decisions and their environmental and consumer effects.Key findings and contributions are as follows:First,from the perspective of environmental responsibility,Chapter Three of this dissertation examines the impact of various recycling policies under remanufacturing constraints on corporate remanufacturing decisions,showing that remanufacturing strategies are significantly influenced by costs and are economically beneficial within certain limits,while always being environmentally positive.Second,from the perspective of social responsibility,Chapter Four considers the impact of corporate focus on consumers in a vertically differentiated market.The findings indicate that focusing on consumers intensifies market competition,compelling competitors to reduce retail quantities.This strategic choice can mitigate product cannibalization effects.If the competitive gains in targeted segments outweigh the costs of alleviating cannibalization in other segments,then focusing on consumers is advantageous.Lastly,the dissertation extends the analysis by coupling environmental and economic responsibilities,examining decisions where enterprises pursue excess profits through innovation while constrained by remanufacturing policies.It finds that while innovation is detrimental to the environment and benefits increase with innovation levels,recycling is environmentally beneficial but has an inverted U-shaped relationship with economic benefits.This dissertation enriches the exploration of CSR by investigating the impact of various dimensions of responsibility on corporate decisions,considering the coupling of multiple responsibilities.It reveals how CSR practices influence corporate decisionmaking,aiding enterprises in resource allocation and responsibility fulfillment under the new development paradigm.This dissertation also provides insights for government and relevant departments in their management decisions.